Intradigm issued RNA interference (RNAi) patent covering potent siRNA sequence

May 19 2009

Intradigm Corporation has announced the issuance of United States patent 7,534,878, titled "Composition and Methods of RNAi Therapeutics for Treatment of Cancer and Other Neovascularization Diseases."

The issued patent covers a specific double-stranded siRNA sequence that is directed against the angiogenic pathway and which possesses therapeutic potential in the treatment of cancer. This is the first patent to be issued to Intradigm related to an active pharmaceutical ingredient in the RNAi space and is one of a significant number of pending patent applications worldwide covering proprietary Intradigm siRNA sequences against more than 50 clinically relevant targets.

Intradigm's first issued piece of intellectual property (IP) related to an active pharmaceutical ingredient, this patent supplements the company's existing patent portfolio, providing Intradigm issued IP in each of the three essential areas of RNAi therapeutic development: target sequences, delivery and siRNA structural features. Based on this broad IP portfolio, Intradigm is in a uniquely strong position within the RNAi therapeutic industry, particularly among other private companies in the space.

"With the continued rapid maturation of the RNAi industry, it is critical that Intradigm properly protect the breakthroughs that are being pioneered in our labs. As we continue to take important steps to execute our strategy, we find ourselves in the enviable position of possessing one of the industry's broadest and strongest RNAi IP portfolios," said Philip Haworth, chief executive officer of Intradigm. "With today's development, we have further broadened and strengthened this position and can now claim to have a portfolio that contains issued patents in all three of our RNAi therapeutic areas of focus."

"While the issuance of this important patent is cause for excitement on its own, the broader message regarding the potential of Intradigm's siRNA sequence IP is particularly gratifying," said Mike Riley, Intradigm's vice president of intellectual property and corporate development. "Based on today's patent issuance, we have a great deal of confidence concerning the large number of pending sequence-specific patent applications currently under review worldwide. Each subsequent patent issuance related to an active pharmaceutical ingredient will only serve to further strengthen Intradigm's position of leadership in the RNAi therapeutic space."

Intradigm possesses one of the industry's strongest RNAi IP positions including key assets strategically licensed from both the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The company's IP estate of issued patents and pending applications broadly covers structural features for a next generation of RNAi molecules, biodegradable polycationic polymers for the delivery of RNAi therapeutics, and proprietary siRNA sequence applications.

http://www.intradigm.com/