VitaRNA: $1M Fundraise as First Tokenized Gene Therapy Project Advances to Animal Studies

In a significant milestone for decentralized science (DeSci), VitaRNA/Artan Bio has announced a $1M fundraise to support their groundbreaking gene therapy program targeting aging-related mutations. This initiative, which began as the first tokenized gene therapy project through VitaDAO, is now preparing for animal studies following successful in vitro validation.

Recent Achievements and Manufacturing Partnership

The company reached a major milestone in October 2024, successfully identifying and validating two promising drug candidates from an initial screening of 15 prototypes. These candidates have demonstrated effective suppression of arginine nonsense mutations in cancer cell lines with P53 mutations, marking a significant step forward in their therapeutic approach.

In a strategic move to ensure highest quality standards, VitaRNA/Artan Bio has established a manufacturing partnership with Lonza, a world-renowned Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO). This collaboration has already yielded progress in process development for both plasmid and viral vector manufacturing, with optimization of production yields and purity well underway.

Funding Allocation and Next Steps

The new $1M fundraise will support several key initiatives:

• Scaling up viral vector manufacturing for GLP-toxicology studies

• Development of bioanalytical assays

• Validation of aging-related biomarkers

• Comprehensive safety testing

• Expansion of the IP portfolio

• FDA consultation and regulatory strategy development

Clear Path Forward

The project has outlined specific milestones for the coming year:

For Q1 2025:

• $1M Fundraise

• Initiation of scaled manufacturing runs for ARTAN-102

For Q2-Q3 2025:

• Commencement of animal studies in disease-relevant models

• Presentation of findings at scientific conferences

Pioneer in DeSci Funding

VitaRNA/Artan Bio's journey exemplifies the potential of decentralized science funding. The project began with a $91,000 investment from VitaDAO, registered on-chain as an IP-NFT, followed by a successful $300,000 raise through IP tokenization. This innovative funding model has enabled community members to directly participate in advancing potential longevity therapeutics.

Team and Support

Led by top biotech experts with a proven track record in advancing drug development to clinical trials, CEO Anthony Schwartz (@aschwartzphd) and CSO Michael Torres (@Mykalt45) bring deep industry expertise to the project.

Support the VitaRNA Fundraise here: https://mint.molecule.to/ipnft/28/crowdsale/30703810525592972065907045517072277760884022578353069648383135471698350924972

Join our journey:

• Website: https://vitarna.xyz

• Community: t.me/vitarna

• VitaRNA on CoinGecko: https://coingecko.com/en/coins/vitarna

Help us spread the word: https://x.com/vita_dao/status/1877712287303172499