Many diseases are caused by the inappropriate activity of specific genes, so the ability to silence and regulate such genes selectively could provide a means to treat a wide range of human diseases
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a RNAi therapeutics company, has granted MWG Biotech, an established provider of synthetic nucleic acids, a non-exclusive licence to provide research products and services in RNA interference (RNAi) under the Kreutzer-Limmer patent family owned by Alnylam.
This patent family covers short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and their use to mediate RNAi in mammalian cells.
"This agreement with MWG, an international genomic solution provider, continues to highlight the value of the Alnylam-owned Kreutzer-Limmer patent family as a critical component of fundamental intellectual property in the field of RNAi," said Vincent Miles, senior vice president, business development of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals.
"By leveraging our portfolio of leading IP, we are creating value today and for the future by amassing an increasing number of licence agreements with leading reagent and service providers.
"To date, eleven companies have taken licences for therapeutic or research product applications including six research product suppliers".
"This license strengthens our siRNA offering and is part of our commitment to build a high quality presence in siRNA design and production", says Wolfgang Pieken, CEO of MWG Biotech.
RNA interference, or RNAi, is a naturally occurring mechanism within cells for selectively silencing and regulating specific genes.
Since many diseases are caused by the inappropriate activity of specific genes, the ability to silence and regulate such genes selectively through RNAi could provide a means to treat a wide range of human diseases.
The discovery of RNAi has been heralded by many as a major breakthrough, and the journal Science named RNAi the top scientific achievement of 2002, as well as one of the top ten scientific advances of 2003.
Alnylam is a biopharmaceutical company seeking to develop and commercialise novel therapeutics based on RNA interference, or RNAi.
Growing from its foundation as the world's first company focused on RNAi therapeutics, it says its leadership in the field is supported by its preeminent founders and advisors and its strengths in fundamental patents, technology, and know-how that underlie the commercialisation of RNAi therapeutics.
Alnylam is developing a pipeline of RNAi products using Direct RNAi to treat ocular, central nervous system, and respiratory diseases and Systemic RNAi to treat a broad range of diseases, including oncology, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases.
The company's global headquarters are in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
MWG Biotech is an international provider of DNA sequencing and DNA/siRNA synthesis products and services for academic and industrial research from production sites in Germany, the USA, and India.
With strong customer orientation, fast service and high quality products the company says it creates the platform for success in the life sciences today and for a better life tomorrow.
In its siRNA portfolio the company offers, in addition to a range of siRNA products, a series of advance siRNA design tools and other siRNA services.
