Novartis and Alnylam to develop RNAi therapeutics for pandemic flu

This collaboration is in addition to the collaboration formed by the two companies in September 2005, and significantly reinforces the development program for pandemic flu announced by Alnylam in December 2005.

In the newly formed collaboration, Alnylam and Novartis will advance the therapeutics to initial clinical testing and, if successful, regulatory approval. The alliance leverages Alnylam’s expertise in RNAi and Novartis’ capabilities and experience in bringing innovative therapeutics to patients. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“An RNAi therapeutic could be an innovative modality, crippling the virus through incapacitating several genes. In addition, such drugs might be adapted to new strains as they emerge. Of course, the technology is young and is just now being tested in early clinical trials, but our hope is that it will open new therapeutic frontiers,” said Dr Mark Fishman, president of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research.

“Having experienced the benefits of collaborating with Novartis over the last several months, we are delighted to partner with them in tackling what may be the biggest public health threat facing the world today,” said Dr John Maraganore, president and CEO of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals.