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Santaris Pharma: New MicroRNA Cancer Research Collaboration New MicroRNA Cancer Research Collaboration · Latest Science may bring Breakthroughs in Cancer Medicine · Biotech-University Team Receives Funding from Danish Advanced Technology Foundation Copenhagen, 2 May 2006Santaris Pharma, the Danish biopharmaceutical company specialising in the development of RNA-binding drugs, and the Department for Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, today announced the creation of a new MicroRNA Research Consortium, supported in part by funding from the Danish Advanced Technology Foundation. Copenhagen University’s MicroRNA Research Unit is actively engaged in research on recently discovered human genetic “switches” called microRNAs, which appear to be specific for particular cancer types and regulate the severity of cancer as well as being involved in other serious human diseases. Santaris Pharma’s proprietary Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) drug technology has the unique potential to single out and inactivate such disease causing genes. Such specific microRNA antagonists may have substantial potential as new therapeutic agents for the treatment of human cancer and other diseases. The MicroRNA Research Consortium has been established to create a leading international team focused on the new and rapidly developing field of microRNAs as new drug targets in biomedical science. The Research Consortium’s first objectives will be to target microRNAs involved in human cancer and develop effective drugs that block their action. The University will have the first right to patent new drug targets and Santaris will be responsible for the development and commercialisation of LNA antagonists of these microRNA targets as potential new cancer drugs. The Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation, established by the Danish Government in 2005, has awarded a grant of 9.8m DKK (1.3m Euro) to the MicroRNA Research Consortium, and this will be matched by further contributions from the University of Copenhagen and Santaris Pharma of 9.8m DKK (1.3m Euro) resulting in a total initial budget for the project of 19.6m DKK (2.6m Euro). The Santaris Pharma - University of Copenhagen MicroRNA project was the only biotech award and one of only 5 projects from small and medium sized companies selected by the High Technology Fund for support out of a total of 131 such applications. Sakari Kauppinen, Head of the MicroRNA Research Unit at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics at Copenhagen University commented: “We are excited about the Consortium and about working with Santaris Pharma, whose experience in developing LNA-based drugs is highly synergistic with our scientific expertise in microRNA research. Our joint goal is to transform basic knowledge of microRNAs in disease into biopharmaceutical products with the potential to improve the treatment of cancer patients”. In announcing the Consortium, Keith McCullagh, President and CEO of Santaris Pharma said: ”MicroRNA antagonists could become an important new drug class with the opportunity to achieve breakthroughs in clinical medicine. Sakari Kauppinen and his research team at the University of Copenhagen have established an international reputation in microRNA research and we look forward to a successful collaboration. We are also delighted that the Danish Advanced Technology Foundation has recognised the scientific and commercial potential of the Consortium with significant financial support.” ENDS For further information, please contact Santaris Pharma:
NOTES FOR EDITORS About Santaris Pharma: Santaris Pharma A/S is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focussed on developing next generation RNA-silencing drugs based on its proprietary LNA® (Locked Nucleic Acid) technology for the treatment of cancer, metabolic disorders and other serious diseases. Created in May 2003 and backed by a broad group of leading international life-science venture capital investors. The Company’s drug pipeline is comprised of novel RNA Antagonist drugs based on its unique LNA® chemistry. LNA® drugs, with their high potency and biostability, have the potential to transform the field of RNA inhibiting therapeutics, making specific and effective gene silencing a reality in human medicine. If this potential is realised, even in part, it may be possible to design new drugs to treat a wide variety of human diseases by switching off the expression of harmful genes. Santaris Pharma holds the world wide patent rights to the exploitation of LNA® in pharmaceuticals and presently has three drugs in preclinical or clinical development. The lead drug candidate, SPC2996, is currently undergoing an international, multicentre, phase I/II clinical study in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). For further company information see www.santaris.com About MicroRNAs and the University of Copenhagen’s MicroRNA Research Unit: MicroRNAs are a newly discovered class of short, non-coding, ribonucleic acids (RNAs) that occur within all cells and act as important regulators of gene expression. These naturally-occurring short strands of RNA control a wide variety of cellular processes and biological pathways, including many which are important in the development and progression of cancer. The MicroRNA Research Unit is located in the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics (IMBG), University of Copenhagen. The Unit, headed by Dr. Sakari Kauppinen, focuses on microRNA genomics and non-coding RNA-regulatory networks with the aim of understanding the role of microRNAs in animal development and human disease. The Research Unit collaborates with international world-leading microRNA research laboratories, and has developed and implemented state-of-the-art genomics platforms for sensitive and specific detection and analysis of microRNAs. In addition, the Unit has access through collaborators to large collections of tumor samples from a wide variety of cancers. For further information on the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics see www.imbg.ku.dk. About the Danish Advanced Technology Foundation:The Danish Advanced Technology Foundation was established by the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation through an Act of Parliament in January 2005. The purpose of the Fund is “to enhance growth and strengthen employment by supporting Denmark’s further development as a high technology society” and is intended to provide “funding for strategic priorities within research and innovation, such funding to be allocated based on an assessment of the scientific quality and industrial relevance of the priorities”. The Fund also “makes a special effort to promote research and innovation efforts in small and medium sized enterprises.” The first awards from the Fund are for implementation in 2006 and total approximately 200m DKK (27m Euro). For further information see www.hoejteknologifond.dk About Santaris Pharma’s LNA® Technology Santaris Pharma’s LNA® Technology is based on synthetic analogs of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in which the normally flexible ribose sugar ring is fixed in a more rigid conformation through a molecular bridge between two carbon atoms in the sugar ring. When incorporated into a short nucleotide chain (oligonucleotide) drug, the presence of LNA results in several therapeutic advantages. Such drugs use the “antisense” priniciple to block the function of specific RNAs within cells and tissues. In particular, they can be used to switch off the synthesis of harmful proteins thereby potentially altering disease outcomes in cancer or other serious disorders. Because LNA has very high RNA-binding affinity, LNA-containing drugs have enhanced potency, excellent specificity and high metabolic stability and provide improved efficacy at lower doses than comparable drugs based on other technologies, such as siRNA. Santaris Pharma’s LNA compounds have proven to be 100 to 1,000 times more potent in vitro than conventional antisense compounds and 10 to 100 times more potent in vivo than the best siRNA’s (small interfering RNAs) published to date. |
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