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Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a biologically important type of molecule that consists of a long chain of nucleotide units. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate.

Benitec raises AU$8 million for gene silencing therapeutics

Benitec Ltd (ASX:BLT), a world leader in RNA-based gene silencing for human therapeutics, today announced its fully underwritten AU$8 million renounceable rights issue, incorporating an entitlement offer and a shortfall offer, had successfully closed oversubscribed.

17 May 2011

Pacific Biosciences, Mount Sinai collaborate to advance genomic research

Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. announced a bi-coastal collaboration to advance clinical research through the Mount Sinai Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology to be led by Eric E. Schadt, Ph.D.

16 May 2011

PCR testing for B. burgdorferi bacteria in joint fluid may confirm Lyme arthritis diagnosis

New research shows that polymerase chain reaction testing for Borrelia burgdorferi DNA—the spirochetal bacteria transmitted by deer ticks—in joint fluid may confirm the diagnosis of Lyme arthritis, but is not a reliable indicator for active joint infection in patients whose arthritis persists after antibiotic therapy. Findings of this study are published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology.

13 May 2011

Santaris Pharma advances SPC4955 into Phase 1 trial for high cholesterol treatment

Santaris Pharma A/S, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of mRNA and microRNA targeted therapies, today announced that it has advanced a second drug from its cardiometabolic program, SPC4955 into Phase 1 clinical trials, for the treatment of high cholesterol.

11 May 2011

Long non-coding RNA promotes melanoma cell survival and invasion

Traditionally, RNA was mostly known as the messenger molecule that carries protein-making instructions from a cell's nucleus to the cytoplasm. But scientists now estimate that approximately 97 percent of human RNA doesn't actually code for proteins at all. A flurry of research in the past decade has revealed that some types of non-coding RNAs switch genes on and off and influence protein function.

11 May 2011

USPTO grants patent to Rosetta's human hsa-miR-497 for use in diagnostic tests

Rosetta Genomics today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,943,745, which is related to human hsa-miR-497 and its variants and covers the composition of matter.

10 May 2011

Illumina announces price reduction in whole human genome sequencing projects

Illumina, Inc. today announced that it is significantly reducing the price for sequencing whole human genomes through the Illumina Genome Network.

From Illumina, Inc. 9 May 2011

Cancer researchers help unlock cellular-level function of telomerase enzyme

Cancer researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center are helping unlock the cellular-level function of the telomerase enzyme, which is linked to the disease's growth.

7 May 2011

Enzon first quarter adjusted loss from continuing operations decreases to $4.2 million

Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2011.

7 May 2011

UT Southwestern researcher measures estrogen's effect on breast cancer cells

A UT Southwestern Medical Center researcher has identified the most comprehensive measurement to date of estrogen's effect on breast cancer cells, showing for the first time how immediate and extensive the effect is.

6 May 2011

Researchers identify unexpected triple-negative breast cancer marker

German researchers have identified an unexpected molecular marker that predicts how sensitive hard-to-treat triple-negative breast cancers are to chemotherapy.

5 May 2011

EraGen workshop to address two topics on real-time PCR-based viral monitoring tests

EraGen Biosciences Inc. today announced that it will host a corporate workshop at the upcoming Clinical Virology Symposium, which is being held May 8-11 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The workshop will take place at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach.

5 May 2011

JPO issues patent to Silence Therapeutics' RNAi technology

Silence Therapeutics plc announces the issuance of patent 4,705,370, titled "Further Novel Forms of Interfering RNA Molecules," by the Japanese Patent Office.

3 May 2011

Eurotrans-Bio awards 1.1 million grant to MDxHealth, NovioGendix for bladder cancer program

MDxHealth SA, a leading molecular diagnostics company in the field of personalized cancer treatment, today announced that together with partner NovioGendix B.V., a molecular diagnostics company spun out from Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, the Netherlands, has received a USD 1.1 million grant from Eurotrans-Bio to progress its bladder cancer program.

3 May 2011

Scientists discover new gene underlying angle-closure glaucoma

Jackson Laboratory researchers and their collaborators have reported their discovery of a gene implicated in an acute and severe form of glaucoma known as angle-closure glaucoma.

3 May 2011

UMMS, RXi receive MLSC grant to develop RNAi therapeutics for ALS

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative therapies addressing major unmet medical needs using RNA-targeted and immunotherapy technologies, today announced that the company's proposed research collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Medical School has been selected for Cooperative Research Matching Grant funding by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.

29 Apr 2011

IL28B gene plays a key role in spontaneous HCV clearance in infants

New research shows that high maternal viral load and co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus are the only risk factors associated with vertical transmission of the hepatitis C virus.

28 Apr 2011

New discoveries on polycystin-1 can lead to novel kidney disease treatment

Two discoveries at UC Santa Barbara point to potential new drug therapies for patients with kidney disease. The findings are published in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

27 Apr 2011

Boehringer Ingelheim initiates enrollment in BI 201335 Phase 3 clinical trial for chronic HCV

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that enrollment has commenced at North American sites in its pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial program for BI 201335, the Company's investigational, oral protease inhibitor for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV).

27 Apr 2011

Rxi secures SBIR grants to develop novel RNAi therapeutics for ALS

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative therapies addressing major unmet medical needs using RNA-targeted and immunotherapy technologies, today announced that it was awarded two Small Business Innovation Research grants from the National Institutes of Health.

27 Apr 2011