Merlin Biotech is developing breakthrough cancer therapies using clinically proven mRNA technology to activate the body’s natural immune response, with a focus on children with cancer. Its lead program, MER-101, is a first-in-class mRNA immunotherapy designed to deliver the USP6 protein directly into tumors, activating multiple immune pathways and effectively “uncloaking” cancer cells so the immune system can recognize and attack them. Merlin’s lead therapy, Starlight, is approximately one year away from entering studies in children with cancer, with additional research focused on adult solid tumors and rare pediatric cancers such as Ewing sarcoma, where treatment options are limited when the disease returns.
Your support can help Merlin move this promising innovation closer to the children and families who need new options. Donate today and help advance the next generation of cancer therapies.
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Every year, about 500 children and young adults are diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma—a rare and aggressive cancer with heartbreaking odds. Standard treatments are brutal: chemotherapy can cause permanent damage, and surgery often means amputation. For those with advanced disease, survival beyond five years drops to just 25%. These children deserve better.
Merlin Biotech wants to change the face of childhood cancer, especially the hard to treat cancers. We’re developing “Starlight” , a breakthrough immune-activating therapy that targets the tumor directly. Starlight harnesses the body’s own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Think of it like turning the tumor into a beacon, guiding the immune system to fight back.
Today, unfortunate children with Ewing sarcoma are fighting with outdated, toxic treatments that often provide marginal benefit, at best. Merlin is building a future where safer, more effective therapies give these kids a real chance. Because every child with cancer deserves more than what they’ve been given—we all owe them that.
Merlin Biotech is gearing up for a major milestone—bringing our breakthrough therapy, Starlight (or “MER-101”), one step closer to children with cancer. Before any new medicine can be given to patients, it must first pass a critical set of safety and effectiveness studies known as IND-enabling studies. These studies are the gateway to human trials—and we’re ready to begin.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given Merlin a clear roadmap, outlining exactly what we need to do to advance MER-101 to the clinic. Now, we’re raising the funds needed to kick off this vital work.
Once complete, these studies will allow us to begin treating patients—particularly those with advanced Ewing sarcoma, where current drugs often fail. Even a modest improvement could mean the difference between life and death for a child.
This is a pivotal moment. With support, we can move MER-101 from the lab into the clinic—offering real hope to families who’ve run out of options.
Every dollar we raise is put to work where it matters most. About 50% of the funds will go directly to the lab experiments needed to complete our pre-clinical studies. This includes making MER-101, testing it, and analyzing the results to ensure it’s both safe and effective.
Another 40% will support the skilled scientists and technicians behind the scenes—the people doing the day-to-day work to move this medicine forward. The final 10% will help keep the lights on: covering lab rent, legal fees, and regulatory steps required to develop a new drug.
These funds will allow us to:
This is the essential groundwork for reaching patients. With your support, we can take the next bold step toward a safer, smarter treatment for children with cancer.
Merlin Biotech is moving forward briskly. Merlin is now in diligence with two major investors, has secured US FDA Designations as an “Orphan Drug” and as a “Rare Pediatric Disease Drug”. The latter designation awards Merlin a salable Priority Review Voucher upon approval that can be promptly sold (range $200-$205M) to continue to develop Starlight (MER-101) in other childhood cancers and expanding into adult cancers as well.
Merlin Biotech is backed by some of the most respected names in childhood cancer. Our origins trace back to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and we’re actively collaborating with a leading Ewing sarcoma oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. We’ve also secured a $2 million Letter of Intent from a nonprofit funder and are building partnerships with children’s hospitals and mission-aligned organizations to bring our vision of a safer, more effective treatment for Ewing sarcoma to life.
To unlock that funding and reach what biotech calls a critical “inflection point,” we need to complete our preclinical studies. With support from Music Beats Cancer, we can match the nonprofit’s commitment and demonstrate the momentum needed to attract additional investment. These combined funds would allow us to move MER-101 into clinical trials within a year—offering new hope to children and families who desperately need better treatment options.
Merlin has been recognized twice now in major biotechnology meetings. Merlin won the Startup Springboard Competition in Boston Biotech Week 2022 and then Merlin won the “Most Memorable Presenter” and ”Best Company Presentation” at the 2026 BioNJ Conference.
Merlin was also awarded a National Cancer Institute research contract to study Starlight (MER-101) in a special humanized mouse model in combination with the leading cancer immune therapies known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as Keytruda®.
Ewing sarcoma affects only about 500 people each year—far too few for most pharmaceutical companies to pay attention. As a result, treatments haven’t meaningfully improved in decades, leaving children to endure harsh, outdated therapies that can lead to life-long damage.
At Merlin Biotech, we want to move beyond the status quo. Our scientific co-founder, Dr. Ian Henrich, has spent over a decade studying Ewing sarcoma and witnessing its devastating toll. Our CEO, Dr. Randall Hyer, a physician who has treated many children with cancer, is deeply committed to creating safer, more effective treatments. Together, they’re leading Merlin in developing a new kind of cancer therapy—one that activates the immune system instead of relying on toxic chemotherapy. This isn’t just a breakthrough for Ewing sarcoma—it’s a powerful step toward safer cancer treatment for patients of all ages. Without this work, we all lose.
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Cheif Executive Officer
Dr. Hyer has 20+ years’ development experience in biotechnology with vaccines, biologics, and biosimilars working at Merck, Novartis/Sandoz, Dynavax, and Moderna. As the Senior Vice President for Global Medical at Moderna, Dr. Hyer helped develop, communicate, and manage the global rollout of the Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. In 2017, he was pivotal in engaging the scientific, medical and policy communities to achieve FDA approval of a new adult hepatitis B vaccine (HEPLISAV-B®), the first vaccine using a truly novel adjuvant. Beyond development, his responsibilities have included managing large teams, directing vaccine and pharmaceutical safety programs, overseeing oncology and vaccine clinical operations, running data management and statistical teams, engaging scientists and policymakers, and managing crises.
Vice President of Research and Development
Dr. Henrich has over ten years’ experience in molecular biology, oncology, immuno-oncology, and drug development. His PhD research at the University of Pennsylvania discovered the protein known as USP6, which has unique and powerful anticancer activity. He subsequently parleyed his thesis into a novel immunotherapy and led the patenting and business development case to validate the technology in a commercial setting. He met Dr. Hyer, and the two licensed the technology that would become MER-101 and co-founded Merlin Biotech. Today, Dr. Henrich leads the pre-clinical development of MER-101 and other early-stage assets while managing regulatory and IP ventures.
Business Lead
Proven biotech leader with extensive global experience in building and scaling innovative life science companies. Former Founder and CEO of Topaz Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Sanofi Pasteur) and medical device company Reliefband, Nick has led multiple startups across therapeutics, diagnostics, and medtech. He previously held senior international roles at Merck & Co., driving commercial strategy and execution across the USA, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Now Entrepreneur in Residence at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, Nick brings a strong track record in leadership, operations, and value creation.
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