# Strand Therapeutics

> Strand Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech building 'programmable' mRNA medicines - drugs engineered with logic circuits so they switch on the right protein, in the right cell, at the right time. Spun out of MIT in 2017 by synthetic biologists who wrote the first programming language for mRNA, Strand's lead candidate STX-001 is a self-replicating mRNA that makes tumors manufacture their own IL-12, turning cold cancers hot from the inside. Backed by Kinnevik, Regeneron, Amgen and Eli Lilly with over $250M raised.

- **Founded:** 2017
- **Headquarters:** Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- **Founders:** Jacob (Jake) Becraft (Co-Founder & CEO), Tasuku Kitada (Co-Founder, President & Head of R&D), Ron Weiss (Scientific Co-Founder), Darrell J. Irvine (Scientific Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** ~89 employees
- **Products:** Programmable mRNA platform, STX-001, STX-003, Pipeline programs
- **Notable:** Developed what is described as the world's first synthetic biology programming language for mRNA at MIT., Advanced STX-001 into a first-in-human Phase 1 trial for advanced solid tumors., Reported multiple RECIST responses including complete responses in checkpoint-resistant patients at ASCO 2025.

## Products & services

- **Programmable mRNA platform** — A synthetic-biology platform that embeds logic circuits and cell-type sensing into mRNA, controlling protein expression by location, timing, and dose.
- **STX-001** — Lead candidate: a self-replicating mRNA that expresses interleukin-12 (IL-12) locally inside the tumor microenvironment to reprogram cold tumors and trigger systemic immune responses. In Phase 1 for advanced solid tumors, dosed as monotherapy and with Merck's Keytruda.
- **STX-003** — Program targeting non-small cell lung cancer, with a Phase 1 trial expected to begin in 2026.
- **Pipeline programs** — Additional programs targeting blood malignancies and autoimmune disease, with several more in development across an eight-program portfolio.

## Achievements

- Developed what is described as the world's first synthetic biology programming language for mRNA at MIT.
- Advanced STX-001 into a first-in-human Phase 1 trial for advanced solid tumors.
- Reported multiple RECIST responses including complete responses in checkpoint-resistant patients at ASCO 2025.
- Raised over $250M total, including a $153M Series B led by Kinnevik with Regeneron, Amgen and Lilly.
- Built an eight-program pipeline spanning solid tumors, blood cancers, and autoimmune disease.

## Latest updates

- **2025-08** — Raised $153M Series B led by Kinnevik, with Regeneron Ventures, Amgen Ventures and Eli Lilly, bringing total funding above $250M.
- **2025-05** — Presented initial first-in-human Phase 1 data for STX-001 at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting, showing complete and partial responses plus prolonged disease stabilization.
- **2026** — STX-003 in non-small cell lung cancer expected to enter Phase 1 trials.

## Links

- Website: https://strandtx.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strandtx
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StrandTx

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/strand-therapeutics
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Last updated: 2026-06-08