Isis Pharma, AstraZeneca To Co-Develop Oligonucleotide Delivery Methods

(RTTNews) - Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc (ISIS) Thursday announced a strategic alliance with UK-based drug maker AstraZeneca Plc. (AZN.L, AZN) to discover and develop novel delivery methods for antisense oligonucleotides. Initial project areas will be oncology and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases or CVMD.

Under the terms of the agreement, each party will fund its own contribution and commit investigators to the collaboration. In line with AstraZeneca's open innovation approach, the companies will work together on an agreed programme and share rights to the results.

The company noted that antisense oligonucleotides are short, single strands of DNA or RNA molecules. Rather than modulating the activity of already-formed proteins, antisense oligonucleotides act before proteins are produced at the level of messenger RNA in the cell, thus opening up new opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

According to the firm, the new delivery approaches seek to target the desired tissue more effectively. The new delivery methods will aim to enhance the access of antisense oligonucleotides into specific organs and cells. The methods build on Isis' successful Ligand Conjugation Antisense or LICA technology.

The agreement builds on an existing collaboration between both companies, and supports AstraZeneca's research and development capabilities in the area of antisense oligonucleotide-based therapeutics and RNA biology.

Isis shares closed Wednesday's trading at $51.08, down 0.60 percent. In the after hours trading, shares declined 0.35 percent further.

In London, AstraZeneca shares are currently trading at 4,721 pence, up 0.66 percent.