Alnylam Obtains Intellectual Property For RNA Activation, Turning Genes On Instead of Off

Luke Timmerman8/4/08

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, the Cambridge, MA-based developer of drugs that work by inhibiting production of certain proteins, said today it has obtained key intellectual property for technology to do the opposite. The company (NASDAQ: ALNY) completed exclusive license agreements with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the University of California, San Francisco, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Many human diseases are caused by low production of certain proteins, and the new technology, dubbed RNAa, could help by activating the genes that encode those proteins, said Alnylam CEO John Maraganore in a statement.

Luke Timmerman is the National Biotech Editor of Xconomy, and the Editor of Xconomy Seattle. E-mail him at ltimmerman@xconomy.com or follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ldtimmerman.