Rochester Based, Brown and White Ventures, Adds High-Growth Biotech miRecule to Portfolio, Betting on RNA Therapeutics for Rare Diseases

Rochester, NY - Brown and White Ventures is backing a biotech innovator, announcing November 25th a new investment in miRecule, a Maryland-based biopharmaceutical company developing antibody RNA therapeutics for rare neuromuscular diseases with limited treatment options.

In miRecule, the venture capital fund invests in a biotech startup that applies genomic patient data to create highly tailored therapeutics designed to help patients live a life free from the debilitating symptoms of their rare genetic disorders.

“Healthcare and medical startup companies are one of our focal points in Brown and White Ventures investment,” co-founder Jim Aroune said. “With miRecule, we’re committing to a company that seeks to make treatment more effective than ever before.”

miRecule’s approach centers on its proprietary drug design platform, DREAmir, which uses genomic and clinical outcome data from thousands of patients to identify the genetic changes causing disease. The platform then engineers RNA therapeutics designed to directly target, silence, or correct those abnormalities.

CEO Anthony Saleh, Ph.D., said the investment is critical to miRecule’s mission. “Brown and White Ventures’ support reinforces our vision to delivering life-altering therapies to patients with limited options, and we are delighted to have them on board,” he said.

The investment also adds Brown and White Ventures to a list of notable existing backers, including the University of Rochester, Johns Hopkins, Alexandria Venture Investments, and Boutique Venture Partners.

Advancing Therapies for FSHD and Centronuclear Myopathy

miRecule is advancing multiple first-in-class RNA-based therapies for severe neuromuscular conditions.

Its most advanced candidate, MC-DX4, has been in-licensed by Sanofi and is being developed to treat facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), the third most common form of muscular dystrophy in the United States, affecting roughly 30,000 patients. The therapy is designed to eliminate expression of the DUX4 gene, the primary driver of progressive muscle weakness in FSHD.

A second program, MC-DNM2, targets centronuclear myopathy (CNM), a devastating congenital disorder marked by profound muscle weakness, respiratory complications, and feeding challenges. CNM often presents at birth and carries a mortality rate of approximately 50 percent by age two. There are currently no approved treatments.

By targeting the genetic drivers of these diseases, miRecule aims to deliver transformative therapeutic options for patients who currently have none.

Strengthening Partnerships and IP

miRecule has been collaborating with Sanofi since 2022 to accelerate development of best-in-class antibody RNA conjugates for FSHD.

In October, the company received U.S. Patent No. 12,104,157, titled “Targeted Inhibition Using Engineered Oligonucleotides.” The patent covers one of miRecule’s lead RNA therapeutics along with a broader class of engineered oligonucleotides, strengthening its intellectual property position.

“This further strengthens our IP position,” Saleh said. “This patent provides broad coverage for our engineered oligonucleotides, which we believe have the potential to be developed into a new class of targeted therapeutics.”

A Growing Portfolio with Local Ties

Brown and White Ventures supports early-stage healthcare, medical, manufacturing, and technology startups, with an emphasis on founders and team who have ties St. Bonaventure University, as well as founders from diverse and underserved backgrounds. The fund donates 10 percent of its net profits to St. Bonaventure University, though it operates independently from the institution.

miRecule becomes the sixth company in Brown and White Ventures’ first year of venture investing. The deal also marks the fund’s second investment in a company led by a St. Bonaventure University alumnus. Saleh earned his B.S. with honors in biochemistry from the university in 2001.

“As an alumnus of St. Bonaventure University, I am proud to welcome Brown and White as partners in our funding round,” he said.

Aroune said miRecule’s mission aligns with the fund’s values. “miRecule will do well by doing good for others through this incredible technology it’s developing,” he said. “This is at the heart of the Franciscan mission Brown and White Ventures seeks to express with every dollar we commit to new companies.”

More information is available at brownandwhiteventures.com.

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