TransCode Therapeutics Announces Publication of Preclinical Testing of RIG-I Immunotherapeutic Candidate Supporting Further Development

Rhea-AI Summary

TransCode Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RNAZ) announced publication of a peer-reviewed preclinical manuscript, Template-Directed RIG-I Agonist Assembly, published February 19, 2026 in Molecular Imaging and Biology.

The study reports a tumor-selective RIG-I agonist approach that uses overexpressed oncogenic microRNAs (eg, miRNA-21) as intracellular assembly templates and highlights image-guided delivery using TransCode's TTX nanoparticle platform, which is currently in clinical trials.

Positive

• Peer-reviewed publication in Molecular Imaging and Biology (Feb 19, 2026)
• Tumor-selective RIG-I activation leveraging miRNA-21 as an intracellular template
• TTX nanoparticle delivery platform linked to translational feasibility; currently in clinical trials

Negative

• Preclinical results only; human safety and efficacy not yet demonstrated
• Publication reports novel approach but does not provide clinical outcome data

News Market Reaction – RNAZ

-0.21%

1 alert

-0.21% News Effect

On the day this news was published, RNAZ declined 0.21%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Publication date: February 19, 2026

1 metrics

Publication date February 19, 2026 Preclinical RIG-I immunotherapy manuscript in Molecular Imaging and Biology

Market Reality Check

Price: $8.70 Vol: Volume 5,297 is only 0.01...

low vol

$8.70 Last Close

Volume Volume 5,297 is only 0.01x the 20-day average of 619,769, indicating very light trading ahead of this news. low

Technical Price at 9.69 is just above the 200-day MA of 9.68, near a longer-term equilibrium level.

Peers on Argus

RNAZ showed a -6.65% pre-news decline while key peers were mixed: INAB -4.91%, A...

1 Up

RNAZ showed a -6.65% pre-news decline while key peers were mixed: INAB -4.91%, APRE -6.41%, CYCCP -5.61%, BOLT roughly flat in sector data but later flagged with a momentum move +8.12% without news, and EPIX +0.6%. The combination points to stock-specific factors rather than a unified sector rotation.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 05 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 05	IND amendment filed	Positive	+16.2%	IND amendment with FDA for planned Phase 2a TTX-MC138 colorectal trial.
Jan 06	Preclinical data	Positive	+0.7%	Preclinical glioblastoma data showing target engagement and survival benefit.
Dec 22	Board appointment	Positive	-4.1%	Appointment of Jack E. Stover to board and key committees.
Dec 11	Phase 2a launch	Positive	+20.7%	Launch of Phase 2a PRE-I-SPY TTX-MC138 colorectal cancer trial.
Nov 17	Executive hire	Positive	+1.8%	Appointment of Senior Development Officer to guide lead programs.

Pattern Detected

Clinical and positive corporate updates have usually been followed by upward moves, with one notable divergence on a board appointment.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, TransCode has focused on advancing its RNA oncology pipeline and strengthening leadership. On Nov 17, 2025, it added a Senior Development Officer to support late-stage planning for TTX-MC138 and Seviprotimut-L. A Phase 2a PRE-I-SPY trial in colorectal cancer, enrolling up to 45 patients, was announced on Dec 11, 2025 and reinforced via an IND amendment on Feb 5, 2026. Preclinical data in glioblastoma were published on Jan 6, 2026. Today’s RIG-I publication adds another preclinical validation layer to its platform.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights peer-reviewed preclinical validation for a template-directed RIG-I agon...

Analysis

This announcement highlights peer-reviewed preclinical validation for a template-directed RIG-I agonist assembled using tumor microRNAs like miRNA-21, integrated with TransCode’s TTX nanoparticle platform. It reinforces the company’s focus on image-guided, tumor-selective immunotherapy alongside ongoing TTX-MC138 clinical plans. Investors may watch for how this mechanism translates into future clinical candidates, regulatory filings, and whether subsequent data releases build on the mechanistic rationale described in the February 19, 2026 publication.

Key Terms

rig-i, immunotherapy, innate immune signaling, microRNAs, +4 more

8 terms

rig-i medical

"Template-Directed RIG-I Agonist Assembly for Image-guided Targeted Cancer Immunotherapy"

RIG‑I is a cellular sensor protein that detects viral RNA and triggers the body’s immediate immune alarm, like a smoke detector that alerts a building when it senses smoke. Investors care because therapies or diagnostics that activate, mimic, or measure RIG‑I can become new antiviral drugs, vaccine enhancers or immune biomarkers; successful clinical results or approvals tied to RIG‑I can materially change a biotech company’s development prospects and valuation.

immunotherapy medical

"a novel tumor-selective immunotherapy approach that activates innate immune signaling"

Treatment that uses or enhances the body’s immune system to detect and fight disease, most often cancers or chronic infections; think of it as training or arming the body’s own soldiers to find and destroy targets. It matters to investors because successful immunotherapies can lead to high-value drug approvals, recurring revenue from long-term treatments, and changes in competitive dynamics, while failures or safety issues in clinical trials can materially affect company valuations.

innate immune signaling medical

"approach that activates innate immune signaling specifically within cancer cells"

Innate immune signaling is the body’s first-line biological alarm system in which cells recognize threats and send chemical messages to recruit defenses, control inflammation, and limit infection. Investors care because many drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics aim to boost, block, or measure these signals; changes in this pathway can determine a therapy’s effectiveness, safety profile, regulatory approval, and commercial potential — like how a home security alarm shapes response and cost.

microRNAs medical

"leveraging overexpressed oncogenic microRNAs, such as miRNA-21, as intracellular"

microRNAs are tiny pieces of genetic material that act like dimmer switches for genes, turning down the production of specific proteins inside cells. Investors pay attention because microRNAs can be used as diagnostic markers or drug targets—meaning discoveries can create new tests, treatments, or business opportunities, and progress or setbacks in that research can materially affect a company’s clinical prospects and valuation.

mirna-21 medical

"overexpressed oncogenic microRNAs, such as miRNA-21, as intracellular assembly"

miR-21 is a tiny piece of genetic material that acts like a dimmer switch for other genes, turning their activity up or down. It is closely linked to processes such as cell growth, inflammation and scarring, so measurements of miR-21 or drugs that alter its activity are often pursued as diagnostic tests or therapies. For investors, miR-21 is important because it can drive the value of biotech products and pipelines focused on cancer, fibrosis, and related diseases.

oncogenic medical

"leveraging overexpressed oncogenic microRNAs, such as miRNA-21"

Oncogenic describes anything—such as a gene change, virus, or chemical—that can cause normal cells to become cancerous and form tumors. Investors should care because oncogenic findings can shape a drug or product’s safety profile, regulatory approval, liability risk and marketability; think of an oncogenic factor like a stray spark that can start a costly, hard-to-control fire in a product or clinical program.

nanoparticle delivery platform technical

"combining tumor-specific RNA templating with our TTX nanoparticle delivery platform"

A nanoparticle delivery platform is a medical technology that encloses drugs, vaccines, or genetic material in tiny engineered particles so they can be carried safely to specific cells or tissues — like a microscopic mail carrier delivering a package to a single address. It matters to investors because such platforms can boost effectiveness, cut side effects, enable new therapies, and affect commercial upside and development risk through manufacturing complexity, regulatory hurdles, and intellectual property value.

image-guided therapies medical

"image-guided therapies with clinical and commercial relevance."

Image-guided therapies are medical treatments where doctors use real-time pictures from scans (like CT, MRI, or ultrasound) to precisely target disease areas during procedures, similar to using GPS to navigate to an exact address. For investors, these therapies matter because greater precision can improve patient outcomes, reduce recovery time and costs, and create demand for specialized devices, software and approved procedures—factors that influence sales, reimbursement and regulatory risk.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

BOSTON, Feb. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TransCode Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNAZ), a clinical stage company pioneering immuno-oncology and RNA therapeutics for the treatment of high risk and advanced cancers, today announced the publication of a manuscript titled Template-Directed RIG-I Agonist Assembly for Image-guided Targeted Cancer Immunotherapy in the journal Molecular Imaging and Biology. The paper, published February 19, 2026, reports on a novel tumor-selective immunotherapy approach that activates innate immune signaling specifically within cancer cells while enabling non-invasive imaging of drug delivery. The study was carried out in collaboration with Dr. Anna Moore, Professor, Director of the Precision Health Program, and Associate Dean for Research Development at the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University and scientific co-founder of TransCode.

The data describe a template-driven RIG-I agonist strategy to selectively activate retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) signaling inside tumor cells by leveraging overexpressed oncogenic microRNAs, such as miRNA-21, as intracellular assembly templates. This approach directly addresses longstanding challenges associated with RIG-I agonists, including off-target immune activation and inefficient systemic delivery.

"Our findings demonstrate a novel approach to precisely engage innate immune pathways directly within tumor cells, while minimizing systemic toxicity," said Zdravka Medarova, Ph.D., CSO of TransCode. "We believe that combining tumor-specific RNA templating with our TTX nanoparticle delivery platform brings RIG-I-based immunotherapy closer to clinical relevance." TransCode's TTX delivery platform is currently being evaluated in clinical trials, underscoring the translational feasibility of this immunotherapy approach.

Molecular Imaging and Biology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal and the official publication of the World Molecular Imaging Society, focused on translational research in molecular imaging and image-guided therapies with clinical and commercial relevance.

About TransCode Therapeutics 

TransCode Therapeutics is a clinical stage company pioneering immuno-oncology and RNA therapeutic treatments for high risk and advanced cancers. The company's lead therapeutic candidate, TTX-MC138, is focused on treating metastatic tumors that overexpress microRNA-10b, a unique, well-documented biomarker of metastasis. In addition, TransCode's portfolio includes other first-in-class therapeutic candidates designed to mobilize the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. For more information, visit www.transcodetherapeutics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements 

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements concerning the effectiveness of TransCode's TTX delivery platform and its therapeutic approaches and strategies, statements concerning the timing, conduct and results of TransCode's preclinical and clinical studies, statements about microRNAs and their involvement in cancer, and statements concerning the therapeutic potential of TransCode's therapeutic candidates. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risks associated with drug discovery and development; the risk that the results of clinical trials will not be consistent with TransCode's preclinical studies or expectations or with results from previous clinical trials; risks associated with the conduct of clinical trials; risks associated with TransCode's financial condition and its need to obtain additional funding to support its business activities, including TransCode's ability to continue as a going concern; risks associated with the timing and outcome of TransCode's planned regulatory submissions; risks associated with obtaining, maintaining and protecting intellectual property; risks associated with TransCode's ability to enforce its patents against infringers and defend its patent portfolio against challenges from third parties; risks of competition from other companies developing products for similar uses; risks associated with TransCode's dependence on third parties; and risks associated with geopolitical events and pandemics, including the COVID-19 coronavirus and military actions. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause TransCode's actual results to differ from those contained in or implied by the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in TransCode's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties and other important factors in any subsequent TransCode filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of this release; TransCode undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law. 

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SOURCE TransCode Therapeutics, Inc.

FAQ

What did TransCode Therapeutics (RNAZ) publish on February 19, 2026?

They published a peer-reviewed preclinical manuscript on a tumor-selective RIG-I agonist approach. According to the company, the paper describes template-driven RIG-I activation using overexpressed oncogenic microRNAs such as miRNA-21 and image-guided delivery.

How does the template-driven RIG-I agonist for RNAZ work?

It uses overexpressed oncogenic microRNAs inside tumor cells as templates for agonist assembly. According to the company, this enables selective RIG-I signaling activation while aiming to limit off-target immune activation.

What role does miRNA-21 play in TransCode's (RNAZ) approach?

miRNA-21 is used as an intracellular assembly template to direct RIG-I agonist formation selectively in tumor cells. According to the company, exploiting miRNA-21 helps target innate immune activation to cancer cells.

What is the significance of TransCode's TTX nanoparticle platform for RNAZ?

TTX provides image-guided systemic delivery compatible with the published approach. According to the company, TTX is already being evaluated in clinical trials, supporting translational feasibility of the therapy.

Does the February 19, 2026 publication report clinical results for RNAZ therapies?

No — the paper reports preclinical, not clinical, data demonstrating proof-of-concept in models. According to the company, the work addresses delivery and off-target activation challenges but does not include human trial outcomes.

Who collaborated with TransCode on the published RIG-I study for RNAZ?

The study was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Anna Moore from Michigan State University. According to the company, Dr. Moore is a scientific co-founder and contributed to the translational research described.