Maryland-based miRecule, Inc. and Brazil-based Rio Biofarma Brasil Ltda. (RBBL), an EMS S.A. subsidiary, announced a research collaboration to co-develop peptide-mediated RNA delivery technologies for extra-hepatic tissue targeting across multiple disease areas. RBBL also made an undisclosed equity investment in miRecule as part of the broader agreement. Financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed.
The deal pairs miRecule's NAVIgGator platform — which generates precision oligonucleotide payloads for up to three undisclosed gene targets — with RBBL's peptide discovery, development, and manufacturing capabilities. Together the companies will produce novel peptide-RNA conjugates intended to extend RNA therapeutic delivery beyond the liver, a tissue-targeting barrier that has constrained most approved RNA medicines. RBBL will manufacture resulting conjugate products at its peptide facility in São Paulo. The agreement includes co-ownership of the developed technology and options for global co-development.
The structure is a co-development arrangement rather than a conventional licensing deal: both parties contribute platform assets, share intellectual property in the resulting conjugates, and retain co-development rights in global markets. miRecule is responsible for oligonucleotide payload design across the three targets; RBBL contributes peptide discovery expertise and large-scale manufacturing. The equity component from RBBL is intended to support both the collaboration and miRecule's existing neuromuscular pipeline.