Next-generation amplified RNA therapeutics,
engineered to precisely reprogram the immune system.
The name also draws inspiration from the Latin accīre, “to summon” or “to call forth,” reflecting our core mission: using precision RNA medicines to summon the immune system into action.
We believe the immune system is the most powerful therapeutic platform in biology. Our mission is to unlock it, with precision, with purpose and with urgency.
We develop next-generation RNA therapeutics engineered to reprogram the immune system, to transform the treatment of cancer and immune-mediated disease. By combining amplified RNA architectures with flexible delivery, we are building next-generation in vivo CAR and immuno-oncology therapies.
ACIRNA is advancing RNA therapeutics with high-performance amplified linear RNA and proprietary amplified circular RNA technologies designed to push therapeutic expression and durability further.
An advanced self-amplifying RNA platform engineered for potent and sustained therapeutic protein expression.
Our proprietary technology combines amplification and circularization to advance a new generation of more powerful, durable, and versatile RNA medicines.
Improved RNA stability and persistence.
Increased therapeutic protein production.
Adaptable delivery strategies across tissues and indications.
Reduced unwanted innate immune activation, supporting repeat-dose potential.
More powerful, multiplexed therapeutic combinations.
More powerful. More durable. Broader therapeutic potential.
We match RNA architecture and delivery to each therapeutic need.
Engineering therapeutic T cells directly in the body to transform cancer and autoimmune disease treatment.
Enable accessible, simplified CAR-T therapies by engineering T cells directly within the body.
CAR-T therapies have demonstrated remarkable clinical potential in oncology, with emerging evidence supporting their ability to reset dysfunctional immune responses in autoimmune disease. However, conventional CAR-T therapies require complex, individualized manufacturing, limiting accessibility and broader application.
ACIRNA’s amplified RNA platform is designed to engineer therapeutic T cells directly in vivo, eliminating the need for traditional ex vivo cell manufacturing.
By enabling sustained CAR expression and supporting complex dual CAR and enhanced CAR designs, our approach aims to deliver more potent, durable, and accessible therapies capable of targeting malignant or disease-driving immune cells through a simplified approach.
Close ×Reprogramming the tumor microenvironment to unleash powerful antitumor immune responses.
Harness the immune system’s ability to recognize and eliminate cancer by transforming the tumor microenvironment and driving immune clearance and generating broader, durable antitumor immunity to address metastatic and recurrent disease.
Cancer can evade immune recognition by creating an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Emerging clinical evidence demonstrates that localized immune activation can generate responses extending beyond the treated tumor, highlighting the potential for systemic antitumor activity.
We’ve developed more powerful amplified RNA immunotherapies designed to express combinations of immune-modulating proteins directly within tumors.
By enabling sustained local expression of multiple agents targeting multiple pathways simultaneously, our approach is designed to reshape the tumor microenvironment, enhance immune-cell recruitment and activation, and generate potent antitumor responses against both treated and distal tumors, with lasting immune memory to prevent recurrence.
“A personalized, tumor-agnostic cancer vaccine”
Close ×Enabling sustained antigen expression and improved antigen presentation to drive stronger, longer-lasting antitumor immunity.
Advance cancer vaccines that generate powerful, targeted immune responses and lasting protection against cancer.
Recent clinical advances have renewed momentum in cancer vaccine development, demonstrating the potential to train the immune system to recognize and attack cancer. However, challenges in antigen expression and presentation continue to limit the strength and durability of immune responses.
ACIRNA’s amplified RNA platform is designed to enable high levels of sustained tumor antigen expression, extending the opportunity for immune recognition and activation.
Combined with targeted delivery and other strategies to enhance antigen presentation, our approach aims to generate more potent antitumor responses and durable immune memory across a broad range of cancer vaccine applications.
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Kevin Heyeck is a biopharmaceutical executive and serial entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience building venture-backed life sciences companies, and an extensive worldwide deal sheet. He is a co-founder of Cru Bio. Before joining ACIRNA, he worked in venture capital investing in early-stage life sciences companies, most recently as Senior Managing Director of 120 Capital.
Previously, Mr. Heyeck led corporate and business development at several innovative life sciences companies, including AlloCure, Vitae Pharmaceuticals and Pharmacopeia. He began his career at Harvard University’s Office of Technology Licensing. In addition to ACIRNA, his current and past board memberships include UAMS BioVentures, HiberCell and Ultivue, and he has served as a board observer at iTeos Therapeutics.
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Monica (Monty) Coleman is a finance professional with more than 30 years of experience across all areas of accounting. Her expertise spans cash flow optimization, budget creation and administration, contract negotiations, P&L accountability and ERP systems management, and she has led process re-engineering that has driven efficiencies across organizations.
Most recently, Ms. Coleman spent 10 years at BioAgilytix Labs, where she built the finance function from the ground up and played a pivotal role in due diligence through two sales of the company. Before that, she was a Partner at Rankin McKenzie for eight years, providing fractional CFO services and setting up human resources policies for a range of life sciences start-ups in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park.
Ms. Coleman received her B.S. magna cum laude in Business Administration, Accounting Emphasis, from Wingate University.
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Dr. Afshin Safavi is Chairman of the Board of Directors for Chimeron Bio. He is a serial entrepreneur, scientist, investor, and company builder with more than 25 years of experience creating, scaling, investing in, and advising companies across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, advanced therapeutics, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technologies, and real estate. He is the Founder and CEO of Colorado Health & Tech Centers (CHTC), where he is developing a new model for innovation campuses that brings together biotechnology, medicine, AI, advanced technology, quantum, and space-related technologies alongside practicing physicians and healthcare providers. His vision is to create integrated ecosystems where science, technology, capital, infrastructure, and patient care converge to accelerate innovation in human health. Previously, Dr. Safavi founded BioAgilytix Labs, which grew from a startup into one of the world's leading bioanalytical Contract Research Organizations. He has extensive experience building and leading scientific and commercial organizations, developing international operations, and working with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies across more than 30 countries.
Today, Dr. Safavi is an active founder, Board Chair, strategic advisor, and anchor investor in companies developing next-generation technologies, including self-amplifying RNA therapeutics, AI-designed cancer therapies, advanced semiconductor technologies, quantum computing applications, and innovation infrastructure. He combines scientific expertise with entrepreneurship, capital formation, strategic partnerships, M&A, and real estate development to help transform promising technologies into scalable businesses.
Dr. Safavi received his B.S. in Biochemistry from UCLA and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Kentucky Medical School, and completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Pathology at Emory University.
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Dr. Robert (Rob) Brenner brings more than 25 years of experience as a respected nephrologist and a successful biotechnology executive. Brenner has previously served in executive roles in several clinical-stage biotech companies, including Chief Medical Officer at Orionis Biosciences and SVP of Medical Affairs at AMAG Pharmaceuticals, contributing to the company’s first therapeutic approval and launch for iron deficiency anemia (Feraheme).
Previously, Brenner held several positions of expanding responsibility in the nephrology franchise at Amgen. During this time, he led kidney related global development programs, supported two product approvals (Aranesp and Sensipar), and oversaw the establishment of the nephrology medical affairs organization. Brenner received his B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and his M.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed his medical residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and his nephrology fellowship at Stanford University Medical Center.
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Dr. Gerald (Jerry) McGeehan is Vice President, Menin Program Team Leader at Syndax Pharmaceuticals. He specializes in research and early development and brings experience across multiple therapeutic areas from a career of more than 25 years.
Previously, Dr. McGeehan held senior roles at Vitae Pharmaceuticals and DuPont. His experience runs from program initiation through clinical proof of concept, with a track record of building and leading research teams and delivering novel mechanisms in emerging areas. His start-up experience includes building research and early development capabilities from the ground up.
Dr. McGeehan received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Stanford University and his B.A. in Chemistry from Lafayette College, and was a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at ETH Zurich.
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Dr. Tatiana Novobrantseva is Chief Scientific Officer at NextPoint Therapeutics and brings deep expertise in immunology, immuno-oncology, autoimmunity and fibrosis, with a strong track record in drug and antibody development. In 2017 she co-founded Verseau Therapeutics, where she served as Chief Scientific Officer for more than five years, advancing immunotherapies that repolarize macrophages to initiate anti-cancer immune responses. Before that, she led oncology discovery and development at Moderna as Chief Scientific Officer, Immuno-Oncology Research.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Novobrantseva was a scientist at Biogen and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Director of Research at Jounce Therapeutics, where she led programs to reactivate the immune system against cancer. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Cologne and completed postdoctoral research in B cell immunology and autoimmunity in Dr. Klaus Rajewsky’s laboratory at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Novobrantseva serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards of Voro Therapeutics and FairJourney Biologics and the Advisory Board of Women in the Enterprise of Science and Technology, and is an advisor to Verseau Therapeutics.
Close ×We welcome the opportunity to connect with partners, investors and the scientific community.