MicroRNA News and Research

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In genetics, microRNAs (miRNA) are single-stranded RNA molecules of 21-23 nucleotides in length, which regulate gene expression. miRNAs are encoded by genes from whose DNA they are transcribed but miRNAs are not translated into protein (i.e. they are non-coding RNAs); instead each primary transcript (a pri-miRNA) is processed into a short stem-loop structure called a pre-miRNA and finally into a functional miRNA. Mature miRNA molecules are partially complementary to one or more messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, and their main function is to down-regulate gene expression.

USPTO issues notice of allowance to Mirna's mir34a patent application

Mirna Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has allowed patent claims related to the therapeutic application of the potent tumor suppressor microRNA, mir34a.

7 Apr 2011

Asuragen launches InformThyroid, a panel of molecular markers

Asuragen, Inc. announced today the launch of Inform™Thyroid, a panel of molecular markers used on Fine Needle Aspirates (FNA) of thyroid nodules to aid physicians in the management of thyroid cancer.

6 Apr 2011

Genzyme, Isis present mipomersen phase 3 study data in severe heFH at ACC meeting

Genzyme Corp., a subsidiary of sanofi-aventis Group, and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced today that data from two phase 3 studies of mipomersen in patients who had high cholesterol levels while on lipid-lowering therapy were presented at the American College of Cardiology's 60th Annual Scientific Session.

6 Apr 2011

Preliminary discovery may help individualize prostate cancer screening in the future

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among American men. Yet population-wide screening programs have not reduced the number of deaths from the disease. By focusing screening programs on the men who are at greatest risk for aggressive disease or diagnosis at a young age, researchers think they could improve mortality rates and personalize the screening approach.

5 Apr 2011

Study: MicroRNA can predict risk of BM in lung cancer patients

Conducting genetic profiles using microRNA can help doctors predict which lung cancer patients are likely to also develop brain metastasis, according to a study published today by Scottsdale Healthcare and the Translational Genomics Research Institute.

1 Apr 2011

Alnylam completes patient enrollment in ALN-VSP Phase I trial against liver cancer

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, today announced that it has completed enrollment in its ALN-VSP Phase I multi-center, multinational, open label, dose escalation clinical trial.

1 Apr 2011

Asuragen launches new miRNA Biofluids service offering

Asuragen, Inc. announced today the launch of its new miRNA Biofluids service offering designed to interrogate miRNAs from serum, plasma, cerebral spinal fluid, and urine. Supported by a growing body of literature, the utility of miRNA biomarkers in biofluids has been demonstrated for numerous disease areas including Cancer, Neurology, Autoimmune, and Cardiovascular diseases.

31 Mar 2011

Micro-RNAs appear to play a key role in new mechanism underlying obesity

Max Planck researchers have discovered a new mechanism that leads to the development of type 2 diabetes in obesity. Body weight influences the risk of developing diabetes: between 80 and 90 percent of patients with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.

31 Mar 2011

Regulus obtains exclusive rights from NYU for miR-33a, 33b to treat metabolic diseases

Regulus Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company leading the discovery and development of innovative new medicines targeting microRNAs, today announced that it has obtained exclusive rights from New York University for intellectual property covering methods of use in modulating microRNA-33a and microRNA-33b for metabolic diseases such as atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome.

31 Mar 2011

WaferGen launches SmartChip Human microRNA Panel V2 for gene expression profiling

WaferGen Biosystems, Inc., a leading developer of state-of-the-art genomic analysis systems, today announced the launch of its industry-leading SmartChip Human microRNA Panel V2 for gene expression profiling on the SmartChip Real-Time PCR System.

28 Mar 2011

Molecular Therapy journal publishes Mirna's new tumor suppressor miRNA mimics data

Mirna Therapeutics, Inc. announced today the publication of new results in the journal Molecular Therapy demonstrating how a neutral lipid emulsion facilitates the systemic delivery of tumor suppressor miRNA mimics and reduces the tumor burden in the lungs of mice.

24 Mar 2011

MicroRNAs may play a key role in future medicine

Since their discovery in the 1990s, microRNAs have proven to play a complex role in normal and abnormal functioning of many organ systems. In the April issue of Translational Research, entitled "MicroRNAs: A Potential New Frontier for Medicine," an international group of medical experts explores several themes related to our current understanding of microRNAs and the role they may play in the future of medicine.

24 Mar 2011

Asuragen introduces CE-mark approved AmplideX FMR1 PCR Kit

Asuragen, Inc. announced that they have achieved CE-marking and commercial launch in Europe of the AmplideX FMR1 PCR Kit for the detection of CGG repeats in the fragile X mental retardation gene.

23 Mar 2011

Tiny Locked Nucleic Acid-based compounds inhibit entire disease-associated microRNA families

A study published online in this week's Nature Genetics demonstrates that tiny Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA)-based compounds developed by Santaris Pharma A/S can inhibit entire disease-associated microRNA families. This provides a potential new approach for treating a variety of diseases including cancer, viral infections, cardiovascular and muscle diseases.

21 Mar 2011

Researchers discover 'broad spectrum' cancer suppressor gene

Portuguese researchers have discovered a "broad spectrum" cancer suppressor gene - called LRP1B - which acts by removing proteins crucial for cancer development from the tumour environment. The fact that LRP1B does not act on the tumour itself (in this study thyroid tumours) but, instead, on molecules which are known to be important to many different cancers is what makes it so interesting.

21 Mar 2011

New tool for studying microRNA expression in zebrafish

A new research tool for studying microRNA expression in zebrafish will help researchers study the effects of miRNA on the early development of this model organism and better understand developmental and disease mechanisms in humans, as described in Zebrafish, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

18 Mar 2011

Alnylam to defend against Tekmira complaint

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, is reporting the filing of a complaint by Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation in the Business Litigation Session (BLS) of the Massachusetts Superior Court. The complaint alleges misappropriation and misuse of information, amongst other allegations.

18 Mar 2011

Global settlement agreement reached in Tuschl patents litigation

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, today announced the signing of a global settlement agreement among Alnylam, Max Planck Society ("Max Planck"), the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research ("Whitehead") and the University of Massachusetts ("UMass") resolving their ongoing litigation regarding the Tuschl patents.

16 Mar 2011

Ingenuity announces new features to support RNA-Seq workflows, microRNA research in IPA

Ingenuity Systems, a leading provider of information and analytics solutions for life science researchers, today announced new features to support RNA-Sequencing workflows and microRNA research in IPA.

15 Mar 2011

Researchers discover new key component in lung cancer spread

Researchers discovered a new, key component in the spread of lung cancer as well as a likely way to block it with drugs now in clinical trial. The study was published today (Monday, March 14) in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

15 Mar 2011

MicroRNA News and Research

Further Reading

USPTO issues notice of allowance to Mirna's mir34a patent application

Asuragen launches InformThyroid, a panel of molecular markers

Genzyme, Isis present mipomersen phase 3 study data in severe heFH at ACC meeting

Preliminary discovery may help individualize prostate cancer screening in the future

Study: MicroRNA can predict risk of BM in lung cancer patients

Alnylam completes patient enrollment in ALN-VSP Phase I trial against liver cancer

Asuragen launches new miRNA Biofluids service offering

Micro-RNAs appear to play a key role in new mechanism underlying obesity

Regulus obtains exclusive rights from NYU for miR-33a, 33b to treat metabolic diseases

WaferGen launches SmartChip Human microRNA Panel V2 for gene expression profiling

Molecular Therapy journal publishes Mirna's new tumor suppressor miRNA mimics data

MicroRNAs may play a key role in future medicine

Asuragen introduces CE-mark approved AmplideX FMR1 PCR Kit

Tiny Locked Nucleic Acid-based compounds inhibit entire disease-associated microRNA families

Researchers discover 'broad spectrum' cancer suppressor gene

New tool for studying microRNA expression in zebrafish

Alnylam to defend against Tekmira complaint

Global settlement agreement reached in Tuschl patents litigation

Ingenuity announces new features to support RNA-Seq workflows, microRNA research in IPA

Researchers discover new key component in lung cancer spread

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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