Inspirna

Inspirna (formerly Rgenix) was a New York-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing first-in-class cancer therapeutics targeting key pathways in cancers of high unmet need. Founded in 2010 from science originating in the Tavazoie Lab at The Rockefeller University, the company built its pipeline around its proprietary RNA-DRIVEr platform — a microRNA-based target discovery technology that identifies novel cancer drivers in vivo that can be targeted by small molecules and biologics. Inspirna's lead asset, ompenaclid (RGX-202), was an oral small molecule inhibitor of SLC6A8 in Phase 2 development for RAS-mutant colorectal cancer. Its second asset, abequolixron (RGX-104), was an oral LXR/APOE activator in Phase 1b/2 for non-small cell lung cancer and endometrial cancer. In January 2024, Inspirna partnered with Merck KGaA to receive $45 million upfront for ex-US rights to ompenaclid. Despite being positioned for a Phase 3 trial, Inspirna folded in March/April 2025, ending its decade-long oncology drug development program. The company was headquartered in Long Island City, New York.