Anna Moore, Ph.D.
TransCode Therapeutics has appointed Anna Moore, Ph.D., as Chair of its Scientific Advisory Board and entered into a sponsored research agreement with Michigan State University, moves aimed at advancing the company’s pipeline of RNA and immuno-oncology therapies for advanced cancers.
The clinical-stage biotechnology company, which trades on Nasdaq under the ticker RNAZ, said the dual announcement strengthens its scientific leadership while expanding external research support as it works to move candidates toward later-stage development.
Moore currently serves as Associate Dean for Research Development, Director of the Precision Health Program and Professor in the Departments of Radiology and Physiology at Michigan State University. She is also a co-founder of TransCode Therapeutics and has played a central role in the company’s scientific foundation.
Before joining Michigan State, Moore spent 26 years at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where she was Professor of Radiology and Director of the Molecular Imaging Laboratory.
She is widely recognized for her work in molecular imaging and RNA-targeted cancer therapeutics, fields that have gained increasing attention as biotechnology companies pursue more precise and personalized oncology treatments.
As chair of the Scientific Advisory Board, Moore will help guide TransCode’s research and development strategy, with an emphasis on advancing RNA-based therapies targeting metastatic and high-risk cancers.
“I am honored and very much looking forward to assume this role and continue collaborating with the TransCode team,” Moore said in a statement, adding that metastatic disease remains one of oncology’s largest unmet needs.
Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder Zdravka Medarova said Moore’s contributions to RNA therapeutics and her role in launching the company make her a valuable asset for its next stage of growth.
In addition to the leadership appointment, TransCode announced a sponsored research agreement with Michigan State University. The partnership is intended to accelerate development of pipeline candidates from laboratory research into clinical programs.
Academic partnerships remain a common strategy for early-stage biotech companies seeking access to specialized expertise, translational research capabilities and cost-efficient development resources.
Under the agreement, research at Michigan State will include studies of TransCode’s lead candidate, TTX-MC138, in combination with Seviprotimut-L as well as with standard-of-care cancer therapies.
TTX-MC138 is an antagomiR designed to target microRNA-10b, a biomarker associated with cancer metastasis. The company is developing the therapy for metastatic tumors that overexpress the molecule.
RNA therapeutics have become one of biotechnology’s fastest-growing areas, particularly after the commercial success of messenger RNA platforms and broader advances in targeted gene regulation technologies. Companies are now exploring RNA-based approaches across oncology, rare disease and immunology.
TransCode’s broader portfolio also includes immuno-oncology candidates designed to help the immune system identify and attack cancer cells.
The company obtained Seviprotimut-L through its acquisition of the parent company of Polynoma LLC. Evaluating combination strategies may help determine whether immune-based therapies and RNA-targeted approaches can produce stronger responses than either treatment alone.
For investors and industry observers, the announcements suggest TransCode is focused on strengthening both scientific governance and external collaboration as it seeks to progress its platform in a competitive oncology market.
With new advisory leadership and university-backed research now in place, the company is positioning itself to accelerate development of therapies aimed at one of cancer treatment’s most difficult challenges: metastatic disease.