Alnylam Pharma (ALNY) and Isis Pharma's (ISIS) Regulus Therapeutics Allowed MicroRNA Patent Application

October 28, 2009 10:19 AM EDT

Regulus Therapeutics Inc., founded by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALNY), and Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISIS), announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has allowed a patent application within the 'Esau' patent family.

The Esau patent estate, which is owned exclusively by Regulus, represents one of the earliest filings in the microRNA intellectual property landscape, and is fundamental to the discovery, development, and commercialization of microRNA therapeutics.

The currently allowed claims describe methods of inhibiting miR-122, a liver-specific microRNA that has been shown to facilitate replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Specifically, the claims encompass methods of inhibiting miR-122 in a cell using a broad class of anti-miRs with sugar modifications at each nucleoside, such as 2'-MOE or bicyclic nucleic acid modifications, and with or without the addition of conjugate groups. Regulus holds exclusive rights to additional patents covering miR-122 antagonists and their use as HCV therapeutics, including the 'Tuschl III' patent claiming the sequences of miR-122 and its complement (U.S. Patent No. 7,232,806), and the Sarnow patent pertaining to the use of anti-miR-122 to inhibit HCV replication (US Patent No. 7,307,067).


Following a Notice of Allowance, the process resulting in final issuance of a patent involves several administrative steps that are typically completed within a year.

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