Calando Pharmaceuticals, a majority-owned subsidiary of Arrowhead Research, has selected Agilent Technologies to manufacture the active siRNA component in its lead RNAi product, Calaa01
Calando was formed in 2005 to create, develop and commercialize proprietary technologies for the therapeutic use of RNA interference, or RNAi.
Calaa01 is the first targeted siRNA anti-cancer therapeutic that Calando plans to enter into Phase I clinical trials.
Agilent will provide the siRNA component of Calaa01 for Investigational New Drug (IND)- enabling pharmacokinetic and toxicity studies as well as cGMP production for the Phase I clinical study.
"Establishing the manufacturing relationship with Agilent for CALAA01 is a major milestone in our development timeline," said Calando CEO John Petrovich.
"We are very impressed with the depth of experience and strong leadership the Agilent team has to offer.
"In addition, we appreciated the team's ability to offer a complete package of development services, including development of analytical methods, IND supporting studies and stability.
"These attributes are vitally important in the manufacture of therapeutics as complex as siRNA duplexes".
"We're very pleased to be selected by Calando to provide manufacturing and IND-enabling services for their lead RNAi product," said James Powell, general manager of Agilent's nucleic acid solutions division.
"Calando is one of the leading RNAi therapeutics companies, due to their focus on development and commercialization of targeted siRNA therapeutics based on proprietary technologies, and we look forward to working closely with them."
