Lunar Therapeutics

Lunar Therapeutics was a San Diego-based biotechnology company specializing in the development of messenger RNA (mRNA) medicines and advanced lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technologies. The company was founded by Dr. Padmanabh Chivukula, a co-founder of Arcturus Therapeutics, following a leadership dispute at his former firm. Lunar's primary focus was the optimization of the LUNAR delivery platform to enable the effective systemic and local delivery of nucleic acid payloads. In 2020, after a period of litigation over intellectual property, Lunar Therapeutics was acquired by Arcturus Therapeutics as part of a comprehensive settlement agreement. This acquisition reunited the founders and consolidated the proprietary LNP technology and mRNA pipeline under the Arcturus banner. The company's work primarily targeted rare genetic disorders and infectious diseases through optimized delivery of genetic payloads.