Korean firms back US-based Turn Bio for mRNA therapies

South Korea-based Daewoong Pharmaceutical and HanAll Biopharma have announced expansion of their open collaboration strategy by investing in Turn Biotechnologies, a Silicon Valley based company focused on developing novel mRNA medicines. The companies are supporting Turn Bio’s continued development of a high-potential platform and are considering future long-term collaborations. Turn Bio is a pre-clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on cellular repair via epigenetic reprogramming of cells.

The technological foundation for Turn Bio’s proprietary Epigenetic Reprogramming of Age (ERA) methodology was developed by Turn Bio’s co-founders in the Sebastiano Lab, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine. The technology has since been patented and Turn Bio is currently using it to complete pre-clinical research on therapies targeting indications in dermatology and immunology, as well as developing therapies for ophthalmology, osteoarthritis and the muscular system. The proceeds from this round of financing will support Turn Bio’s advancement towards a phase 1 trial of its mRNA therapy candidate TRN001, which targets indications in dermatology.