Dr. Subrata Chakrabarti
Founder
i-RNA
i-RNA develops diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness among working‑age adults. The company focuses on novel molecular approaches, including an lncRNA‑targeting eyedrop that has shown promise in pre‑clinical studies for treating retinal disease.
- Biotechnology
- Healthcare Technology
Updated 4 months ago
Funding
Funding rounds are not available yet.
Founders
Dr. Ting Ling
Founder
Product
Problem
Diabetic retinopathy affects the majority of people with diabetes and is the leading cause of blindness in working‑age adults, yet current diagnostics detect the disease only after significant retinal damage has occurred, and existing therapies rely on frequent invasive intravitreal injections.
Solution
i‑RNA leverages RNA‑based technologies to both detect and treat diabetic retinopathy at an earlier stage. The company has developed a patented panel of circulating RNA biomarkers that generates a retinal health assessment score, enabling detection of disease years before conventional imaging methods. For therapy, i‑RNA offers a novel long‑non‑coding RNA (lncRNA)‑targeting approach delivered via an eye‑drop formulation, which silences pathogenic lncRNAs such as HOTAIR, reducing retinal angiogenesis without the need for repeated injections. This dual strategy aims to provide a less invasive, more specific, and potentially longer‑lasting solution compared with anti‑VEGF drugs.
Target Audience
Primary customers are ophthalmologists, retinal specialists, and diabetes care clinics seeking early‑stage screening tools and non‑invasive treatment options for patients with diabetic retinopathy.
Features
- Blood‑based RNA biomarker panel that quantifies disease risk and stages progression through a retinal health score
- Eye‑drop delivery system for lncRNA HOTAIR silencing, eliminating the need for intravitreal injections
- Patented RNA‑targeting technology designed to minimize drug resistance and off‑target effects
- Potential for both early detection and therapeutic intervention within a single platform
- Clinical collaborations to validate diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy in diabetic populations