The Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Central Texas Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization (CenTex RCIC) announce that the state of Texas has chosen Mirna Therapeutics, Inc. as the recipient of a commercialization award funded through the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (ETF). This company, focused on biopharmaceutical research and development, will receive a $5 million award for the commercialization of its technologies. This is the largest award of this type yet funded by the ETF.

“Biopharmaceuticals are a growth industry that can create jobs for Texans while offering the potential of groundbreaking new treatments for cancer and other diseases,” said Jack McDonald, Chairman of Perficient, Inc. and Chairman of the CenTex RCIC. “This investment in Mirna Therapeutics is another step in our plan to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in Texas and build a leading position in the life sciences industry.”

Mirna Therapeutics, Inc. (Mirna) is a biotechnology company founded by former UT professor Matt Winkler, PhD. Mirna is a spinoff of Asuragen, itself a spinoff of Ambion, where research into ‘microRNA’ (miRNA) first started in 2002. Asuragen was founded with the goal of developing the diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities presented by miRNAs. Mirna’s focus is on the development of miRNA–directed therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Mirna is developing “MicroRNA Replacement Therapy” which involves introducing synthetic microRNAs back into tumors to trigger their death.

“Mirna is rapidly gathering momentum as a free standing company”, said Matt Winkler, founder and Chairman of the Board. “We are showing good efficacy treating lung and prostate tumors in mouse models. We recently hired Paul Lammers, MD, an experienced drug development executive, as CEO and have now received the ETF funding.”

Mirna has active collaborations with both the University of Texas (UT) MD Anderson Cancer Center and UT Austin in the microRNA therapeutic field. Mirna currently has two lead and several follow-on microRNA candidates directed against the treatment of tumors in lung, breast, prostate and colon cancers.

“Mirna has identified the connection between microRNAs and many diseases, including cancer, and we can leverage our first mover advantage and early patent filings to develop miRNA therapeutics for multiple cancer types,” said Lammers. “It is our mission at Mirna to become one of the leading microRNA therapeutics companies.”

Though cancer has been Mirna’s primary focus, Mirna has demonstrated and filed IP around the use of microRNAs in the treatment of diseases in six categories: inflammatory, cardiovascular, ophthalmic, metabolic, neurological and infectious diseases. Mirna currently has eight full time employees with a target of expanding to 20 technical and support employees by fall of 2011.

Mirna Therapeutics, Inc. was selected by the CenTex RCIC after an extensive due diligence process based on multiple criteria including a stringent analyses of the market and financial opportunity, technology potential, management team and economic impact to Texas.

The CenTex RCIC is a virtual center that operates out of the Austin Chamber of Commerce and serves as a catalyst for emerging technology research, development, commercialization and start-up incubation. In an effort to keep Texas globally competitive, the CenTex RCIC focuses on integrating technology development and commercialization in a 15-county region.