Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company, has reached an in vivo activity milestone in the development of its second therapeutic oncology candidate under a collaborative agreement with Kyowa Hakko Kirin (KHK).
Dicerna received an undisclosed milestone payment as a result of the achievement under a research collaboration and license agreement with KHK for DsiRNA pharmaceuticals and drug delivery systems for therapeutic targets in oncology.
Dicerna chief executive officer Douglas Fambrough said the work demonstrated its significant potential in the development of cancer therapeutics by targeting a gene that had been of field-wide interest for many years and considered to be among the classical undruggable pharmacology targets.
"Our partnership with KHK has been very fruitful, resulting in two promising announced programs and additional programs in earlier stages," Fambrough added.
In December 2011, Dicerna moved first oncology target from the research stage into development and initiated second oncology program with an additional gene target.
KHK research division managing officer, vice president and head Etsuo Ohshima said the speed with which the milestone was reached for the second candidate represents a unique feature of RNAi technology and its facility in bringing forward highly potent therapeutic candidates.
"As has been the case throughout this collaboration, this in vivo success was achieved utilizing Dicerna’s DsiRNA molecule in combination with our proprietary drug delivery system," Ohshima added.