Flashpoint Taps RNA Veteran to Steer Nanomedicine Revolution

EVANSTON, Ill. – January 14, 2026 – In a strategic move signaling a major push to accelerate its clinical ambitions, Flashpoint Therapeutics has appointed Dr. Venkat R. Krishnamurthy as its new Chief Scientific Officer. The appointment brings a leader with over 15 years of experience in the complex world of RNA therapeutics—including guiding a drug from concept to FDA approval—to the helm of a company pioneering a novel class of treatments known as structural nanomedicines.

This hire is seen by industry observers as a significant step to de-risk and validate Flashpoint's highly specialized technology. The company, which spun out of Northwestern University, aims to solve some of the most persistent challenges in drug delivery and targeting by precisely engineering therapies at the nanoscale. With Dr. Krishnamurthy’s track record, Flashpoint is positioning itself to translate its sophisticated platform science into tangible clinical results.

“We are thrilled to welcome Venkat to the Flashpoint executive team,” said Barry Labinger, Chief Executive Officer of Flashpoint Therapeutics. “Venkat’s proven leadership and remarkable track record of translating complex science into clinical stage medicines is a perfect fit for our mission. His deep expertise across multiple modalities will be instrumental as we accelerate the development of our proprietary structural nanomedicine platform and build a pipeline of transformative medicines for patients.”

A Veteran Hand on the Tiller of Innovation

Dr. Krishnamurthy is not new to the high-stakes environment of developing next-generation genetic medicines. His experience is both broad and deep, with leadership roles at major pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca, as well as innovative biotechs such as Korro Bio, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of Platform Research.

However, it is his tenure at Dicerna Pharmaceuticals that stands out. There, Dr. Krishnamurthy played an integral role in the development and advancement of Nedosiran (marketed as Rivfloza). This small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutic, which reduces the production of a specific liver enzyme, received FDA approval in late 2023 for treating Primary Hyperoxaluria type 1, a rare and debilitating genetic disease. Successfully navigating a novel modality through the rigorous FDA approval process is a rare and highly valued accomplishment in the biotech industry.

Labinger highlighted this specific achievement, noting that Dr. Krishnamurthy's “direct experience guiding an RNA therapeutic from concept to FDA approval is invaluable.” This experience provides Flashpoint not just with scientific acumen, but with crucial regulatory and developmental foresight as it advances its own candidates.

“I am thrilled to join Flashpoint Therapeutics at such a pivotal moment,” said Dr. Krishnamurthy. “The structural nanomedicine platform developed by Professor Chad Mirkin and the Flashpoint team represents a paradigm shift in how we think about the design and therapeutic potential of nanomedicines.”

The Science of Structural Nanomedicine

Flashpoint's technology is built upon a foundation of nanotechnology research from the lab of Prof. Chad Mirkin at Northwestern University’s International Institute for Nanotechnology. The company’s platform is based on its proprietary Spherical Nucleic Acid (SNA) architecture, which allows for the precise, three-dimensional arrangement of therapeutic molecules.

Unlike conventional delivery systems like lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which encapsulate their payload, Flashpoint’s structural nanomedicines are built with the therapeutic agents as integral parts of the nanoparticle's structure. This modular approach enables the co-delivery of multiple, distinct therapeutic components—such as mRNA, siRNA, DNA, proteins, or CRISPR gene-editing tools—in optimized ratios and configurations directly to a target cell. The company believes this structural control can unlock new biological functions, enhance stability, and dramatically improve potency and safety.

This is not merely theoretical. The company is already a clinical-stage entity with its lead candidate, FLASH-001, an immuno-oncology agent. In a Phase 1b/2 trial, FLASH-001, which incorporates toll-like receptor 9 agonists, demonstrated a curative effect in a subset of patients with advanced Merkel Cell Carcinoma. The company plans to expand this study to larger patient cohorts and additional cancer types in 2025.

Dr. Krishnamurthy’s enthusiasm for the platform is palpable. “The ability to use structure to control biological function is a powerful concept with the potential to solve long-standing challenges in drug delivery and targeting,” he stated. “I look forward to working with the talented team to build a world-class R&D engine and translate this powerful technology into meaningful new therapies for patients.”

Navigating a Competitive and Complex Landscape

The field of nanomedicine is both promising and fiercely competitive. The market is projected to swell to over $700 billion by 2035, driven by the demand for more effective treatments for chronic diseases like cancer. However, the field is fraught with challenges. Issues of potential toxicity, navigating biological barriers like the blood-brain barrier, and evading the body’s immune system have hindered many promising technologies. Furthermore, the novelty and complexity of these platforms create significant regulatory hurdles.

Flashpoint’s precision-engineered approach is designed to overcome many of these obstacles. By controlling the exact structure and composition of its therapies, the company aims to minimize off-target effects and improve the safety profile while maximizing therapeutic impact. Dr. Krishnamurthy's appointment is a clear signal to investors and partners that the company is serious about methodically and expertly navigating these scientific and regulatory challenges.

Strategic Capital and Global Partnerships

Flashpoint's ambitious goals are backed by significant financial and strategic support. In October 2023, the company closed a $10 million seed financing round led by Beta Lab, a deep-tech venture capital firm based in Riyadh, with participation from CS Venture Opportunities Fund. This capital is being deployed to advance FLASH-001, nominate a second candidate for development, and expand the core platform.

Perhaps more significant is the company's deep partnership with the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC) in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration, valued at up to $50 million over five years, established the Flashpoint-KAIMRC Center of Excellence in Structural Nanomedicine. This center will not only advance the core technology but will also serve as a hub for conducting clinical trials within Saudi Arabia, focusing on diseases prevalent in the region and globally.

This combination of seasoned leadership, a potentially transformative technology platform, and robust financial and international partnerships places Flashpoint Therapeutics at a critical inflection point. With Dr. Krishnamurthy now guiding its scientific strategy, the company is poised to test the true potential of structural nanomedicines in the clinic and beyond, aiming to turn a new page in the story of precision medicine.