MDRNA, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA), a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutic products based on RNA interference (RNAi), announced today in vivo data from a bladder cancer model demonstrating effective localized delivery of a UsiRNA to a solid tumor, thus further expanding the delivery capabilities of the DiLA2 Platform. In addition, the Company reported in vivo data demonstrating the ability of its proprietary peptide-based nanoparticle technology to significantly improve siRNA delivery efficiency. The integration of the peptide nanoparticle technology with the DiLA2 Platform resulted in 85% knockdown of ApoB messenger RNA while decreasing the overall amount of the DiLA2 delivery vehicle by 45%. The data are being presented today at the RNA Interference Summit in San Francisco by Roger Adami, Ph.D., Associate Director, Molecular Pharmaceutics, MDRNA, Inc.
Dr. Adami will also present data demonstrating knockdown of additional hepatocyte targets in rodent models. The DiLA2 liposomes showed 90% knockdown of DGAT2 in mice following a single 2 mg/kg administration and a 75% knockdown of PCSK9 with a single 2 mg/kg dose. This highly efficient delivery to hepatocytes provides the basis for MDRNA's development pipeline in oncology.
"The data reported today demonstrate the breadth and versatility of the DiLA2 delivery system," stated Barry Polisky, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer. "We believe that the DiLA2 Platform will enable effective therapeutic applications of siRNAs in oncology and various other disease indications. Additionally, peptide-siRNA particles combined with the DiLA2 Platform will provide improved delivery efficiency of RNAi-based therapeutics. During 2009, we intend to expand the capabilities of the DiLA2 delivery system to target multiple oncology indications beyond our initial internal program in liver cancer."