Monday, August 11, 2008

Alnylam makes RNAi deal with Max Plank Institute

By Mass High Tech Staff

Cambridge-based RNAi-focused biotech Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. inked an exclusive agreement with the prestigious German research center, Max Plank Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics.

The research agreement calls for collaboration on the intricate mechanisms involved in intracellular transport of small interfering RNA (siRNA). Alnylam (Nasdaq: ALNY) will retain the intellectual property rights from any discoveries made through the collaboration.

Marino Zerial will lead the Max Plank Institute’s research team within the collaboration. According to Alnylam, Zerial is one of the leading experts in intracellular signaling pathways, a necessary tool in understanding the “cellular delivery of RNAi”.

Alnylam has broken out as one of the leaders in developing RNAi-based therapies. Recently the company reported it was working with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in developing the therapeutics. The company produces drug candidates which are then sent to USAMRIID for in vitro and in vivo testing against Ebola virus.

Last week, Alnylam reported it had widened its RNA therapeutics program by obtaining the intellectual property (IP) rights for a new type of technology called RNA activation, or RNAa, from labs across the country.

Alnylam has 129 employees and reported a 2007 net loss of $85.5 million on revenue of $50.9 million.