AstraZeneca and Silence collaborate on siRNA molecules

14 March 2008 00:00 in Pharmaceutical Company Product News


AstraZeneca and Silence Therapeutics are to collaborate on the development of new approaches for the delivery of short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) molecules.

Both companies hope that the development of siRNA drug delivery will be an important step to realising the potential of siRNA to treat a broad range of diseases.

The deal builds on Silence Therapeutics' expertise in the delivery of siRNA molecules, using its proprietary AtuPLEX technology.

Under the terms of the agreement, both firms will be allowed to commercialise the novel delivery system they develop in partnership.

Claude Bertrand, global vice-president of discovery respiratory and inflammation at AstraZeneca, illustrated that the collaboration would look to generate innovative delivery approaches for an "exciting class" of new drugs.

"Based on Silence Therapeutics' significant expertise in siRNA delivery, we are confident that we have found a strong partner to achieve our ambitions in this area," he maintained.

The molecules represent a new approach in selectively deactivating genes that play a role in disease and AstraZeneca has confirmed that it will work towards using siRNA therapy in respiratory diseases like asthma.

Last month, AstraZeneca and Nomura Phase4 ventures launched a new company focusing on the development of new treatments for gastrointestinal disorders.

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