Friday, February 29, 2008

Alnylam: 'Significant' results from first human RNAi tests

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. reports that its Phase 2 clinical trial of an RNA-interference (RNAi) drug for a respiratory disorder showed "significant" anti-viral activity.

The Cambridge-based biotech said the study, which involved 88 adults, was the first human study to show that RNAi works inside the human body. The treatment was also shown to be safe and well tolerated in patients, according to Alnylam (Nasdaq: ALNY).

In the 88-patient study, Alnylam's drug, ALN-RSV01, caused a 38-percent reduction in infection rates in people infected with respiratory syncytial virus. Also, nearly twice as many patients who took the drug remained free of infection compared with those who took placebo, according to the company.

Adults in the study were intentionally infected with the respiratory virus to measure the effects of Alnylam's drug, and another Phase 2 study planned for later this year would include patients who contract the virus naturally, industry watchers say.

RNAi treatments are intended to switch off genes linked to disease. The discovery that RNAi, which occurs naturally in cells, could be used as treatments for human disease garnered a 2006 Nobel prize to Craig Mello, a researcher from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and his colleague.

With 122 employees, Alnylam reported a 2007 net loss of $85.5 million on revenue of $50.9 million.