The issued patent generally claims methods of enhancing the RNA silencing activity of RNA interference (RNAi) agents through certain structural modifications.
The issued claims not only cover enhancing the efficacy of silencing gene expression using short interfering RNA (siRNA) but also include specific claims directed to micro RNA (miRNA), pre-miRNA, and short hairpin RNA (shRNA).
The patent is based on the seminal research of Phillip Zamore, investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute and professor of biochemistry and molecular pharmacology at University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Philip Haworth, CEO of Silence Therapeutics, said: “Today’s patent issuance continues to highlight the powerful synergies created by the combined assets of Silence and Intradigm. In this case, the exclusive licenses originally owned by Intradigm to the Zamore patent families have provided Silence with valuable structural modification technology that will contribute to further strengthening and expanding the company’s comprehensive RNAi therapeutic platform.
“There is a growing consensus within the industry regarding the important role of optimised siRNA structure for developing more potent RNAi therapeutics.”