Quark expands access to Silence's AtuRNAi platform

The UK's Silence Therapeutics and USA-based Quark Pharmaceuticals have expanded their current strategic technology licensing agreement. In April 2005, they signed an option and licence deal, which provided Quark with access to Silence's novel proprietary siRNA technology, AtuRNAi.

The first outcome of their accord was the development of the AtuRNAi technology-based compound RTP801i, which Quark licensed to world drug giant Pfizer last year and is currently in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration. Quark's product portfolio includes one additional siRNA molecule with a structure covered by patents licensed from Silence.

The expanded agreement provides Quark with options to non-exclusive licenses to develop additional molecules against three specific targets using Silence's proprietary AtuRNAi technology. The terms of the amendment signed will entitle the UK firm to milestone payments and a royalty on product sales after exercise of the options by Quark. Further financial details were not disclosed.