# Atisama Therapeutics

> Atisama Therapeutics (formerly Rage Bio) is a Melbourne-based clinical-stage biotech developing precision splice-switching oligonucleotide (SSO) therapies for chronic inflammatory disease. Its lead asset, RB042, is an inhaled RNA drug that targets the RAGE receptor to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - a condition affecting hundreds of millions worldwide with few disease-modifying options. Spun out of a collaboration between IP Group Australia, Monash, Murdoch and the University of Western Australia, the company raised a $29M Series A in 2025 and advanced RB042 into Phase 1 clinical trials in 2026.

- **Founded:** 2020
- **Headquarters:** Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- **Founders:** Chris Wraight (Chief Scientific Officer & founding CEO), Steve Wilton (Scientific founder (splice-switching oligonucleotide pioneer, Murdoch/UWA)), Merlin Thomas (Scientific founder (RAGE biology, Monash University)), Kevin Pfleger (Scientific founder (receptor pharmacology, UWA/Perkins))
- **Team size:** ~15 employees
- **Products:** RB042, SSO discovery platform
- **Notable:** Closed a AU$29M Series A in November 2025 led by IP Group Australia and Hostplus., Advanced RB042 into a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT07285122)., Secured AU$15M+ in non-dilutive funding from the Australian Government's MRFF in 2026.

## Products & services

- **RB042** — Lead asset - an inhaled splice-switching oligonucleotide (SSO) that redirects RAGE pre-mRNA toward the protective soluble esRAGE isoform, targeting the RAGE receptor implicated in COPD inflammation. Currently in a Phase 1 trial (NCT07285122) in healthy volunteers and healthy smokers.
- **SSO discovery platform** — A splice-switching oligonucleotide platform designed to down-regulate disease-driving protein isoforms while up-regulating their protective counterparts - a dual-action mechanism unique to the SSO modality.

## Achievements

- Closed a AU$29M Series A in November 2025 led by IP Group Australia and Hostplus.
- Advanced RB042 into a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT07285122).
- Secured AU$15M+ in non-dilutive funding from the Australian Government's MRFF in 2026.
- Recruited Bernard Coulie, CEO of NASDAQ-listed Pliant Therapeutics, as Chair of the Board.
- Completed three of four single ascending dose (SAD) cohorts with demonstrated safety and tolerability, initiating multiple ascending dose (MAD) cohorts.
- Successfully rebranded from Rage Bio to Atisama Therapeutics, marking the transition from discovery-stage to clinical-stage.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Atisama and Monash University awarded AU$15 million+ from the MRFF Frontier initiative to continue developing RB042.
- **2026-05** — Advanced RB042 into multiple ascending dose (MAD) cohorts of its Phase 1 trial and appointed Bernard Coulie as Chair of the Board.
- **2026-05** — Rage Bio rebranded to Atisama Therapeutics, signalling the move to clinical-stage development.
- **2025-11** — Raised AU$29 million Series A; appointed Dr Siro Perez as CEO and Dr Edwin Tucker as Chief Medical and Development Officer.

## Links

- Website: https://atisama.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ragebio

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/atisama-therapeutics
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-04