Oligonucleotides News and Research

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Oligonucleotides are short sequences of nucleotides (RNA or DNA), typically with twenty or fewer bases. Automated synthesizers allow the synthesis of oligonucleotides up to 160 to 200 bases.

Bio-Path commences dosing in Liposomal Grb-2 Phase I cancer study

Bio-Path Holdings, Inc.,, a biotechnology company with drug development operations in Houston, Texas, announced today that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase I study of its cancer drug candidate, Liposomal Grb-2 (L-Grb-2 or BP-100-1.01), in patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) or Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).

30 Jul 2010

Affymetrix launches QuantiGene ViewRNA Assay formats

Affymetrix, Inc. today announced the launch of QuantiGene® ViewRNA Assay formats, which enable a new era of "in situ multiplex gene expression analysis" by allowing drug screening of native cells and advancing the pace of biomarker disease research and stem cell studies. These in situ assays enable researchers to visualize gene expression in individual cells at an unprecedented level of sensitivity and speed.

22 Jul 2010

TriLink, Affymetrix sign distribution and supply agreement

TriLink BioTechnologies, Inc. today announced that a multi-year distribution and supply agreement has been signed with California-based Affymetrix, Inc., a leading supplier of genetic analysis technologies. Under the terms of agreement, Affymetrix will use TriLink's high quality oligonucleotides in several of their kits.

19 Jul 2010

Nitto Denko, Quark collaborate to develop siRNA therapeutics for fibrotic diseases

Nitto Denko Corporation, Japan's leading diversified materials manufacturer and Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a world leader in the discovery and development of RNAi-based therapeutics, today announced the initiation of a collaboration and license agreement for the development of siRNA therapeutics for the treatment of fibrotic diseases.

15 Jul 2010

CSHL scientists reverse symptoms of Type III SMA using ASOs

The devastating, currently incurable motor-neuron disease spinal muscular atrophy might soon be treated with tiny, chemically modified pieces of RNA called antisense oligonucleotides.

13 Jul 2010

Idera announces issuance of patents for synthetic immune modulatory oligonucleotides targeted to TLRs

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the issuance of patents covering compositions and methods of using its synthetic immune modulatory oligonucleotides targeted to Toll-like receptors (TLRs). The Company's intellectual property portfolio currently contains over 500 patents and patent applications worldwide and includes claims for TLR-targeted compounds, second-generation antisense chemistry, and oral delivery of certain oligonucleotides.

8 Jul 2010

NOXXON to commence multiple ascending dose study of MCP-1 targeting anti-inflammatory Spiegelmer NOX-E36

NOXXON Pharma AG announced today that it has permission to commence a multiple ascending dose study of its Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) targeting anti-inflammatory Spiegelmer®, NOX-E36. NOXXON plans to develop NOX-E36 for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy and other diabetes related complications.

7 Jul 2010

Advanced Cancer Therapeutics secures $10M in investments

Advanced Cancer Therapeutics (ACT), a for-profit private company dedicated to bringing new anti-cancer therapies to market, today announced that it has secured $10 million in investments from high net-worth individuals and institutions. This round of investment, which closed six months ahead of the company's year-end goal, will provide ACT additional capital to continue its development and commercialization of potentially lifesaving therapeutics for cancer patients.

2 Jul 2010

Prosensa, GSK initiate additional programs for DMD

Prosensa, the Dutch biopharmaceutical company focusing on RNA modulating therapeutics, announces the initiation of two further programmes under its existing alliance with GSK covering novel RNA-based treatments for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). The initiation of these additional programs under the terms of the existing alliance agreement is a validation of both the potential of Prosensa's "exon skipping" platform and the ongoing relationship.

23 Jun 2010

Regulus Therapeutics, sanofi-aventis partner to develop and commercialize microRNA therapeutics

Regulus Therapeutics Inc. and sanofi-aventis announced today that they have entered into a global, strategic alliance to discover, develop, and commercialize microRNA therapeutics. The alliance represents the largest microRNA partnership formed to date, valued at potentially over $750 million, and includes a $25 million upfront fee, a $10 million future equity investment subject to mutual agreement on company valuation, and annual research support for three years with the option to extend two additional years.

22 Jun 2010

USPTO awards Alnylam Notice of Allowance for patent covering methods of inhibiting expression of mutant genes

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has awarded a Notice of Allowance for the "John et al." patent (Application No. 10/384,463), which covers methods of inhibiting mutant genes with double-stranded RNAs from 19 to 30 nucleotides in length.

18 Jun 2010

Bioniche announces issuance of new patents for MCC, Oligonucleotide technology platforms

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, today announced the issuance of a number of patents for its proprietary Mycobacterial Cell Wall-DNA Complex (MCC) composition and its Oligonucleotide technology platform.

18 Jun 2010

Alnylam, Mount Sinai scientists discover svRNAs that play a critical role in influenza A virus replication

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today the publication of new research findings in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) by Alnylam scientists and collaborators from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. In the new study, Alnylam and Mount Sinai scientists discovered a novel class of virus-produced small non-coding RNAs, called small viral RNAs (svRNAs), which play a critical role in the replication of influenza A virus.

2 Jun 2010

Regulus Therapeutics obtains rights to intellectual property covering methods for modulating microRNA-21

Regulus Therapeutics Inc. announced today that it has obtained exclusive rights from the University of Wuerzburg to intellectual property covering methods for modulating microRNA-21. Regulus scientists and collaborators have shown that microRNA-21, (miR-21), is dysregulated in mouse models of cardiac disease and fibrosis, and that antagonizing miR-21 with therapeutic oligonucleotides targeting miR-21 inhibits fibrosis and attenuates cardiac function in such models. Regulus is currently developing a microRNA therapeutic targeting miR-21 as an anti-fibrotic therapy.

28 May 2010

NOXXON Pharma closes €33 million Series D round of financing

NOXXON Pharma AG, a company focused on the development of mirror image oligonucleotide therapeutics called Spiegelmers®, announced today the successful closing of a €33 million Series D round of financing. The round was led by new investor, NGN Capital, and joined by existing investors TVM Capital, Sofinnova Partners, Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners, Seventure Partners, VC Fonds Technologie Berlin GmbH, Dow Venture Capital, FCP OP MEDICAL BioHealth-Trends, IBG Beteiligungsgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH, the Dieckell Group, and others.

27 May 2010

EPO rules in favor of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals’ Kreutzer-Limmer '945 patent

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that the Board of Appeals of the European Patent Office (EPO) has ruled that claims of the Kreutzer-Limmer '945 (EP 1214945) patent meet needed requirements under European patent law. The '945 patent comprises broad claims covering the length and certain structural requirements for siRNAs that are important for advancement of RNAi therapeutics.

20 May 2010

Genzyme to initiate $2 billion stock buyback

Genzyme Corp. today announced that its Board of Directors has voted to pursue several actions to increase shareholder value. The company will initiate a $2 billion stock buyback, under which $1 billion of stock will be repurchased in the near term and financed with debt. The additional $1 billion of stock will be repurchased during the next 12 months.

7 May 2010

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

NOXXON Pharma completes first-in-human clinical trial with Spiegelmer NOX-A12

NOXXON Pharma AG, the biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of novel drugs based on its unique proprietary Spiegelmer® technology, announced today the successful completion of the first-in-human clinical trial with Spiegelmer® NOX-A12.

3 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.