Mirna Therapeutics, Inc. ("Mirna") announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has allowed multiple patent claims related to the therapeutic application of several tumor suppressor microRNAs (miRNAs). These and earlier allowances for miR-34 and let-7 stemming from the Company's broad and early patent filings dating back to 2004 are enabling Mirna to establish a major intellectual property position in the burgeoning field of miRNA-based therapeutics.
The allowed claims include methods for reducing cancer cell proliferation by introducing mimics of miR-192 or miR-215 into cancer cells. Additional claims are directed to the use of miR-192 and miR-215 for specifically reducing proliferation of breast, cervical, colon, or skin cancer cells, and to methods for reducing cancer cell viability and inducing apoptosis by introducing miR-192 mimics into lung cancer cells. MicroRNAs 215 and 192 play critical roles in the p53 tumor suppressor and are often differentially expressed in the tumors of cancer patients which results in the improper regulation of multiple cancer genes and pathways.
"Although miR-215 and miR-192 haven't received the same level of public disclosure as other tumor suppressor miRNAs like miR-34 and let-7, we have found that both miR-215 and miR-192 exhibit anti-cancer activities that are as potent as any of the tumor suppressor miRNAs in our portfolio," said David Brown, Ph.D., Director of Research at Mirna Therapeutics. "We are very excited about the clinical potential of these two miRNAs and look forward to their application in cancer patient care."
Separately, Mirna received notice of allowance for patent claims related to administering miRNA combinations to cancer patients for inhibiting prostate or liver cancer cell proliferation. The allowed claims describe the use of miR-124 in combination with miR-34a, let-7b, let-7c, or let-7g for inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. Additional claims are directed to uses of the miRNA combinations with specific liver and prostate carcinoma types and to specific pharmaceutical formulations of the miRNA combinations.
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