5 Aug 2014 07:00
RNS REACH
5 August 2014
Silence Therapeutics plc
Publication of pre-clinical study data on use of Atu111 RNAi in sepsis
Silence Therapeutics plc, AIM: SLN ('Silence' or 'the Company'), a leading international RNA therapeutics company, announces that pre-clinical study data on the use of its Atu111 RNAi (RNA interference) technology in sepsis has been published in the peer reviewed journal Critical Care Medicine.
Sepsis is a potentially fatal whole-body inflammation caused by severe infection. The study found that treatment with Atu111 lung endothelium-targeted RNAi using the Company's proprietary DACC delivery system ameliorated the severity of illness resulting from sepsis and improved survival, both as through pre-treatment and as a rescue intervention. Atu111 specifically targeted Angiopoietin 2, a vascular inflammatory agent, and was successful in reducing Angiopoietin 2 expression in septic subjects by up to 73.8%.
The article is entitled 'Lung-targeted RNA-interference against Angiopoietin-2 ameliorates multi-organ dysfunction and death in sepsis'. The study was carried out by collaborators at the Hannover Medical School in Germany, led by Dr Sascha David, an expert in endothelial activation.
The article can be found here: http://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/Abstract/publishahead/Lung_Targeted_RNA_Interference_Against.97467.aspx
This data was also presented in a poster session at the Gordon Research Conference on Endothelial Cell Phenotypes in Health & Disease in Girona, Spain, on 9 and 10 July 2014.
Dr Sascha David, Assistant Professor, Hannover Medical School, said:
"We were encouraged by the results of our study, which showed that an RNAi therapeutic approach targeting gene expression in the pulmonary endothelium could be a clinically relevant strategy to improve outcomes in septic subjects.
"This study reconfirms the potential that RNA interference technology, combined with effective delivery systems, has to treat serious disease."
Enquiries:
Silence Therapeutics plc | +44 (0)20 3700 9711 |
Ali Mortazavi, CEO | |
Annie Cheng, COO | |
Rozi Morris, Communications Manager |
About Silence Therapeutics plc (www.silence-therapeutics.com)
Silence Therapeutics is a leading RNAi (RNA interference) therapeutics platform technology company with its own proprietary delivery systems.
RNAi is a method of regulating or 'Silencing' gene expression. This technology can selectively silence any gene in the genome, offering potential for the development of novel therapeutics which can regulate specific genes involved in disease.
Combined, Silence's RNAi and delivery platforms enable the development of multiple products to multiple drug targets allowing the development of novel therapeutics for diseases with high unmet medical need.
Listed on London's AIM since 2006, Silence is one of only six quoted companies globally with well-validated RNA delivery technology. It has a robust IP estate, with three Phase II trials already completed (pending results).