Alnylam to extend RNAi therapeutics research collaboration with AlCana and UBC

Apr 7 2011

AlCana Technologies, Inc., The University of British Columbia, and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY), a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that Alnylam has elected to extend the companies' RNAi therapeutics research collaboration for a third year. The research collaboration was initiated in August 2009 and focused on the discovery of novel cationic lipids employed in lipid nanoparticles ("LNPs") for the systemic delivery of RNAi therapeutics.

"We are excited to continue our relationship with AlCana and UBC in this research collaboration, as they remain at the forefront of cationic lipid and LNP discovery with a world-class team of chemists focused on the delivery of RNAi therapeutics," said Kenneth Koblan, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Alnylam. "In fact, the research conducted by AlCana and UBC has led to the discovery of our second generation LNPs that demonstrate remarkable improvements in potency, a wider therapeutic index, and potential for delivery beyond the liver."

"We are pleased that Alnylam has elected to extend our research collaboration for another year and we look forward to continuing our work with them in these efforts," said Thomas Madden, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of AlCana Technologies. "Over the past two years, we have made significant advancements in the systemic delivery of RNAi therapeutics and the progress in our relationship is exemplified by the large number of papers and presentations by our scientific teams."

The research collaboration is funded by Alnylam and the work will be conducted by scientists at UBC and AlCana. Under the terms of the research agreement, Alnylam retains exclusive rights to all new inventions in the RNAi field as well as rights to sublicense any resulting intellectual property to Alnylam's current and future partners. As part of the original 2009 agreement, Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Nasdaq: TKMR, TSX: TKM) receives rights to use any new AlCana/UBC inventions for their own RNAi therapeutic programs licensed under Alnylam intellectual property through its InterfeRx™ program.