Silence Therapeutics plc is to collaborate with AstraZeneca plc on the development of methods for delivering gene silencing therapies based on silent-interfering RNA (siRNA). The aim is to devise techniques for targeting siRNA to specific tissues following systemic administration.
Although it is a separate agreement, this builds on the relationship the two companies have built up since they signed a GBP 200 million deal in July 2007 to develop siRNA therapeutics to specific AstraZeneca targets.
No financial terms were disclosed, but both companies have the rights to commercialise delivery platforms developed in the collaboration.
London-based Silence Therapeutics is developing AtuPlex, a modified liposome technology for the directed delivery of siRNA, acquired when it took over the German company Atugen in July 2005.
Although it is recognised that the ability to silence - or turn off genes - using siRNA has great potential to treat disease, there is a problem delivering these constructs to the disease site. When administered systemically siRNA molecules circulate in the bloodstream, and are unable to cross the cell membrane. This has limited current clinical trials of siRNA treatments to two where products are injected directly into the eye, one inhaled product, and a treatment for acute kidney injury that relies on the fact the kidneys the only organ where siRNA does accumulate.
Silence claims that its proprietary siRNA, called AtuRNA, has a longer half life in the body, while the AtuPlex delivery technology enables it to be targeted at specific tissues.
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