With a distinct take on CRISPR technology, Carver Biosciences secured seed financing to support the development of RNA-targeting gene therapies aimed at RNA-based respiratory infectious diseases. The undisclosed financing will further the company’s development of bacterially derived RNA-directed RNase Cas13 to target respiratory viruses. Funds will support initial proof of concept Cas13 experiments in cells and in models of disease, the company stated.
The Cas13 protein uses a short segment of RNA to guide itself to mRNA, where it cuts and destroys the mRNA in a sequence-specific fashion. The aim of CRISPR/Cas13 is to destroy these respiratory viruses and prevent them from replicating. The company explained that its gene therapies will act in concert with current vaccination and viral inhibitors to arrest the progression of infection from infections like COVID-19 or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
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