Thalia Therapeutics (LSE:THAT) announced it has completed the initial chemistry synthesis of the siRNA gene-silencing medicines underpinning THAT-002, its cardiovascular programme.
The clinical-stage biotech, which develops RNA-based therapeutics and delivery technologies in oncology and cardiovascular disease, designed THAT-002 as a potentially long-duration therapeutic that targets both PCSK9 and lipoprotein(a), two separate risk factors for cardiovascular disease, within a single treatment.
Thalia started preclinical work on the programme in September with WuXi AppTec (Hong Kong), a global biology services provider.
The completed synthesis clears the way for in vitro studies, with in vivo work scheduled later in the fourth quarter.
Results from both stages will feed into further preclinical development ahead of IND-enabling studies, the step required before human clinical trials, and will support the company's patent applications.
"Completing the initial chemistry synthesis allows us to move THAT-002 into cell-based tests," said chief executive Dr David Solomon, adding that the milestone was "met on time and on budget."
Following preclinical studies, Thalia's stated objective is to file with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human clinical studies.