PBL awarded further US patent on short RNAi molecules

Plant Bioscience Limited (PBL) is pleased to announce that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued US Patent No. 8,299,235 with fundamental claims directed to compositions to effect gene silencing.

The new patent, US Patent No. 8,299,235, allows claims to short antisense molecules of 21 to 30 nucleotides in length for silencing gene targets in a wide range of eukaryotes, including mammals, plants and protozoa, as well as targets in pathogens. PBL now holds a portfolio of six issued US patents that cover the methods of using siRNA molecules of 20 to 30 nucleotides to effect gene silencing as well as the siRNA molecules themselves. PBL’s patent portfolio in this field of RNA interference (RNAi) covers many current research, development and manufacturing processes used in the pharmaceutical, diagnostic and agricultural biotechnology industries. These patents arise from the seminal research and discoveries of Professor Sir David Baulcombe and Dr Andrew Hamilton in the field of gene silencing.

Silencing is a natural mechanism for down-regulating gene expression that is found in most complex organisms and it is the focus of tremendous activity in the life science industry. It has been widely exploited in research for gene discovery, and for characterisation of gene function. It holds great promise as a therapeutic tool, and currently treatments are being developed for conditions as diverse as cancer, viral diseases and obesity.

PBL non-executive director, Andrew Sandham, comments “We are now seeing the seminal RNAi research of Baulcombe and Hamilton being translated into patient benefits through clinical research in oncology, genetic disorders and other diseases. We are proud to be working with our pharma and biotech company partners that have made this possible and look forward to the availability of licensed RNAi diagnostic tests and therapeutic products over the next several years.”

Dr Jan Chojecki, Managing Director of PBL adds “Our strong patent portfolio in RNAi has been endorsed by our partnering strategy in the pharmaceutical and agribusiness sectors, including our partnership with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a world leader in the clinical development of RNAi therapeutics”.