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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.

Idera Pharmaceuticals reports net loss of $1.9M for first-quarter 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of DNA- and RNA-based drug candidates targeted to Toll-like Receptors, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

5 May 2010

Second fidaxomicin Phase 3 clinical study data in patients with CDI to be presented at DDW 2010

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the presentation of new data from its second fidaxomicin Phase 3 clinical study in patients with Clostridium difficile infection. The data, presented by Stuart Johnson, M.D. during an oral session at the annual meeting of Digestive Disease Week in New Orleans, indicated that treatment with fidaxomicin significantly improved the recurrence rate and global cure rate in CDI patients requiring concomitant antibiotics, compared to vancomycin.

5 May 2010

Alnylam Biotherapeutics presents new data on RNAi technologies at Cell Culture Engineering XII

Alnylam Biotherapeutics, a division of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today the presentation of new data at the Cell Culture Engineering XII conference held in Alberta, Canada from April 25 - 30, 2010. Alnylam Biotherapeutics was formed by Alnylam to develop RNAi technologies for application in manufacturing processes for biotherapeutic products, including recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies.

4 May 2010

Deficiency of frataxin protein causes Friedreich's ataxia

The defective gene responsible for Friedreich's ataxia was identified over 20 years ago, but so far our ideas of how this gene causes the disease have been merely speculative. It was assumed that, as a result of the mutation, the gene could no longer be transcribed because this stretch of DNA was inaccessible. FMI Group Leader Marc Bühler and his team have now carried out experiments demonstrating that this is not the case and revealing what actually happens in Friedreich's ataxia.

4 May 2010

H1N1 positivity highest among children

More than 99 percent of specimens tested for influenza were positive for H1N1 over approximately the past 11 months, according to a report released today from Quest Diagnostics Incorporated ( DGX). The Quest Diagnostics Health Trends™ Report suggests that H1N1 "crowded out" other influenza viruses to be the dominant flu virus of the 2009-2010 flu season.

4 May 2010

QIAGEN reports 20% revenue growth in first quarter 2010

QIAGEN N.V. today announced the results of operations for its quarter ended March 31, 2010. Net sales were at the high end of, and adjusted earnings per share for the first quarter 2010 exceeded the guidance provided by the Company on February 9, 2010.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 4 May 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals announces EPO intent to grant notification for patent series covering RNAi therapeutics

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that the European Patent Office (EPO) has issued a notification of an intent to grant for the "Manoharan II" patent series (EP Application No 04 718 537), titled "Therapeutic Compositions." The new patent includes 16 claims covering compositions and methods, including pharmaceutical compositions, for chemically modified siRNAs containing phosphorothioate and 2′-O-alkyl modifications without any siRNA length restrictions.

3 May 2010

Promising results from combination therapy of pemetrexed concurrent with radiation in lung cancer

The first trial of an important new combination therapy of treatment with the chemotherapy drug pemetrexed concurrent with radiation in lung cancer has delivered promising results, French researchers report at the 2nd European Lung Cancer Conference.

3 May 2010

Health outcomes explored at DDW 2010

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which may soon be the leading indication for liver transplant, is found to be significantly associated with worse transplant outcomes. In addition, a new tool for diagnosing NAFLD represents an alternative to liver biopsy, which is more expensive and prone to complications, and ultrasound and alfafeprotein blood test screening are an effective alternative to CT scan and MRI for patients with cirrhosis at high risk for hepatocellular cancer.

3 May 2010

microRNAs serve as biomarkers for lung tumor classification: Study

Rosetta Genomics, Ltd., a leading developer and provider of microRNA-based molecular diagnostic tests, announces the publication of a study showing microRNA expression differentiates between primary lung tumors and metastases to the lung. The study, entitled, "MicroRNA expression differentiates between primary lung tumors and metastases to the lung," was published in the online edition of Pathology Research and Practice on April 28, 2010.

30 Apr 2010

Study uncovers transcription control mechanism that is regulated by cancer-causing gene

A comprehensive new gene expression study in embryonic stem cells has uncovered a transcription control mechanism that is not only more pervasive than once thought but is also heavily regulated by the cancer-causing gene c-Myc.

30 Apr 2010

IRIC launches new RNA engineering laboratory in Canada

The Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer of the Universit- de Montr-al is proud to announce the launch of the very first ribonucleic acid engineering laboratory in Canada.

30 Apr 2010

Ago2 protein helps generate microRNAs: CSHL researchers

MicroRNAs are small bits of RNA within cells that wield enormous power. They influence virtually every biological process by controlling the "expression" of genes. Helping them in exerting this control is a unique class of proteins called Argonautes.

29 Apr 2010

Small piece of RNA plays big role in development of IPF: Researchers

A small piece of RNA appears to play a big role in the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to lung disease researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Their study, which is the first to examine microRNAs in the disease, is available online in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

29 Apr 2010

Tumor cell factories may be difficult to defeat: Researchers

Many of the colon cancer cells that form tumors can be killed by genetically short-circuiting the cells' ability to absorb a key nutrient, a new study has found. While the findings are encouraging, the test tube study using human colon cancer cells also illustrates the difficulty of defeating these cells, known as cancer stem cells.

29 Apr 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals publishes encouraging results from Phase II GEMINI study in PNAS

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has published results from its Phase II GEMINI study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). These data, previously presented at the International Symposium on Respiratory Viral Infections in Singapore in 2008, showed human proof of concept with an RNAi therapeutic in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.

27 Apr 2010

DNASTAR, Scarab Genomics announce launch of DNA and RNA sequencing services business

DNASTAR and Scarab Genomics, sister companies founded by genomics pioneer Fred Blattner, announce the launch of a next-generation DNA and RNA sequencing services business. Using their combined expertise, the companies will be offering a full range of sequencing services including library preparation, coordinating the most appropriate sequencing technology and platform, assembly, analysis, annotation, and visualization of end results.

27 Apr 2010

ExonHit to acquire RedPath for upfront payment of $12.5M in cash and $10M in stock

RedPath Integrated Pathology, Inc., a cancer molecular diagnostics company headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, announced today that it has entered into a binding agreement to be acquired by ExonHit Therapeutics, S.A., a leading French diagnostics and therapeutics biotech company for an upfront payment of $12.5M in cash and $10M in stock, and starting in 2012, subsequent additional payment up to $9.5M dependent on the achievement of sales targets.

27 Apr 2010

Novartis exercises current right to purchase 55,223 unregistered shares of Alnylam's common stock

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that Novartis has elected to fully exercise its current right to purchase 55,223 unregistered shares of Alnylam's common stock in accordance with the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement between Alnylam and Novartis, dated September 6, 2005.

26 Apr 2010

First patient enrolled in Phase II clinical trial of E10030 for treatment of wet age-related AMD

Ophthotech Corp., a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing ophthalmic therapies for back-of-the-eye diseases, today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in its Phase II randomized, controlled clinical trial of E10030, an anti-PDGF aptamer, in combination with Lucentis® for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

26 Apr 2010

RNA News and Research

Further Reading

Idera Pharmaceuticals reports net loss of $1.9M for first-quarter 2010

Second fidaxomicin Phase 3 clinical study data in patients with CDI to be presented at DDW 2010

Alnylam Biotherapeutics presents new data on RNAi technologies at Cell Culture Engineering XII

Deficiency of frataxin protein causes Friedreich's ataxia

H1N1 positivity highest among children

QIAGEN reports 20% revenue growth in first quarter 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals announces EPO intent to grant notification for patent series covering RNAi therapeutics

Promising results from combination therapy of pemetrexed concurrent with radiation in lung cancer

Health outcomes explored at DDW 2010

microRNAs serve as biomarkers for lung tumor classification: Study

Study uncovers transcription control mechanism that is regulated by cancer-causing gene

IRIC launches new RNA engineering laboratory in Canada

Ago2 protein helps generate microRNAs: CSHL researchers

Small piece of RNA plays big role in development of IPF: Researchers

Tumor cell factories may be difficult to defeat: Researchers

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals publishes encouraging results from Phase II GEMINI study in PNAS

DNASTAR, Scarab Genomics announce launch of DNA and RNA sequencing services business

ExonHit to acquire RedPath for upfront payment of $12.5M in cash and $10M in stock

Novartis exercises current right to purchase 55,223 unregistered shares of Alnylam's common stock

First patient enrolled in Phase II clinical trial of E10030 for treatment of wet age-related AMD

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