atugen AG demonstrates in vivo proof-of-concept in siRNA therapeutics

Berlin , 11 May 2004 - atugen AG, The Gene Silencing Company, announced today that it has demonstrated, in vivo, proof-of-concept in functional delivery of its highly stable siRNA therapeutics. In a series of repeat studies to test glucose tolerance in normal rodents, atugen’s siRNA therapy was shown to be effective in regulating blood sugar levels.

In the study, treatment with stabilized siRNA molecules (atuRNAi) through clinically-relevant i .v . infusion led to downregulation of a target which plays a significant role in regulating glucose metabolism in vivo.  Compared to the control group, atuRNAi produced lower peak glucose levels with a return to near normal levels after two hours.  In contrast, in animals treated with inactivated siRNA molecules, glucose levels rose to very high levels and failed to revert to normal within two hours. 

The preclinical in vivo studies utilised a type II diabetes disease model in which an insulin-independent signalling pathway was turned on.  Said Dr. Klaus Giese, “In this series of studies we have demonstrated robust and very reproducible tissue uptake and function of atugen’s proprietary siRNA therapeutic molecules. We are now moving on to animal studies in various cancer models.”

atugen’s patent application EP1389637 was published on 18 February 2004 .  The proprietary ‘composition of matter’ patent covers atugen’s own stabilized siRNA structures.

atugen AG, (www.atugen.com) the Gene Silencing Company™, is a biopharmaceutical company with core competence in functional gene silencing.  The company is based in Berlin , Germany and currently has about 40 employees.  atugen pursues a dual business strategy comprising in-house drug development programs and a contract research business. atugen’s therapeutic siRNA programs currently focus on in vivo applications in oncology, liver and skin diseases, exploiting its oligonucleotide delivery technologies and chemically-stabilized, proprietary siRNA structures.  The contract research business offers target validation and drug discovery to biopharma through research alliances and fee-for-service.

GeneBloc® and SignaLink™ are trademarks of atugen AG.