MDRNA (MRNA) Announces Expansion and Collaboration with VPC for RNAi-Based Therapeutics

November 24, 2009 8:35 AM EST

MDRNA, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) today announced the extension and expansion of its collaboration with the Vancouver Prostate Centre (VPC), covering the discovery and development of RNAi-based therapeutics for the treatment of bladder cancer. Research conducted by scientists and surgeons from both institutions demonstrated that MDRNA's UsiRNA targeting human survivin and delivered via DiLA2 liposomes achieved up to 90% target knockdown in a mouse model of orthotopic bladder cancer. The effects of UsiRNA persisted for the duration of the three week study, and the level of survivin mRNA knockdown was associated with a significant reduction in tumor growth as measured by fluorescence from luciferase-expressing tumor cells.

The collaboration with VPC's world-renowned clinical cancer research lab was formed in 2008 to investigate MDRNA's UsiRNAs and DiLA2 delivery platform in one of the Centre's well-validated bladder cancer models. The VPC is a National Centre of Excellence for translational research located at the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver General Hospital. In light of current results demonstrating efficient delivery and high potency for RNAi, the program will expand to evaluate UsiRNAs targeting other critical pathways in cancer, the impact on tumor biology, tumor growth, and survival rates. These studies are considered essential to identify the most effective target and dosing regimens for clinical intervention. MDRNA recently presented detailed results of the initial research at the International Society for Biological Therapy of Cancer.

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