Research collaboration to focus on delivering siRNAs to disease sites

Vancouver, BC – Tekmira Pharmaceuticals says it has entered a research collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb in which Tekmira’s SNALP technology will be used to deliver small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to specific organs and tissues outside of the liver.

The relationship between Tekmira and Bristol-Myers Squibb builds on earlier work conducted at Bristol-Myers Squibb using siRNA delivery technology provided by privately held Protiva Biotherapeutics.

“Our relationship with Bristol-Myers Squibb is consistent with our strategy to work with global pharmaceutical leaders to expand the therapeutic potential of our leading RNAi delivery technology,” says Dr Mark J Murray, Tekmira’s president and CEO. “At the same time, this work compliments our internal product development initiatives as we advance our own RNAi therapeutics to treat serious human diseases.”

The initial collaboration between Bristol-Myers Squibb and Protiva focused on validating certain gene targets using small interfering RNAs provided by Bristol-Myers Squibb and employed a number of different stable nucleic-acid lipid particle (SNALP) formulations. SNALP is Tekmira’s proprietary lipid nanoparticle technology for the delivery of RNAi drugs, including siRNAs.