A patent application based on pioneering research at the University of Cambridge has generated an exclusive licence agreement between Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT) and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. The research into gene expression in mammals was undertaken by Dr Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz and colleagues Dr Florence Wianny, Professors David Glover and Martin Evans at the University, with funding from Cancer Research UK.
A patent application based on pioneering research at the University of Cambridge has generated an exclusive licence agreement between Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT) and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. The research into gene expression in mammals was undertaken by Dr Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz and colleagues Dr Florence Wianny, Professors David Glover and Martin Evans at the University, with funding from Cancer Research UK.
RNAi allows scientists to inhibit gene functions, allowing them to understand how genes work in health and disease. First shown to work in genetic model systems, fruitflies and nematode worms, there were doubts as to whether the approach would work in mammals. The researchers showed the technique could indeed be applied to mammalian cells using mouse cells and mouse embryos as models. Its use is allowing scientists to produce human disease models that can aid in drug discovery. RNAi has enormous potential as a therapeutic treatment of diseases and the agreement with Alnylam grants the company rights to develop this aspect of the technology.
In addition, Cancer Research UK is working with the Netherlands Cancer Institute to develop a library of inhibited gene functions to target cancer genes.
Dr Zernicka-Goetz said:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence. If you use this content on your site please link back to this page.