Eli Lilly has agreed to make an equity investment in Mina Therapeutics after approving a research collaboration with the saRNA drug developer earlier this year.

Pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly agreed today to invest about $15m in UK-based RNA therapeutics developer Mina Therapeutics.

Mina is working on a new class of medicines under the small activating RNA (saRNA) banner deisgned to restore or enhance cell function in patients suffering from cancer and other serious health conditions.

The company plans to use the funding to advance a pipeline of saRNA drug candidates focused on immuno-oncology and genetic diseases. Eli Lilly had recently agreed to develop novel drug…