eTheRNA

ETheRNA Immunotherapies was founded in 2013 as a spin-off from the VUB. The biotech company is building its own platform that uses mRNA technology to develop immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Today, mRNA is also known to the general public as a building block in the COVID-19 vaccines of Moderna and Pfizer. It causes cells to produce proteins that train the immune system to attack – for example – cancer cells.

Etherna now has offices in Niel, Zwijnaarde, New York and Hong Kong. In February 2022, the company signed a research agreement with the German pharmaceutical company Merck to jointly develop mRNA vaccines.

PMV was involved in several financing rounds at eTheRNA, together with other investors including LSP, Boehringer Ingelheim, Fund+, Omega Funds, Grand Decade, BNP Paribas Fortis and Novalis LifeSciences. Based on feedback from the investors, eTheRNA reoriented its strategy in
2022 to a platform and tools company. The business plan now focuses on strengthening the technology and manufacturing capabilities of the Niel site.