Nastech Licenses Patents to siRNA Technology

03-Feb-2004

Nastech Pharmaceutical Company Inc. , a leader in drug delivery technology, announced that it has received a world-wide, non-exclusive license to the Fire et al. patents and patent applications titled "Genetic Inhibition by Double-Stranded RNA" from the Carnegie Institute of Washington, D.C. Under this license, Nastech plans to use the small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology in tight junction research and to develop therapeutics based upon siRNA technology. As the seminal description of RNA interference (RNAi), these patents are considered fundamental to the field, as they broadly cover processes for introducing small interfering RNA into cells to control gene expression. "RNA interference is an important tool that Nastech is using to analyze tight junction function and to determine the importance of individual tight junction proteins in regulating the transport of drugs across tissue barriers such as the nasal and intestinal mucosa, blood vessels, and the blood brain barrier," stated Paul H. Johnson, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Research and Development, and Chief Scientific Officer. "The goal of Nastech's tight junction biology program is to understand the structure and function of cell and tissue barriers that regulate drug transport and to identify compounds that can transiently open the tight junction barrier permitting drugs to pass through, thus significantly improving drug delivery." Dr. Johnson continued, "Small interfering RNAs are double-stranded RNA molecules, 20-22 nucleotides in length, that are able to silence a single gene in a sequence-specific manner by specific degradation of the target messenger RNA (mRNA). The use of RNAi technology will help Nastech identify which tight junction proteins are the most appropriate targets to modulate TJ function. In addition, RNAi technology shows promise for the development of a new class of therapeutics. For example, using a specific siRNA as a drug to target a specific gene that plays an important role in a disease process may be an effective therapy. Combined with our tight junction modulation technology and new methods we are developing for improved cellular uptake of siRNA molecules, Nastech will be in a strong position to establish a competitive therapeutic development program."

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