AstraZeneca extends siRNA collaboration
pharmafile | July 14, 2010 | News story | Research and Development | AstraZeneca, RNA, Silence Therapeutics
AstraZeneca has agreed a one-year extension on its siRNA development collaboration with London-based Silence Therapeutics.
Silence is a specialist in the field of RNA interference (RNAi) – the process by which genes are ‘switched off’ in the cell – and the companies are working together on five novel therapeutic molecules for respiratory and oncology indications
Thomas Eichholtz, VP of respiratory and inflammation research at AZ, said: “AstraZeneca remains committed to the development of new therapeutic technologies that have the potential to create novel therapies.
“We are very pleased with the progress we have made in our collaborative agreement with Silence Therapeutics.”
The initial research collaboration was established between the two firms in 2007 to develop a range of novel approaches for the identification and optimisation of short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) molecules.
Under the terms of the agreement, AZ will retain full responsibility for clinical development and commercialisation of the siRNA molecules. As announced previously, in addition to the initial £7.5 million access fee paid in 2007, the collaboration could generate up to £200 million in fees and milestone payments plus royalties on product sales.
Silence’s team works with several of AZ units in Sweden, the UK and China, as well as its biologics arm MedImmune in the US, on the development of the siRNA molecules.
Philip Haworth, chief executive of Silence, said: “The extension of our development collaboration with AstraZeneca is testament to the successful relationship and the progress made in this collaboration.
“Both teams are working closely together to optimise the five therapeutic programmes based on Silence’s leading siRNA technology, in addition to our collaboration investigating new delivery approaches for RNA interference. AstraZeneca is a strong endorsement of our technology and we are delighted to continue working together.”
The terms of this collaboration agreement are independent of Silence’s siRNA delivery collaboration with AZ that was also extended in April this year.
Silence also collaborations with Pfizer and Israeli pharma company Quark on treatments for diabetic macular oedema and acute kidney injuries.
Ben Adams
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