RevoNA is a recent spin-out from the University of Portsmouth that aims to revolutionise the discovery of new drugs targeting ribonucleic acids (RNAs). It has been known for some time that RNA is the key mechanism by which information in DNA (the blueprint of life) is used to create proteins (the building blocks of life), but the full importance of RNA in regulating the biological processes of life has only recently been revealed. Over 100,000 RNAs have now been identified in the body and it is recognised that targeting RNAs with drugs has the potential to treat both viral and bacterial infections and offer new hope across a rapidly increasing range of diseases, including cancer, cardiac dysfunction, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases; the latter being the focus for RevoNA. With RNA drugs at the leading edge of pharmaceutical innovation, whether they ultimately play a key role in reducing the global burden of disease is dependent on increasing the pace and breadth of RNA research and development (R&D). RevoNA has demonstrated and patented a technology which enables the fast, effective and affordable analysis of RNA target-drug interactions. To realise the full potential of this innovation, RevoNA is combining this ability to rapidly create large information-rich data sets, with the latest machine learning approaches, to generate a best-in-class computational predictive engine to aid and accelerate RNA therapeutic R&D and unlock its full potential. Currently in the pre-seed phase, RevoNA already has a proven technology, an initial dataset, a first version of the prediction engine and significant market interest. This project focuses on expanding the dataset used to train the predictive engine, developing the next iteration of the engine and demonstrating RevoNA's capability in the neurodegenerative disease therapeutic area. RevoNA's planned business model is revenue earning research partnerships and licensable data assets. This project will strengthen RevoNA's capability and deliver compelling case study data packs as important precursors to these pharma/biotech partnership and investor discussions which underpin RevoNA's commercial growth. Our research was ahead of its time, but our market engagement shows the growing RNA drug sector desperately needs our technology now. With the weight of RNA drug development currently occurring in the US, investment in RevoNA offers a step-change in capability and the potential for the UK to access this market, thus unlocking UK RNA drug development and providing an opportunity to increase the UK's role in addressing the global burden of disease.

RevoNA is an emerging spin-out from the University of Portsmouth (UoP) that aims to revolutionise the discovery of new drugs targeting ribonucleic acids (RNAs). It has been known for some time that RNA is the key mechanism by which information in DNA (the blueprint of life) is used to create proteins (the building blocks of life), but the full importance of RNA in regulating the biological processes of life has only recently been revealed. Over 100,000 RNAs have now been identified in the body and it is recognised that targeting RNAs with drugs has the potential to treat both viral and bacterial infections, as well as offering new hope across a rapidly increasing range of diseases, including cancer, cardiac dysfunction, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders. While RNA drugs are undoubtedly at the leading edge of pharmaceutical innovation, whether they ultimately play a key role in reducing the global burden of disease is dependent on increasing the pace and breadth of RNA research and development. This will only be achieved if the significant limitations to screening RNA target/drug interactions can be addressed, as existing methods are either slow, costly and labour intensive, or fast, but provide minimal information. RevoNA has demonstrated and patented a technology which enables the fast, effective and low-cost screening of RNA target-drug interactions. This project focuses on exploiting our proven technology to launch a company delivering RNA screening service partnerships to RNA therapeutic research and development (R&D) organisations. This project will deliver quality assurance technical data packs and case studies which are important precursors to business development, further investment and sustainable commercial success as they will demonstrate the superiority and benefits of our technology over the limited existing approaches. Our research was ahead of its time, but our market engagement shows the rapidly growing RNA drug sector would hugely benefit from our technology now. Public investment will enable the UK to be at the forefront of a new market in RNA screening partnerships which will capitalise on the rapidly expanding field of RNA drug development. This is particularly topical as COVID-19 has prompted public interest in RNA more generally. With the weight of RNA drug development currently occurring in the US, RevoNA offers a step-change in capability and potential for the UK to access this market and by unlocking UK RNA drug development, provide an opportunity to increase the UK's role in addressing the global burden of disease.