miRagen and t2cure enter licensing agreement for microRNA 92 technology

Nov 30 2010

miRagen Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on improving patients' lives by developing innovative microRNA (miRNA)-based therapeutics for cardiovascular and muscle disease, and t2cure, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing progenitor cell-based regenerative therapeutics for cardiac or peripheral vascular diseases, announced today that they have entered into a licensing agreement that provides miRagen Therapeutics with exclusive rights to the technology and intellectual property related to the in vivo-use of discoveries made by the University of Frankfurt and licensed by t2cure regarding microRNA 92 (miR-92). miR-92 is a key regulator of neoangiogenesis as part of ischemic disease, which may be relevant to peripheral arterial disease and other cardiovascular disorders. t2cure retains the rights to use modulators of miR-92 for ex-vivo treatment of cellular therapeutics. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

“This collaboration also contributes to our current program of using miR-92a in vitro for the pre-treatment of stem cells, which has the potential to lead to future patent-protected regenerative therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.”

Within the miR-92 family is an endothelial cell-enriched miRNA known as miR-92a. Inhibition of miR-92a in a preclinical model of limb ischemia and myocardial infarction has been shown to enhance blood vessel growth and functional recovery of damaged tissue. miR-92a appears to target mRNAs corresponding to several pro-angiogenic proteins [Bonauer et al, (2009) Science 324 (5935), 1710.]. miRagen believes miR-92a serves as a valuable therapeutic target in the setting of ischemic disease, and intends to explore its function during other vascular disorders, including atherosclerosis. miRagen plans to expand the preclinical exploration of miR-92a inhibition in ischemic cardiac injury in the near term.

The miR-92 discoveries were made in the lab of Stefanie Dimmeler, Ph.D., Professor of Experimental Medicine and Director of the Institute for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Center for Molecular Medicine at the University of Frankfurt. Dr. Dimmeler is also a member of miRagen's Scientific Advisory Board and co-founder of t2cure.

"We are pleased to collaborate with t2cure to further explore miR-92 inhibition, and its potential for the development of a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of various arterial disorders," said William S. Marshall, Ph.D., President and CEO of miRagen Therapeutics, Inc. "This agreement further advances miRagen toward our mission of developing groundbreaking microRNA-based therapeutics to treat patients with cardiovascular and muscle disease."

"It is exciting to have miRagen with their outstanding expertise in microRNA biology as a partner to explore the clinical potential of the miR-92a technology," said Petra Rueck, Ph.D., CEO of t2cure. "This collaboration also contributes to our current program of using miR-92a in vitro for the pre-treatment of stem cells, which has the potential to lead to future patent-protected regenerative therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases."