Dicerna Pharmaceuticals Inc. said that it raised US $60 million in third round of financing led by RA Capital, together with Omega Funds, Deefield and Brookside Capital. Existing investors Oxford Bioscience Partners, SR One, Abingworth Management, Skyline Ventures and Domain Associates also participated in the round.

Douglas M. Fambrough, Dicerna's CEO, welcomed the investment of RA Capital and the other new investors, which will help usher the company forward. "With our new and current investor support, we have the necessary resources to continue Dicerna's progression into a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company," he said.

The company uses RNA Interference to develop programs that directly engages the cells targeted like EnCore Drug Delivery System. Dicerna expects to proceed with the human trials next year.

Peter Kolchinsky, RA Capital's partner, said Dicerna has a skilled science and management team that the company is producing more efficient RNAi therapeutics . "The company's novel approach to RNAi will allow it to develop therapeutics with greater potency and enhanced delivery potential," he said.