Precision NanoSystems & Alnylam Form New Delivery Collaboration
Precision NanoSystems, Inc. and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, recently announced the two companies have formed an exclusive collaboration focused on the discovery and development of novel lipid nanoparticles, known as small lipid nanoparticles (sLNPs), using microfluidics technology. Based on their small particle size of approximately 20 nanometers, sLNPs have the potential for broadened biodistribution beyond liver delivery.
“We look forward to working with Precision NanoSystems to support research efforts around the discovery of novel sLNPs that we believe have the potential to significantly improve and broaden biodistribution,” said Kenneth Koblan, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Alnylam. “sLNPs represent an exciting and innovative approach in Alnylam’s advancement of proprietary LNPs for RNAi therapeutics.”
“We are excited to have formed this exclusive collaboration with Alnylam focused on the discovery and development of novel sLNPs using microfluidics technology,” added James Taylor, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Precision NanoSystems. “Alnylam is leading the translation of RNAi technology into human therapeutics, and we look forward to working with them.”
Alnylam is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics based on RNA interference, or RNAi. The company is leading the translation of RNAi as a new class of innovative medicines with a core focus on RNAi therapeutics for the treatment of genetically defined diseases, including ALN-TTR for the treatment of transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR), ALN-PCS for the treatment of severe hypercholesterolemia, and ALN-HPN for the treatment of refractory anemia. As part of its Alnylam 5×15 strategy, the company expects to have five RNAi therapeutic products for genetically defined diseases in advanced stages of clinical development by the end of 2015. Alnylam has additional partner-based programs in clinical or development stages, including ALN-RSV01 for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, ALN-VSP for the treatment of liver cancers, and ALN-HTT for the treatment of Huntington’s disease.
The company’s leadership position on RNAi therapeutics and intellectual property have enabled it to form major alliances with leading companies, including Merck, Medtronic, Novartis, Biogen Idec, Roche, Takeda, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, and Cubist. In addition, Alnylam and Isis co-founded Regulus Therapeutics Inc., a company focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of microRNA therapeutics; Regulus has formed partnerships with GlaxoSmithKline and sanofi-aventis. Alnylam has also formed Alnylam Biotherapeutics, a division of the company focused on the development of RNAi technologies for application in biologics manufacturing, including recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies.
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