Dicerna Pharmaceuticals

Dicerna Pharmaceuticals is a venture-backed startup developing novel therapeutics in multiple therapeutic areas based on Dicer substrate technology, which makes use of the RNA interference mechanism.

The technology upon which Dicerna is based was discovered by Dicerna co-founders John Rossi, Ph.D., a Professor in the Division of Molecular Biology and Dean, Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope’s Beckman Research Institute in Duarte, California, and Mark Behlke, M.D., Ph.D., at Integrated DNA Technologies in Coralville, Iowa.

Dicerna was financed in November, 2007, with $13 million of venture capital in a round led by Oxford Bioscience Partners and Skyline Ventures. Dicerna is led by seasoned biotechnology industry veterans including CEO James C. Jenson, Ph.D., and SVP Pharmaceutical Development Roberto Guerciolini, M.D., both of whom are also co-founders of the company. The company is based in the Boston area.

Rose SD et al. (2005) Functional polarity is introduced by Dicer processing of short substrate RNAs. Nucleic Acids Res. 33 (13) 4140-4156 (PDF, 728K)

Kim D-H et al. (2005). Synthetic dsRNA Dicer substrates enhance RNAi potency and efficacy. Nat Biotechnol. 23 (2) 222-226 (PDF, 212K)

Amarzguioui M et al. (2006). Rational design and in vitro and in vivo delivery of Dicer substrate siRNA. Nature Protocol 1 (2) 508-517 (PDF, 396K)

Dicerna Licenses IP from City of Hope and Closes $13 Million Series A Financing