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MDRNA, Inc. Acquires Patent Estate to Broaden Its RNAi Intellectual Property Portfolio
Acquires Rights to UNA Technology for Proprietary Stabilization of Both RISC and Dicer siRNAs
| Source: MDRNA, Inc.
BOTHELL, WA--(Marketwire - October 22, 2008) - MDRNA, Inc. (NASDAQ : MRNA ) announced today that
it has acquired intellectual property related to non-nucleotide chemistry
(Unlocked Nucleic Acid) technology from RiboTask ApS, a privately held
Danish company specializing in the development and synthesis of novel RNA
chemistries. The technology will permit MDRNA to stabilize and provide
drug-like properties to RISC and Dicer length siRNAs in a novel and
proprietary manner. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"MDRNA's position as a leading RNAi-based therapeutics company has been
further strengthened by the acquisition of this UNA intellectual property,"
said J. Michael French, President and CEO of MDRNA. "We believe MDRNA is
the only biotech company in the RNAi space with a state-of-the-art drug
discovery platform focused on both multiple siRNA constructs and multiple
delivery technologies, and an enabling intellectual property estate, which
are necessary to establish broad therapeutic collaborations with
pharmaceutical companies. We are pleased to have this opportunity to work
with such a renowned RNA scientist as Dr. Jesper Wengel of RiboTask and
look forward to the opportunity to realize the breadth of his discovery
through the advancement of UNA-siRNAs into the clinic."
"Unlocked Nucleic Acid, an acyclic ribonucleoside analog, increases the
breadth of MDRNA's technology platform by providing additional, novel RNA
chemistries," stated Michael Templin, Ph.D., Vice President of Drug
Discovery and Pharmaceutical Development, who discussed the Company's work
on UNA-siRNAs for the first time publicly today at the Discovery on Target:
"RNAi for Therapeutics" Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. "The research we
have conducted in our laboratories suggests that the addition of UNA
increases siRNA stability, reduces off-target activity and improves gene
silencing -- characteristics that are widely accepted as key to improved
siRNA safety and efficacy. We are extremely encouraged by this early work
and expect to be able use UNA to create proprietary RISC and Dicer length
siRNAs."
Jesper Wengel, Ph.D., Co-founder and Chairman of RiboTask, Professor and
Director of the Nucleic Acid Center, University of Southern Denmark, and
inventor of the UNA technology, commented, "MDRNA and RiboTask's data
indicating that UNA improves the drug-like properties of siRNAs by reducing
sense and antisense mediated off-target effects while retaining the potency
of siRNA molecules, makes it clear that this approach holds great promise
for the development and commercialization of RNAi-based therapeutics." Suzy
Lena Wengel, Co-founder and CEO of RiboTask, stated, "While RiboTask is
looking forward to commercializing the diagnostic and reagents applications
of UNA, we are glad that this technology is in the hands of MDRNA whose
scientific expertise and capabilities are necessary to bring UNA-siRNAi
therapeutics to patients with significant unmet medical needs."
About Unlocked Nucleic Acid
Unlocked nucleic acid (UNA) is an acyclic ribonucleoside analog in which
the bond between C2' and C3' atoms is broken. This change in sugar
structure renders this nucleoside analog very flexible. This characteristic
is in sharp contrast to the widely used locked nucleosides that locks the
sugar conformation by a bridged bond between C2' and C4' atoms. The
flexible nature of UNA reduces the binding affinity between two strands of
siRNA molecule and gives unique characteristics to its gene-silencing
abilities. MDRNA has demonstrated that UNA has the potential to improve
siRNA therapeutics by increasing stability and reducing sense- and
antisense-mediated off-target effects while retaining potency.
About MDRNA, Inc.
MDRNA is a biotechnology company focused on the development and
commercialization of therapeutic products based on RNA interference (RNAi).
Our goal is to improve human health through the development of RNAi-based
compounds and drug delivery technologies that together provide superior
therapeutic options for patients. Over the past decade, we have developed
substantial capabilities in molecular biology, cellular biology, lipid
chemistry, peptide chemistry, pharmacology and bioinformatics, which we are
applying to a wide range of RNAi technologies and delivery approaches.
These capabilities plus the in-licensing of key RNAi-related intellectual
property have rapidly enabled us to become a leading RNAi-based
therapeutics company with a pre-clinical pipeline in key therapeutic areas
including oncology, metabolic disorders and inflammation. Through our
capabilities, expertise and know-how, we are incorporating multiple RNAi
technologies as well as peptide- and lipid-based delivery approaches into a
single integrated drug discovery platform that will be the engine for our
clinical pipeline as well as a versatile platform for establishing broad
therapeutic partnerships with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
We are also investing in new technologies that we expect to lead to safer
and more effective RNAi-based therapeutics while aggressively building upon
our broad and extensive intellectual property estate. By combining broad
expertise in siRNA science with proven delivery platforms and a strong IP
position, MDRNA is well positioned as a leading RNAi-based drug discovery
and development company. Additional information about MDRNA, Inc. is
available at http://www.mdrnainc.com.
About RiboTask ApS
RiboTask is a Danish biotechnology company offering RNA oligonucleotides
for research and development purposes. Among the products and services
provided by RiboTask are highly complex RNA oligonucleotides and
incorporation of customer-specific proprietary modifications. Central
products of RiboTask are UNA- and LNA-modified RNA oligonucleotides, and
"Superior-Probes" for microRNA targeting. RiboTask is furthermore engaged
in research and development of new RNA-related products and technologies.
Additional information about RiboTask ApS is available at
http://www.ribotask.com.
MDRNA Forward-Looking Statement
Statements made in this news release may be forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Federal Securities laws that are subject to certain
risks and uncertainties and involve factors that may cause actual results
to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the ability of MDRNA or a
subsidiary to obtain additional funding; (ii) the ability of MDRNA or a
subsidiary to attract and/or maintain manufacturing, research, development
and commercialization partners; (iii) the ability of MDRNA, a subsidiary
and/or a partner to successfully complete product research and development,
including preclinical and clinical studies and commercialization; (iv) the
ability of MDRNA, a subsidiary and/or a partner to obtain required
governmental approvals; and (v) the ability of MDRNA, a subsidiary and/or a
partner to develop and commercialize products that can compete favorably
with those of competitors. Additional factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in any
forward-looking statements are contained in MDRNA's most recent periodic
reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q that are filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. MDRNA assumes no obligation to update and supplement
forward-looking statements because of subsequent events.