Announcement
Montréal, October 22, 2026 – CQDM is pleased to announce funding for four innovation projects led by companies active within Quebec’s RNA sector. With a combined value of $2.9 million, these projects will receive a total of $1.1 million in funding from the Government of Quebec. The projects are supported through the Company-Driven RNA Innovation Program and demonstrate the strength of Quebec’s RNA ecosystem and its potential to foster the next generation of RNA-based therapies and technologies. To learn more about upcoming calls for proposals and the Company-Driven RNA Innovation Program, click here.
Funded Projects
The funded projects span a broad range of RNA innovations and are presented below in alphabetical order by company:
Accelerating the Identification of Novel RNA Therapeutic Targets with the LOFTier Platform
Led by Quebec-based company Five Prime Sciences, this project aims to advance LOFTier, an algorithm that combines human genomic and proteomic data with artificial intelligence to identify and prioritize the most promising targets for RNA-based therapeutic development. The project will expand and validate the platform across multiple highly prevalent diseases while leveraging existing collaborations with two major multinational pharmaceutical companies. The objective is to accelerate the identification of targets for siRNA and antisense oligonucleotide therapies while preparing LOFTier for deployment in the global market in order to rank the utility of targets for disease. Learn more.
Toward a New Generation of Modified mRNA-Based Cancer Therapies
Led by Quebec startup Darbix Biotech Inc., in collaboration with Professors Marc Fabian and Stéphane Richard of the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research of the Jewish General Hospital University Health Centre, this project seeks to accelerate the development of modified mRNA-based cancer treatments. By combining advanced chemistry and machine learning, the team will optimize mRNA sequences and assess their effectiveness in preclinical lung cancer and melanoma models. The work aims to identify a promising therapeutic candidate that can advance toward clinical trials and ultimately provide new treatment options for patients. Learn more.
Optimizing an mRNA Delivery Platform for Immuno-Oncology Applications
Led by Darbix Biotech Inc. and complementing the aforementioned project, this initiative aims to optimize a modified mRNA delivery platform designed for the coordinated delivery and expression of complementary therapeutic peptide chains and to improve formulation parameters and lipid nanoparticle composition. The work will identify the most effective combinations for the intravenous administration of next-generation mRNA therapies for immuno-oncology applications. The team will also focus on enhancing product stability and long-term storage capabilities, key steps toward clinical development and global commercialization. Learn more.
Advancing Novel RNA-Based Treatments for Neurofibromatosis
Led by Quebec-based company RNA4RARE Therapeutics, this project aims to develop new delivery systems capable of reaching the cell types affected in neurofibromatosis (NF) types 1 and 2. NF1 primarily affects Schwann cells, while NF2 affects Schwann, meningeal, and ependymal cells. By enabling therapeutic mRNA to reach these disease-relevant cell populations, the approach is designed to deliver treatment to affected tissues and enable more precise therapeutic intervention. Using high-throughput screening and in vivo validation studies, the team will identify the most promising delivery technologies in terms of efficacy and safety, paving the way for clinical development with potential applications in other rare diseases and cancers. Learn more.
“This government support will expedite the development and commercialization of innovative technologies for Quebec’s RNA therapy sector, making our companies more competitive in this promising niche market. Major projects like this one strengthen our life sciences industry, which in turn allow us to provide better healthcare to Quebecers.”
– Stéphane Paquet, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal Region
“Tomorrow’s breakthroughs depend on the investments we make today. By supporting these projects, we are helping Quebec companies accelerate the development of high-potential technologies while strengthening the scientific and industrial capabilities needed to build a strong, competitive, and sustainable RNA sector in Quebec.”
– Véronique Dugas, President and Chief Executive Officer, CQDM.
About AReNA
Founded with the support of the Government of Québec, AReNA Québec’s RNA Hub, aims to position Québec’s expertise in RNA therapeutics on both the provincial and international stages by bringing initiatives together under a common banner and building a collaborative ecosystem that transforms discoveries into accessible therapeutic solutions, ultimately establishing Québec as a true international hub for RNA. For more information, please visit the website: www.arenapole.ca/ and join us on LinkedIn.
About CQDM
Facilitator of biopharma innovation
CQDM is a not-for-profit biopharmaceutical research consortium whose mission is to support and facilitate multi-stakeholder collaborative R&D aimed at accelerating the translation, of innovative technologies by the biopharma industry into solutions that address unmet medical needs, while generating significant benefits for the Quebec and Canadian economy. For more information, please visit the website: www.cqdm.org and join us on LinkedIn.
Media Contact:
Julia Serafino
Director of Marketing & Communications
CQDM
438-543-9498
[email protected]
