The allowed subject matter is not only focused on claims to siRNAs but also includes specific coverage for micro RNAs (miRNAs), miRNA precursors, primary miRNA transcripts and short hairpin RNA (shRNA).
The allowed application, based on the seminal research by Philip Zamore, is one of several applications disclosing certain efficacy-enhancing structural elements of RNAis that Intradigm exclusively licensed from the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Mohammad Azab, president and CEO of Intradigm, said: “The US Patent and Trademark Office’s allowance of these patent claims represents an important milestone for Intradigm as it will allow us to incorporate novel enhanced RNAi sequences into our proprietary RNAi delivery systems to create potent and efficacious therapeutics.”