Alnylam Grants MWG Biotech License to Fundamental RNAi Patents for Applications in the Research Products Market
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY - News), a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has granted MWG Biotech AG, an established provider of synthetic nucleic acids, a non-exclusive license to provide research products and services in RNA interference (RNAi) under the Kreutzer-Limmer patent family owned by Alnylam. This patent family covers short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and their use to mediate RNAi in mammalian cells. "This agreement with MWG, an international genomic solution provider, continues to highlight the value of the Alnylam-owned Kreutzer-Limmer patent family as a critical component of fundamental intellectual property in the field of RNAi," said Vincent Miles, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Business Development of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. "By leveraging our portfolio of leading IP, we are creating value today and for the future by amassing an increasing number of license agreements with leading reagent and service providers. To date, fourteen companies have taken licenses for therapeutic or research product applications, including eight research product suppliers." "This license strengthens our siRNA offering and is part of our commitment to build a high quality presence in siRNA design and production," said Dr. Wolfgang Pieken, CEO of MWG Biotech AG. About RNA Interference (RNAi) RNA interference, or RNAi, is a naturally occurring mechanism within cells for selectively silencing and regulating specific genes. Since many diseases are caused by the inappropriate activity of specific genes, the ability to silence and regulate such genes selectively through RNAi could provide a means to treat a wide range of human diseases. The discovery of RNAi has been heralded by many as a major breakthrough, and the journal Science named RNAi the top scientific achievement of 2002, as well as one of the top 10 scientific advances of 2003. About Alnylam Alnylam is a biopharmaceutical company seeking to develop and commercialize novel therapeutics based on RNA interference, or RNAi. Growing from its foundation as the world's first company focused on RNAi therapeutics, the company's leadership in the field of RNAi is supported by its preeminent founders and advisors and its strengths in fundamental patents, technology, and know-how that underlie the commercialization of RNAi therapeutics. Alnylam is developing a pipeline of RNAi products using Direct RNAi(TM) to treat ocular, central nervous system, and respiratory diseases and Systemic RNAi (TM) to treat a broad range of diseases, including oncology, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases. The company's global headquarters are in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For additional information, please visit www.alnylam.com. About MWG Biotech AG MWG Biotech AG (www.mwg-biotech.com) is an international provider of DNA sequencing and DNA/siRNA synthesis products and services for academic and industrial research from production sites in Germany, the US, and India. With strong customer orientation, fast service and high quality products the company creates the platform for success in the life sciences today and for a better life tomorrow. In its siRNA portfolio the company offers, in addition to a range of siRNA products, a series of advance siRNA design tools and other siRNA services. Alnylam Forward-Looking Statements Various statements in this release concerning our future expectations, plans, prospects and future operating results constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including risks related to: our approach to discover and develop novel drugs, which is unproven and may never lead to marketable products; our ability to obtain additional funding to support our business activities; our dependence on third parties for development, manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of our products; the successful development of products, all of which are in early stages of development; obtaining regulatory approval for products; competition from others using technology similar to ours and others developing products for similar uses; obtaining, maintaining and protecting intellectual property utilized by our products; and our short operating history; as well as those risks more fully discussed in the "Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results" section of our most recent Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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