Silence Therapeutics and AstraZeneca Announce Collaboration to Develop Novel Approaches for siRNA Drug Delivery
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Silence Therapeutics plc today announces a collaboration with AstraZeneca, focused on the development of a range of novel approaches for the delivery of siRNA molecules. The deal builds on Silence Therapeutics' leading expertise in the delivery of siRNA molecules, in particular its success with the functional systemic delivery of siRNA in vivo using its proprietary AtuPLEX technology. The financial details of this collaboration, in which both parties will contribute expertise and know-how, have not been disclosed.
This new deal is independent of the parties' three-year collaboration signed in July 2007, whose aim is to develop novel siRNA therapeutics against specific targets exclusive to AstraZeneca.
As a result of today's agreement, Silence Therapeutics and AstraZeneca will work together to develop new and improved approaches for the delivery of siRNA molecules. The successful delivery of siRNA molecules to different tissue sites is critical to realize the exciting potential of siRNA to treat a broad range of diseases. Under the terms of the agreement both Silence Therapeutics and AstraZeneca will be allowed to commercialise the truly novel delivery systems that they develop together.
Jeff Vick, CEO of Silence Therapeutics, commenting on today's announcement said, "We are delighted to enter this new collaboration with AstraZeneca for the development of novel approaches for the delivery of siRNA molecules. This agreement highlights the significant progress we have made with our AtuPLEX platform, following our early realization of the importance of delivery to the development of successful RNAi therapeutics. This deal also reflects the strong working relationship we have developed with AstraZeneca and the progress of our ongoing collaboration in the development of AtuRNAi molecules against a number of their targets."
Mr. Vick continued, "We look forward to continuing our work with AstraZeneca in this important therapeutic area, and are extremely excited about the potential of our AtuPLEX delivery technology today and its ability to be developed further so that it can become an even more significant value driver for Silence Therapeutics."
Silence Therapeutics will retain the right to sign further 'delivery' deals to capture value from its current AtuPLEX delivery technology as well as any improvements to this technology that it generates either independently or as part of this collaboration.
Claude Bertrand, Global VP, Discovery Respiratory & Inflammation, at AstraZeneca said "We are very happy with the working relationship we have developed with the team at Silence Therapeutics and the progress made over the last six months via our agreement to develop siRNA therapeutics against a number of our targets. Today's announcement is designed to generate the novel delivery approaches that are needed if this exciting class of novel drugs is to realize fully its potential. Based on Silence Therapeutics' significant current expertise in siRNA delivery we are confident that we have found a strong partner to achieve our ambitions in this area."
