RIGImmune subsumes Subintro in nasal drug delivery buyout, secures F-Prime investment

RIGImmune has struck a deal to acquire Subintro, giving it access to novel topical delivery systems. The deal positions the biotech to advance the development of novel RNA therapies and vaccine adjuvants for local mucosal delivery.

Connecticut-based RIGImmune grew out of the work of Yale University’s Akiko Iwasaki, Ph.D., and Anna Marie Pyle, Ph.D. Building on their research, the biotech set out to develop stemloop RNA therapeutics that selectively activate the innate immune sensor RIG-I. The receptor is activated by RNA agonists and, once in that state, triggers changes that suggest it could be a target for immunomodulatory therapies. 

RIGImmune has identified Subintro as a company that can support and expand its plans. Specifically, the acquired company has antivirals and delivery technologies that RIGImmune sees enhancing its efforts to treat respiratory diseases caused by RNA viruses including influenza, RSV, rhinovirus and SARS-CoV-2. RIGImmune will target intranasal delivery to amplify the mucosal innate immune and antiviral responses.

“At Subintro, we have been investigating a range of new approaches to maximize the cellular activity and safety of diverse antiviral agents when delivered to respiratory epithelium,” Garth Rapeport, co-founder and CEO of Subintro, said in a statement. “Topical delivery of macromolecules is a complex challenge, but we are confident that our approach will enable the successful delivery of RIGImmune’s stem-loop RNA therapeutics.”

Rapeport, who is also entrepreneur-in-residence at F-Prime Capital, will join the RIGImmune leadership team. F-Prime has invested in the new company as part of the acquisition of Subintro, although the press release to disclose the news lacks details of the size of the investment and the takeover.