Alnylam expresses confidence in new applications for RNAi technology for biologics manufacturing

US RNAi therapeutics specialist Alnylam Biotherapeutics, a division of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ALNY) has given an upbeat view of the sector, presenting new data at the MIT Center for Biomedical Innovation’s Biomanufacturing Summit from its platform efforts aimed at developing RNAi technologies for applications in biologics manufacturing.

The new studies show that siRNAs designed to target a virus known to infect CHO cells - cells that are commonly used to produce recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies - can potently block infection and viral replication. RNAi technologies to prevent or treat viral infection of manufacturing cell lines could provide a novel strategy to ensure product quality of biotherapeutic products for patients.

The news comes just a couple of days after Swiss drug major Roche’s announcement of major restructuring and pulling out of RNAi research, on which it was working with Alnylam. (The Pharma Letter November 17). Commenting on that, John Maraganore, chief executive of Alnylam, said: "While we are disappointed and surprised to hear of [Roche’s] portfolio decision given the progress being made in the RNAi field, we remain more confident than ever in our efforts to advance RNAi therapeutics as a whole new class of innovative medicines to patients.”