In glioblastoma, a common deletion on chromosome 9 leads to the loss of the tumor suppressor gene CDKN2A. RXcel has developed a smart RNA molecule capable of sensing the absence of CDKN2A transcripts. 

When these transcripts are missing, the RNA triggers the expression of a therapeutic effector protein. This selective response is enabled by the RNA’s engineered stability — it remains active and therapeutically effective only when CDKN2A is absent, and is rapidly degraded when the target is present, ensuring precise control and minimizing off-target effects.

In collaboration with our academic partners RXcel has now proven that this is no longer a hypothesis. We have successfully delivered RNA probes in vitro with conditional stability and delivered cytotoxic signals.