The Ohio State University

City Therapeutics is leveraging this technology to develop a pipeline of next-generation RNAi medicines with improved potency and expanded therapeutic reach. With the support of several federal investments from the National Institutes of Health, the company conducts multiple research endeavors on small interfering RNAs and cleavage-inducing tiny RNAs (cityRNAs). These tiny RNA molecules target diseases that were previously considered “undruggable” and difficult to target by conventional therapies. This federally funded work has led to key discoveries that formed the foundation of City Therapeutics’ technology platform. 

City Therapeutics recently emerged with a $135 million Series A funding round, the largest ever Series A investment for an Ohio State startup. This substantial investment underscores the company’s potential for significant economic impact in the biopharmaceutical space. The company aims to begin clinical development of its lead program by the end of 2025 and plans to submit one to two new Investigational New Drug applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration every year starting in 2026. This pipeline will drive future job creation and economic growth as programs advance.

The Ohio State University has established several programs to support commercialization of research, including the Accelerator Awards, which provide up to $150,000 to advance promising technologies in partnership with the State of Ohio. The university also facilitates the transformation of its fundamental scientific research into innovative companies and products through the Enterprise for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge. These efforts have resulted in over 300 active licensing deals based on Ohio State technology and more than 800 active U.S. -issued patents.