miRagen and Archemix to Collaborate on Conjugated Aptamer-microRNA TherapeuticsBOULDER, Colo. & Cambridge, Mass. – July 23, 2009 – miRagen Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative microRNA-based therapeutics for cardiovascular and muscle disease, and Archemix Corp., a biotechnology company focused on developing aptamer therapeutics, announced today that the two companies will collaborate on conjugated aptamer-microRNA therapies capable of intracellular delivery and subsequent microRNA targeting. miRagen and Archemix will jointly pursue research and development efforts and both companies will contribute resources under the agreement, which includes an exclusive option for miRagen to negotiate for exclusive rights to further develop and commercialize certain aptamer-microRNA therapeutics generated during the collaboration. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “Targeting and delivery of nucleic acid drugs are challenges in the field, and aptamers are an exciting class of agents that can potentially address these issues,” said William S. Marshall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of miRagen Therapeutics, Inc. “We are committed to building strategic relationships with innovative companies like Archemix in our efforts to translate microRNA discoveries into breakthrough therapies.” “Combining aptamers and microRNA therapeutics has the potential to solve the intracellular delivery challenge for certain RNA-based therapeutic approaches,” said Kenneth M. Bate, President and Chief Executive Officer of Archemix. “This deal is another example of leveraging our proprietary aptamer technology to create value outside of our core expertise. Intracellular delivery has been a key challenge for RNA modalities and we are excited about the potential of bringing together our expertise in aptamers with miRagen’s expertise in microRNA therapeutics to overcome this limitation and open further potential for RNA-based therapeutics.” About microRNAsMicroRNAs have emerged as an important class of small RNAs encoded in the genome. They act to control the expression of sets of genes and entire pathways and are thus thought of as master regulators of gene expression. Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNAs are responsible for many diseases. Because they are single molecular entities that dictate the expression of fundamental regulatory pathways, microRNAs represent potential drug targets of unprecedented power. About AptamersAptamers are synthetically-derived oligonucleotides, or short nucleic acid sequences, that bind to protein targets with high affinity and specificity and can be designed to have a specified duration of action. Aptamers represent an emerging class of potential therapeutic agents that Archemix believes may have broad application to treat a variety of human diseases. About miRagen TherapeuticsCardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally. Astonishingly, in the United States, every 37 seconds a person dies from cardiovascular disease. For survivors, life changes dramatically after an adverse heart event. Because of the significant toll that cardiovascular and muscle disease takes on patients, miRagen Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2007 to develop innovative microRNA-based therapeutics for cardiovascular and muscle disease. Only recently discovered, microRNAs are short, single-stranded RNA molecules encoded in the genome that regulate gene expression and play a vital role in influencing cardiovascular and muscle disease. Principally funded through venture capital investments, miRagen combines world recognized leadership in cardiovascular medicine with unprecedented in-house expertise in microRNA biology and chemistry. For more information, please visit: www.miRagenTherapeutics.com. About Archemix
Archemix is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing aptamer therapeutics. Using Archemix’s processes for discovering aptamers, which are protected by its broad patent portfolio, Archemix is developing aptamer product candidates for rare hematological diseases. In addition, Archemix has licensed its intellectual property to third parties to develop their own aptamer product candidates in other areas. Currently, Archemix’s licensees are evaluating five different aptamer product candidates in human clinical trials; two in Phase 2 and three in Phase 1. Archemix has additional partnerships with several pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Serono, Pfizer, Takeda, Eli Lilly and Isis Pharmaceuticals. For more information, please visit www.archemix.com.
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