Contact Information: Contact: MDRNA, Inc.: Mark Bales, Ph.D. IP Counsel (425) 908-3634 Matthew D. Haines Senior Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications (212) 209-3874 McKinney|Chicago (Media): Alan Zachary (312) 944-6784 x 316 or (708) 707-6834
MDRNA Announces Patent Allowance Covering an siRNA With Therapeutic Potential for Oncology and Other Indications
siRNA Directed Against JAM-1 Gene Also Has Potent Drug Delivery Potential
| Source: MDRNA, Inc.
BOTHELL, WA--(Marketwire - September 29, 2009) - MDRNA, Inc. (NASDAQ : MRNA ), a leading
RNAi-based drug discovery and development company, today announced that the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance
for patent application U.S. 11/624,630 covering an siRNA directed against a
junctional adhesion molecule-1 (JAM-1) gene.
The siRNA of the allowed claim has a broad array of potential applications,
most notably as a therapeutic for the treatment of certain cancers,
thrombosis, atherosclerosis, strokes, and hypertension; and enhances the
delivery of drugs across the skin and the blood-brain barrier. JAM-1 is a
tight junction protein that plays a key role in maintaining epithelial and
endothelial barrier functions, leukocyte transmigration and platelet
adhesion and also functions as a
pro-inflammatory molecule.
"This allowance validates our patent strategy for our gene target
portfolio, and reinforces our belief that we will obtain patent protection
for our extensive library of siRNAs directed against more than 140
therapeutic gene targets," said J. Michael French, President and CEO of
MDRNA. "As our scientific team develops more novel RNAi technologies, we
expect to expand and strengthen our IP estate."
Small interfering RNA (siRNA), sometimes known as short interfering RNA, is
a class of double-stranded RNA molecules that play a variety of roles in
biology. siRNA is involved in the RNA interference pathway, where it
interferes with the expression of a specific gene.
A Notice of Allowance confirms the substantive examination of a patent
application and will result in a final issuance of a U.S. patent after an
administrative process is completed.
MDRNA has a broad intellectual property estate that encompasses four key
RNAi technology platforms: siRNA constructs, chemistry, nucleic acid
delivery, and gene targets. The MDRNA-owned siRNA constructs and chemistry
include its proprietary UsiRNA construct, which is a duplex siRNA
chemically modified with non-nucleotide acyclic monomers (UNAs), and is
distinct from the standard siRNA construct used by others in the industry.
UsiRNAs are fully recognized by the RNAi machinery and provide for potent
RNAi activity while specific placement of UNAs in a duplex siRNA minimizes
potential off-target effects by the guide strand and reduces undesired
passenger strand activity. Furthermore, UsiRNAs escape the surveillance
mechanisms associated with cytokine induction, and provide protection from
nuclease degradation.
The MDRNA delivery platforms include DiLA2 and nanoparticle forming
peptides. DiLA2 is an MDRNA proprietary delivery platform of novel
synthetic di-alklylated amino acid compounds used to make liposomal
delivery formulations. The DiLA2 platform enables MDRNA to tailor the
charge, linker and acyl chains of amino acids in order to configure
liposomes for delivery to target tissues of interest. In addition, the
platform is designed to permit attachment of various peptides and other
targeting molecules to improve a variety of delivery characteristics. The
MDRNA peptide nanoparticle platform includes exclusively in-licensed and
developed IP surrounding the use of peptides for nanoparticle formulations
that increase cellular uptake and endosomal release of siRNAs. MDRNA is
currently biopanning its patented phage display library to identify
additional peptides for targeted delivery, cellular uptake and endosomal
release of siRNA.
MDRNA owns or controls 4 issued patents and has more than 50 pending patent
applications, 103 pending foreign patent applications and 17 PCT
applications.
About MDRNA, Inc.
MDRNA is a biotechnology company focused on the development and
commercialization of therapeutic products based on RNA interference (RNAi).
Our goal is to improve human health through the development of RNAi-based
compounds and drug delivery technologies that together provide superior
therapeutic options for patients. Over the past decade, we have developed
substantial capabilities in molecular biology, cellular biology, lipid
chemistry, peptide chemistry, pharmacology and bioinformatics, which we are
applying to a wide range of RNAi technologies and delivery approaches.
These capabilities plus the in-licensing of key RNAi-related intellectual
property have rapidly enabled us to become a leading RNAi-based
therapeutics company with a pre-clinical pipeline in oncology. Through our
capabilities, expertise and know-how, we are incorporating multiple RNAi
technologies as well as peptide- and lipid-based delivery approaches into a
single integrated drug discovery platform that will be the engine for our
clinical pipeline as well as a versatile platform for establishing broad
therapeutic partnerships with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
We are also investing in new technologies that we expect to lead to safer
and more effective RNAi-based therapeutics while aggressively building upon
our broad and extensive intellectual property estate. By combining broad
expertise in siRNA science with proven delivery platforms and a strong IP
position, MDRNA is well positioned as a leading RNAi-based drug discovery
and development company. Additional information about MDRNA, Inc. is
available at http://www.mdrnainc.com.
MDRNA Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this news release may be forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Federal Securities laws that are subject to certain
risks and uncertainties and involve factors that may cause actual results
to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the ability of MDRNA to
obtain additional funding; (ii) the ability of MDRNA to attract and/or
maintain manufacturing, research, development and commercialization
partners; (iii) the ability of MDRNA and/or a partner to successfully
complete product research and development, including preclinical and
clinical studies and commercialization; (iv) the ability of MDRNA and/or a
partner to obtain required governmental approvals; and (v) the ability of
MDRNA and/or a partner to develop and commercialize products that can
compete favorably with those of competitors. Additional factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested
in any forward-looking statements are contained in MDRNA's most recent
periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q that are filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. MDRNA assumes no obligation to update
and supplement forward-looking statements because of subsequent events.