Alnylam Grants RNAx License to Key Patent in RNA Interference

28-01-2004: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the leading RNAi therapeutics company, today announced that its German affiliate, Ribopharma AG, has granted RNAx GmbH a non-exclusive license to provide research services under a fundamental patent in RNA interference (RNAi). The licensed patent is the first and only issued patent covering the use of short double-stranded RNAs to elicit RNAi. Under the terms of the agreement, RNAx will pay initial and annual license fees, as well as royalties on sales of licensed services.

"This new license, the fourth we have granted so far this year, reinforces the importance of our fundamental patent in RNAi," said Vincent Miles, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Business Development of Alnylam. "The continued strong interest in research applications of RNAi should lead to greater understanding of diseases and new insights into how they may be treated with RNAi therapeutics."

"We are committed to supporting our customers with high-quality services to complement and enhance their internal research programs," said Joerg Poetzsch, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of RNAx. "This new license is not only important for our ability to offer these services. It also fits in our strategy to deliver to our customers a full package of services, including the security to be able to legally use the generated data."