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.

Protein deficiency in Down syndrome patients could contribute to cognitive impairment and congenital heart defects

Conventional wisdom among scientists for years has suggested that because individuals with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome, the disorder most likely results from the presence of too many genes or proteins contained in that additional structure.

24 Mar 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals earns $20M technology transfer payment from Takeda Pharmaceutical

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, today announced that it has earned a $20 million technology transfer payment from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited as part of the strategic alliance the companies formed in May 2008.

23 Mar 2010

CTSI licenses GeneGo's pathway analysis suite and database searching tool

GeneGo, Inc., a leading provider of software and databases for systems biology, today announced that the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute has licensed its pathway analysis suite MetaCore and its database searching tool Eureka.

23 Mar 2010

Treating RNA segment in wounds may increase protein levels for growth of skin cells

Scientists have determined that chronic wounds might have trouble healing because of the actions of a tiny piece of a molecular structure in cells known as RNA.

23 Mar 2010

Asuragen appoints BMD as exclusive distributor of Signature Oncology Products in France

Asuragen, Inc., a leader in the development of molecular diagnostics, announced today the appointment of Biomedical Diagnostics SA, a leading medical diagnostic company in Europe, as its exclusive distributor of Signature® Oncology Products in France. Asuragen’s Signature Oncology Portfolio comprises multiplex assays for the detection of mutations in solid and hematologic malignancies.

22 Mar 2010

Turning microRNAs into novel drugs

Researchers around the globe are working on turning microRNAs, over 5,000 of which already have been identified, into novel drugs for a wide range of applications, reports Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN). These noncoding single-stranded RNAs act through binding to complementary mRNA sequences, thus preventing their translation into protein or accelerating mRNA breakdown, according to the March 15 issue of GEN.

20 Mar 2010

USPTO allows Regulus Therapeutics' claims covering methods of antagonizing miR-181a for regulating immune response

Regulus Therapeutics Inc. announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has allowed claims in U.S. Application Serial No. 11/977,506 covering methods of antagonizing miR-181a to regulate immune response. This patent is owned by Stanford University and licensed exclusively to Regulus. miR-181a has been shown to regulate the response of immune cells, such as T lymphocytes, to specific stimuli and modulation of miR-181a could lead to a novel treatment of inflammatory disease.

18 Mar 2010

Genzyme, Isis Pharmaceuticals: Phase 3 study of mipomersen in hoFH patients meets primary endpoint

Genzyme Corp. and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced that data from a phase 3 study of mipomersen in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (hoFH) were published in The Lancet. This study met its primary endpoint, resulting in an average LDL-C reduction of greater than 100 mg/dL in this very high-risk patient population.

16 Mar 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals presents data on RNAi therapeutic targeting PCSK9 for hypercholesterolemia

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today the presentation of new pre-clinical data from its hypercholesterolemia program, performed in collaboration with scientists at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. The data were presented at the PCSK9 Conference: From Gene to Therapeutics held in Nantes, France from March 11-13, 2010.

15 Mar 2010

Discovery of MiR-451 molecule may serve as a biomarker for brain tumor

Cancer cells in rapidly growing brain tumors must adjust to periods of low energy or die. When energy levels are high, tumor cells grow and proliferate. When levels are low, the cells grow less and migrate more.

15 Mar 2010

Molecular master switch plays a key role in maturation process of brain cells

About four out of every 10 cells in the brain are so-called oligodendrocytes. These cells produce the all-important myelin that coats nerve tracts, ensuring fast, energy-efficient transmission of nerve impulses.

11 Mar 2010

GeneGo's industry-FDA MetaTox partnership program: Tools and contents released

GeneGo announces the release of the first set of tools and content to come out of its industry-FDA MetaTox™ partnership program. The MetaTox partnership is developing a unique comprehensive systems toxicology suite designed for compound safety assessment in chemical and pharmaceutical R&D.

8 Mar 2010

Acceptance of initial regulatory filings for BMS-PCSK9Rx triggers $6M milestone payment to Isis Pharmaceuticals

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has earned a $6 million milestone payment from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company related to the acceptance of initial regulatory filings to begin Phase 1 clinical studies for BMS-PCSK9Rx. BMS-PCSK9Rx is an antisense drug that arose out of the ongoing collaboration between Bristol-Myers Squibb and Isis to identify antisense drugs targeting PCSK9 to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

8 Mar 2010

Phase 1 clinical study of ISIS-SOD1Rx in patients with Lou Gehrig's disease commenced

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has initiated a Phase 1 study of ISIS-SOD1Rx in patients with an inherited, aggressive form of Lou Gehrig's disease also known as familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

5 Mar 2010

Researchers discover key reason why form of leukemia progresses from chronic phase to blast crisis

Researchers have discovered a key reason why a form of leukemia progresses from its more-treatable chronic phase to a life-threatening phase called blast crisis.

5 Mar 2010

Second AACR cancer research conference to be hosted in Dead Sea, Jordan

The second American Association for Cancer Research Dead Sea International Conference on Advances in Cancer Research: From the Laboratory to the Clinic provides attendees with an overview of the most advanced cancer research in a variety of fields, including the tumor microenvironment, microRNAs, signal transduction and novel therapeutic development.

5 Mar 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals asks Court to dismiss MIT from any claims for monetary damages in ongoing litigation

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that the company and Max Planck have asked the Court to dismiss the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from any claims for monetary damages in the ongoing litigation related to the Tuschl I patent series.

4 Mar 2010

Study results of new PCR technology that reports mutations associated with FXS announced

Asuragen, Inc. announced today the results of a collaborative study with scientists at the M.I.N.D. Institute at the University of California Davis evaluating a new PCR technology that reproducibly reports mutations associated with Fragile X syndrome (FXS).

2 Mar 2010

febit releases updated Geniom Biochip containing 58 new miRNA sequences

febit today announced that an updated version of the company's Geniom Biochip containing 58 new discovered sequences in addition to all of the Homo sapiens microRNAs (miRNA) from miRBase version 14 is now available for cancer research. The 58 new miRNA sequences were found by deep sequencing in a miRNA discovery study performed on an Applied Biosystems SOLiD 3 sequencing system. All 58 miRNAs have been validated using the ABI TaqMan miRNA qRT-PCR assay and are now available for further studies using febit's microarray technology for miRNA-profiling.

2 Mar 2010

Isis Pharmaceuticals reports revenues of $32.3M for fourth-quarter 2009

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced its 2009 financial results and reviewed the highlights of the year. Isis achieved its 2009 financial guidance with pro forma net income of $166.9 million and a pro forma net operating loss (NOL) of $14.2 million compared with its guidance for the year of pro forma net income of more than $145 million and a pro forma NOL in the low to mid $20 million range. Isis also achieved its cash guidance by ending 2009 with $574.3 million of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments significantly in excess of the $550 million projected.

1 Mar 2010

MicroRNA News and Research

Further Reading

Protein deficiency in Down syndrome patients could contribute to cognitive impairment and congenital heart defects

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals earns $20M technology transfer payment from Takeda Pharmaceutical

CTSI licenses GeneGo's pathway analysis suite and database searching tool

Treating RNA segment in wounds may increase protein levels for growth of skin cells

Asuragen appoints BMD as exclusive distributor of Signature Oncology Products in France

Turning microRNAs into novel drugs

USPTO allows Regulus Therapeutics' claims covering methods of antagonizing miR-181a for regulating immune response

Genzyme, Isis Pharmaceuticals: Phase 3 study of mipomersen in hoFH patients meets primary endpoint

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals presents data on RNAi therapeutic targeting PCSK9 for hypercholesterolemia

Discovery of MiR-451 molecule may serve as a biomarker for brain tumor

Molecular master switch plays a key role in maturation process of brain cells

GeneGo's industry-FDA MetaTox partnership program: Tools and contents released

Acceptance of initial regulatory filings for BMS-PCSK9Rx triggers $6M milestone payment to Isis Pharmaceuticals

Phase 1 clinical study of ISIS-SOD1Rx in patients with Lou Gehrig's disease commenced

Researchers discover key reason why form of leukemia progresses from chronic phase to blast crisis

Second AACR cancer research conference to be hosted in Dead Sea, Jordan

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals asks Court to dismiss MIT from any claims for monetary damages in ongoing litigation

Study results of new PCR technology that reports mutations associated with FXS announced

febit releases updated Geniom Biochip containing 58 new miRNA sequences

Isis Pharmaceuticals reports revenues of $32.3M for fourth-quarter 2009

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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