Siren Biotechnology, a company at the forefront of Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy for cancer, revealed today that it has received an $8 million non-dilutive CLIN2 grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to advance the clinical development of SRN-101, the firm’s primary investigational AAV immuno-gene therapy for high-grade glioma brain cancers.
This grant comes on the heels of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of Siren’s initial Investigational New Drug (IND) application earlier this year, moving the company into the clinical phase and allowing a Phase 1/2 study in adults with recurrent high-grade glioma. The CLIN2 funding from CIRM—designed to be transformative—will finance the execution of that trial and the necessary steps to assess SRN-101 in human subjects.
SRN-101 relies on Siren’s Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy platform, which is engineered to permit localized, long-lasting administration of immune-modulating agents directly inside tumors. The FDA has granted this program Fast Track, Orphan Drug and Rare Pediatric Disease designations. CIRM had earlier backed the program during its translational phase through a $4 million non-dilutive TRAN1 grant, and the current award now extends that backing into clinical development.
“We are profoundly grateful to CIRM, who backed this science at its earliest stage and is now standing with us as we enter the clinic,” stated Nicole K. Paulk, PhD, Founder, CEO, and President of Siren Biotechnology. “High-grade gliomas remain among the hardest cancers to treat, and the patients who live with them cannot wait. This funding propels SRN-101 toward the patients who need it, made possible by the vision of the people of California.”
This work is funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), a California state agency that provides financial support for regenerative medicine, stem cell, and gene therapy research (Grant numbers: CLIN2-19526 and TRAN1-15325).
About High-Grade Glioma
High-grade gliomas, including glioblastoma, represent some of the most aggressive and deadly primary brain tumors. Current therapeutic options—surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy—offer only limited effectiveness. There is an urgent need for novel treatment strategies.
About the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)
CIRM was established by the people of California to fund stem cell and gene therapy research with the goal of accelerating treatments for patients with unmet medical needs. Through Proposition 71 in 2004 and Proposition 14 in 2020, a total of $8.5 billion has been allocated to support stem cell and gene therapy discoveries from conception through clinical trials, train a workforce in California for jobs in the state’s thriving biotech and biomedical research sector, and create infrastructure to ensure clinical trial access for individuals across California. All research, workforce development, and infrastructure initiatives of CIRM are designed to benefit the people of California, whose vision led to the agency’s creation. For more details, visit www.cirm.ca.gov.
About Siren Biotechnology
Based in San Francisco, California, Siren Biotechnology is raising the alarm against cancer. The company is pioneering Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy, a novel treatment modality that merges the precision and durability of AAV gene therapy with the immune-modulating capacity of cytokine-based approaches. Siren’s platform is built to facilitate localized, sustained immune activation across a range of solid tumors.
For additional information, visit sirenbiotechnology.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn and X.
