UK Biotech Thalia Raises $3.5M, Buys Sanmirna

Jan de Vries · 2026-06-26

Thalia Therapeutics, a UK-based biotech company specializing in RNA-based drugs for cancer and heart disease, just made two big moves. They announced the acquisition of Sanmirna Therapeutics and raised $3.5 million (converted from 3.1 million euros). This is a major step forward for a company that's been quietly building its pipeline for years. The funding round included support from both new and existing investors, with Premier Miton leading the charge. The deal brings miRisten, a promising microRNA therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), into Thalia's portfolio. It's expected to speed up their shift from a preclinical to a clinical-stage company. ### What This Means for Thalia Dr. David Solomon, Thalia's CEO, called this a "transformative opportunity." In his words, it "accelerates our clinical-stage oncology pipeline and diversifies our RNA therapeutics pipeline, providing us with an asset that advances our development timeline by several years." That's a big deal for a company that's been working on preclinical candidates. The acquisition and raise come at a time when European biotech is seeing a surge in RNA-related deals. It's not just Thalia either. Other similar moves in 2026 include: - STORM Therapeutics in Cambridge raised $53.6 million for RNA-modifying cancer therapies. - Engitix in London secured $23.7 million for cancer and fibrosis programs. - Laigo Bio in Utrecht landed $19.2 million for cancer and autoimmune therapies. - PlaqueTec in Cambridge raised $4.7 million for cardiovascular precision medicine. These deals, mostly in the UK, show a strong domestic cluster of biotech activity. Thalia fits right in. Across all comparable rounds, disclosed funding totals about $125.8 million, or $129.3 million when you include Thalia's raise. ### The Sanmirna Acquisition Details Sanmirna Therapeutics is a US-based clinical-stage biotech founded by NLC Health Ventures. They focus on microRNA-targeted therapies for cancer. Thalia is buying all of Sanmirna's shares for an initial $4.7 million, with potential milestone payments of up to $16.9 million more. Dr. Solomon explained why this deal matters: "The Sanmirna acquisition is value accretive for Thalia shareholders. It transforms Thalia into a clinical-stage company developing a promising novel therapeutic approach to treat AML, a disease with high unmet medical need." miRisten targets microRNA-126, which plays a critical role in AML, a life-threatening cancer where current treatments fall short. ### Pipeline and Future Plans Thalia was founded in 2014 and has been building a diverse pipeline in oncology and cardiovascular disease. The addition of Sanmirna brings a new RNA therapeutic modality, different from their existing dual-target small interfering RNA in preclinical work. Now, Thalia has three key assets at different stages: - miRisten (clinical-stage for AML) - Nuvec (their delivery technology) - A new cardiovascular product Dr. Solomon says each of these "has the potential, both individually and in combination, to address multi-billion dollar market opportunities." miRisten is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial for patients with relapsed or refractory AML. Topline results are expected in the first half of 2027. AML affects over 22,000 new patients in the US each year, with a global market opportunity of $3.9 billion. ### The Bigger Picture This deal isn't just about numbers. It's about a company positioning itself to compete in a fast-moving field. RNA therapeutics have huge potential, and Thalia is betting big on that. With a clinical-stage asset in hand, they're no longer just a preclinical player. They're a real contender. For investors, this is a chance to get in on a company that's making smart moves. The acquisition is structured to reward both parties over time, with milestone payments tied to progress. That's a solid approach in a risky industry like biotech. In short, Thalia is doing what smart biotechs do: leveraging acquisitions and funding to accelerate their pipeline. If miRisten delivers in its Phase 1 trial, this could be a game-changer for AML patients and for Thalia's future.