Theramir secures €150,000 from RIF to target bladder cancer

Biotech startup Theramir, known for its patented EVmiR platform targeting metastatic breast cancer, has secured €150,000 from the Research and Innovation Foundation to extend its technology to bladder cancer treatment.

EVmiR was designed to combat aggressive, treatment-resistant and metastatic cancers – a category that includes over 30 malignancies. The platform uses extracellular vesicles (EVs) to deliver microRNAs (miRNAs) directly into tumours, silencing oncogenic proteins that drive cancer cell growth. “By focusing on the metastatic characteristics of these cancers, the platform provides precise, non-invasive therapies that maximise efficacy while minimising side effects,” explains Dr Marianna Prokopi Demetriades, Theramir's co-founder.

Prokopi Demetraides is pictured above on the left with the project coordinator Dr Marina Hadjicharalambous Ryder on the right.

New funding plans

With the new funding, Theramir will spend the next 12 to 18 months on in vitro studies and preclinical work, to refine the platform’s drug design and delivery mechanisms. “A key part of this phase,” says Dr Hadjicharalambous Ryder, “is an extensive analysis of the drug’s mode of action, revealing how miRNA-loaded EVs interact with bladder cancer cells at a molecular level.” The findings will help optimise precision targeting and therapeutic efficacy. “We’ll also prioritise biomarker analysis to establish robust predictive tools for patient stratification, which are essential for testing in future preclinical models,” she adds.

Bladder cancer remains a major challenge due to its molecular complexity and limited treatment options. Theramir’s new project – dubbed EXCELL – aims to bridge the gap between foundational research and clinical application. “This project will strengthen EVmiR’s scientific framework, ensuring its readiness for preclinical testing and bringing us closer to providing impactful solutions for patients in need,” Hadjicharalambous Ryder notes.

Accelerating the platform’s development

Theramir has been steadily building momentum. In mid-2024, CBN reported the biotech raised a €525,000 bridge round to advance EVmiR into clinical trials for metastatic breast cancer. “Our journey with EVmiR began with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), where preclinical studies demonstrated remarkable efficacy and safety,” says Prokopi-Demetriades. The platform has since secured patents in key global markets, including the US, EU, Japan and Hong Kong, underscoring its potential to reshape oncology treatment.

To accelerate development, the biotech is collaborating with partners specialising in next-generation biologics to scale GMP pilot production and advance TNBC’s investigational new drug (IND) pathway – a critical step in the process of developing new medicines. Beyond TNBC and bladder cancer, the EVmiR platform is also being developed under the Miraculous programme to treat unhealing malignant wounds. This programme aims to complete preclinical studies by late 2025, with plans to introduce a Class III medical device addressing a critical unmet need.

“Bladder cancer has emerged as a priority due to its molecular profile, high medical need and potential for meaningful therapeutic impact,” says Prokopi-Demetriades. “The EXCELL project presents an exciting opportunity to expand the platform's applications and tackle one of oncology's toughest challenges.”

Read more: Theramir raises €525,000 bridge round to reach clinical phase