Press Releases
Polyplus-transfection licenses ZNA (TM) oligonucleotide technology to metabion
ZNA technology provides for increased affinity for nucleic acids
Strasbourg, France, March 2, 2010–Polyplus-transfection SA, a company developing innovative solutions for molecular and cellular biology, announced today that metabion GmbH, a company specialized in custom synthesis of biopolymers, has signed a non-exclusive agreement to manufacture and commercialize Polyplus-transfection’s Zip Nucleic Acid (ZNA (TM)) oligonucleotides, a new technology that increases affinity for nucleic acids. Under the terms of the license, metabion GmbH has acquired rights to manufacture and commercialize custom ZNA oligonucleotides for research and in vitro diagnostic applications. metabion GmbH will begin commercialization on March 22nd, 2010.
Zip Nucleic Acids (ZNA (TM)) are novel modified oligonucleotides that offer increased affinity for nucleic acids without reducing specificity. This brings several advantages: ZNAs improve the performance of molecular hybridization techniques such as PCR assays when used as primers or probes, ZNAs also increase the sensitivity of tests and the detection of mutations, in addition, ZNAs’ performance compares favourably with the best modified oligonucleotides available in the market today, further, ZNAs have the distinct advantage of being easy to design and cost effective to produce.
“We are truly delighted to sign this agreement with metabion, a well-established dynamic oligonucleotide company in Europe,” said Mark Bloomfield, CEO of Polyplus-transfection. “This licensing agreement will enable more members of the life science community to access our innovative ZNA technology.”
“In line with our approach to intelligently and deliberately expand our oligonucleotide custom synthesis portfolio to bring ever increasing value to our customers, we see great potential for ZNA (TM) modified oligonucleotides due to the inherent (chemical) advantages they offer for state-of-the-art molecular biological applications,” said Dr. Regina Bichlmaier, CEO at metabion. “Combining our own and our customers´ expertise, this new technology will contribute to increase R&D flexibility and progress.”
About ZNA (TM)
ZNA (TM) (Zip Nucleic Acids) are oligocation-oligonucleotide conjugates that demonstrate an increased affinity for their complementary sequence without reduction in specificity. Increased affinity derives from the molecules’ cationic moieties (functional groups), which reduce the charge repulsion between the two nucleic acid strands. Thanks to the non-directive nature of the electrostatic interactions, this affinity gain is independent of the base sequence and is therefore predictable, thus making the design of ZNAs extremely easy. ZNAs are produced using a standard oligonucleotide synthesizer allowing fast, cost effective production as well as the ability to add further useful modifications such as fluorescent markers.
http://www.polyplus-transfection.com/technologies/zna-modified-oligonucleotide/
ZNA is a trademark of Polyplus-transfection.
About Polyplus-transfection
Polyplus-transfection SA is a biotechnology company researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing innovative solutions for scientists working in molecular and cell biology. Located close to the city and University of Strasbourg in Eastern France, the company has been producing and selling its proprietary range of transfection reagents and technologies since 2001. The multidisciplinary Polyplus R&D team includes chemists, molecular and cellular biologists. Polyplus-transfection recently extended its product offering to molecular biologists with the launch and commercialization of ZNA (TM) oligonucleotides. The company holds a broad portfolio of patents and licenses in the fields of nucleic acid delivery and modified oligonucleotides. Polyplus is an ISO 9001 accredited company. For more information, please visit our web site at:
http://www.polyplus-transfection.com/
About metabion
metabion is one of the globally leading suppliers of custom nucleic acids renowned for its focus on reliable supplies of consistently high quality products and services. Founded in 1997 in Munich/Martinsried, metabion´s popularity rapidly spread all over Europe and beyond from its home base Germany as a consequence of its successful translation of high quality standards into daily practice. metabion´s core business is the production of synthetic DNA and RNA oligonucleotides according to customers´ needs. Academic, government, and commercial scientists in the field of life sciences value metabion´s approach of paying individual and dedicated attention to each and every order, problem, or request for the sake of achieving best results. Never compromising on quality while scaling up daily output due to the rapidly growing customer base and demands has been and is key to metabion´s success story being realized by the creative, innovative, ambitious and healthy spirit of its employees and customers.
http://www.metabion.com/home/index.php
Polyplus-transfection raises EUR 1.2 million through an issue of convertible bonds
New money will fund the company’s RNAplus research program and strengthen its human and material resources
Strasbourg, December 9 2009 – Polyplus-transfection, a company specialized in the research, development and commercialization of innovative reagents for the transfer of biomolecules, has completed a new funding round in which it raised EUR 1.2 million . The funding took the form of an issue of convertible bonds and was led by existing investor CIC-Vizille Capital Innovation, with the participation of the company’s two other historic shareholders, Avenir Finance Gestion and CIC Finance-CIC Investissement Alsace.
These funds will be assigned primarily to the RNAplus research program, which has been approved by the « Innovations Thérapeutiques » competitivity cluster. The objective of the RNAplus project is to generate new oligonucleotides capable of silencing the expression of a target gene through RNA interference without the use of a delivery reagent. Polyplus-transfection will also reinforce its human resources with a new CEO and a Business Development Manager in the United States, its leading market (40 percent of sales). In addition, the funding will allow Polyplus to push ahead its program for exploiting ZNA (Zip Nucleic Acids) oligonucleotides and to defend the company’s intellectual property, especially its rights to the use of polyehtylenimine (PEI) for bioproduction purposes.
“We are delighted that all our existing shareholders have renewed their confidence in the company and its technologies,” said Dr. Gabriel Festoc, Chairman of the Board of Polyplus-transfection. “Thanks to this funding, we shall be able to reach a new stage in the development of Polyplus, after almost doubling our consolidated revenues to EUR 2.6 million in 2009, and in particular to strengthen our research team for supporting our growth and investing in our key RNAplus program.”
For her part, the Investment Director of CIC-Vizille Capital Innovation, Karine Lignel, said: “We have supported Polyplus since 2004 and we are delighted to be accompanying it in this new step, which is the result of a true and ambitious strategic view. Its capacity to develop and commercialize very promising new technologies was a decisive factor in the investors’ decision. The company owns both solid research expertise and a broad range of products available internationally. The license agreement that Polyplus signed with Sigma-Aldrich last month for the marketing of its ZNA-modified oligonucleotides is an illustration of that.”
Polyplus-transfection is a biotechnology company developing and marketing innovative solutions for transfection and therapies based on nucleic acid delivery. Based in Strasbourg, France, the company has been selling its transfection reagents since 2001. The multidisciplinary Polyplus R&D team includes chemists, molecular and cellular biologists. Polyplus-transfection has extended its field of expertise to molecular biology reagents with the development of ZNA(TM) oligonucleotides. The company has numerous patents pending and licenses in the fields of nucleic acid delivery and modified oligonucleotides.
Sigma-Aldrich Signs License Agreement With Polyplus-Transfection to Offer Novel ZNA(TM) Oligonucleotides
Commercialization of ZNA technology provides for increased affinity for nucleic acids
St. Louis, MO, USA, Nov. 03, 2009/PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — Sigma-Aldrich (NASDAQ: SIAL) today announced a worldwide licensing agreement with Polyplus-transfection (Strasbourg, France) to manufacture and commercialize Zip Nucleic Acid (ZNA(TM)*) oligonucleotides, a new technology that provides solutions for increased affinity for nucleic acids. Under the terms of the license, Sigma-Aldrich has rights to manufacture and commercialize ZNA oligonucleotides for all research applications. Sigma-Aldrich is the first company to offer ZNA as custom DNA and RNA oligonucleotides to the life science community.
ZNA are oligonucleotides with attached cationic units. They offer significant value for a variety of applications in research and diagnostics applications. Research applications include PCR probes, PCR primers, in-vitro micro RNA detection and inhibition and siRNA. The addition of cationic residues to oligonuleotides increases their sensitivity and their ability to detect mutations, while remaining both easy to design and cost effective. ZNA also offers an increased affinity for nucleic acids without losing selectivity, improving performance in hybridization techniques.
“Sigma offers the largest portfolio of modifications and labels for oligonucleotides. We consider ZNA an important addition to our portfolio. The increased performances seen for ZNA oligonucleotides offer advantages for our customers and we look forward to making this technology available to our global customer base, “commented Theresa S. Creasey, Ph.D., Vice President of Sigma(R) Custom Products, Sigma-Aldrich.
Frédéric Perraud, CEO of Polyplus-transfection, added: “We are very proud to collaborate with a leading life science company such as Sigma-Aldrich. This major agreement gives access to our ZNA technology to scientists worldwide and allows Polyplus to capitalize on its nucleic acid delivery research towards innovative applications in molecular biology.”
Sigma-Aldrich offers a comprehensive collection of customized oligonucleotide services, including DNA oligos, DNA probes, RNA, siRNA oligos and peptide synthesis. For more information on ZNA from Sigma-Aldrich visit http://www.sigma.com/znaoligos
*About ZNA™
ZNA™ (Zip Nucleic Acids) are oligocation-oligonucleotide conjugates that have an increased affinity for their complementary sequence without losing selectivity. This affinity increase is due to the cationic moieties, which reduces the charge repulsion between the two strands of nucleic acid. Thanks to the non-directive nature of electrostatic interactions, this affinity gain is independent of the base sequence and hence predictable, thus making the design of ZNA extremely easy. ZNA are made with a standard oligonucleotide synthesizer allowing fast, cost effective production as well as the ability to add other modifications such as fluorescent markers.
About Sigma-Aldrich
Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technolgy company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of desease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. Sigma-Aldrich has customers in Life Science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 37 countries and has 8,000 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is commited to Accelerating Customer Success through Innovation and Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service.
About Polyplus-transfection
Polyplus-transfection is a research-focused company developing and marketing innovative solutions for transfection and therapies based on nucleic acid delivery. Based in Strasbourg, France, the company has been selling its transfection reagents since 2001. The multidisciplinary Polyplus R&D team includes chemists, molecular and cellular biologists. Polyplus-transfection has extended its field of expertise to molecular biology reagents with the development of ZNA(TM) oligonucleotides. The company has numerous patents pending and licenses in the fields of nucleic acid delivery and modified oligonucleotides.
Cautionary Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements relating to future strategic actions and initiatives and similar intentions and beliefs and other statements regarding the Companies’ expectations, beliefs, intentions and the like, which involve assumptions regarding the Companies’ operations and conditions in the markets the Companies serve. The Companies do not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Sigma-Aldrich and Sigma are trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Biotechnology L.P. and Sigma-Aldrich Co.
ZNA is a trademark of Polyplus-transfection.
SOURCE Sigma-Aldrich
Copyright (C) 2009 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
The SHIP-In R&D project revealed, a world-class project for French Research supported by the Alsace BioValley Cluster
Strasbourg, October 8th, 2009 – The SHIP-In research-and-development project has a single goal: developing new and innovative cellular systems for the biopharmaceutical industry. It received the label of the Alsace BioValley cluster in Alsace, France, in November 2008 and is co-sponsored by France’s Cancer Bio Santé and Medicen research poles.
The pharmaceutical industry’s development of new therapeutic molecules requires the development and utilization of experimental cellular models that are both efficient and reliable. For a long time, the only possibility was to use stem cells extracted from human embryos. Apart from the difficulty of ensuring their availability, the use of such cells is also circumscribed by stringent ethical and regulatory constraints, which considerably hamper and slow the discovery of new medicines.
Today, a new scientific approach offers an alternative to the use of embryonic stem cells, which is to start with adult human cells and reprogram them as multi-purpose cells.
The SHIP-In project consists in optimizing this new technology to cater for the demands of the biopharmaceutical industry. The aim is to provide pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies with an unlimited supply of human cells which meet quality criteria that are not available today. Eventually, SHIP-In should facilitate the discovery of new molecules and generally speed up the therapeutic innovation process.
“SHIP-In presents a unique opportunity for participating in the development of scientific advances that have been unanimously hailed at a world level,” declared Nicolas Carboni, the Director of the Alsace BioValley cluster, a partner in the project. “Alsace BioValley is proud to have supported and endorsed a project of this importance, which can only enhance the competitiveness of French researchers on the world stage.”
SHIP-In is one of three Alsatian R&D projects to have been selected and retained by the French government following its seventh call for projects issued in September 2008. Three organizations based in Alsace are involved in the project: the biotech company Polyplus Transfection, the Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), one of Europe’s leading biomedical research centers, and the Institut Charles Sadron (ICS). The SHIP-In project was selected from more than 190 that were submitted, proof that it is considered to have exceptionally strong innovative and commercial potential. The project is due to run for 36 months.
SHIP-In in detail
Total project funding: €4.4 million
Amount of state aid: €2.1 million
Sources of funding:
- Essonne Departmental Council
- Seine-Saint-Denis Departmental Council
- Ile-de-France Regional Council
- CUS
- FEDER
- FUI
- Oseo (France’s innovation and small-business promotion agency)
- Alsace Region
Project coordinator:
Vectalys
Vectalys is a biotechnology company based in Labège, in the French department of Haute-Garonne, which is developing tools for firms that are developing cellular and animal models for validating gene candidates and screening new compounds. www.vectalys.com
Project participants:
Polyplus-transfection
Based in Illkirch, near Strasbourg, Polyplus Transfection is a biotechnology company that is developing synthetic transfection reagents and is specialized in the development of reagents for the in vitro and in vivo intracellular transfer of biomolecules. www.polyplus-transfection.com
IGBMC (Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology)
Team led by Stéphane Viville.
The IGBMC, which is also based in Illkirch and is headed by Olivier Pourquié, is specialized in the study of multi-purpose cells in mice and humans and is one of the leading biomedical research centers in Europe. It is involved in numerous projects entailing both fundamental research and clinical research. Together with France’s National Scientific Research Center (CNRS), the French Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) and the University of Strasbourg, the IGBMC is leading the scientific and technological advances being made in the field of genetics, which are opening up new areas for the application of modern medicine. www.igbmc.fr
Institut Charles Sadron (ICS)
Headed by Gero Decher and based in Strasbourg, the ICS is a CNRS laboratory associated with the University of Strasbourg. It was created in 1954 for undertaking fundamental research to support the development of the nascent polymers industry.
www-ics.u-strasbg.fr
I-STEM (Institute of Stem Cells for the Treatment and Study of Monogenic Diseases)
Team led by Marc Peschanski.
Based in Evry, south of Paris, I-STEM is a research-and-development center entirely devoted to exploring the therapeutic potential of multi-purpose stem cells, with a particular emphasis on monogenic cells. www.istem.eu
Cellectis
Based in the Paris suburb of Romainville, Cellectis leads the world in the research, development and marketing of rational genome engineering technologies. www.cellectis.com
About the Alsace Biovalley(TM) cluster
The Alsace BioValley cluster brings together and encourages the development and growth of public and private entities based in Alsace, France, which are involved in life sciences and healthcare. The Alsace BioValley cluster includes the main aid agencies which offer simplified and effective access to all the region’s services and sources of state aid.
Among Alsace BioValley’s missions are:
* Helping industry in Alsace to obtain finance and the services of a body designated by the French government as a world-class competitive pole of development;
* Making the Alsace region even more attractive by accelerating the connections between industry, research and regional and national aid agencies;
* Offering different products and services to companies and laboratories in the area, including help with projects, the search for partners, company incubators, enterprise creation, international expansion, economic intelligence, communication tools, and scientific and market information
* Ensuring that the region has a world-class infrastructure in place, including specialized buildings, scientific service platforms, logistics, and shared services
* Offering an entry point to BioValley, a tri-national network of excellence encompassing the Alsace region in France, the Basel region in Switzerland and the Fribourg region in Germany.
Situated as it is in the heart of Europe and hosting 200 companies, 60 laboratories and 15,000 employees, Alsace BioValley believes it is a real catalyst and one of the largest European clusters for life sciences and healthcare.
MORE INFORMATION :
ANDREW LLOYD & ASSOCIATES
Marie Laure Melchior
email: marie-laure@ala.com
Tel. +33-1 56 54 07 00
Polyplus-transfection launches versatile and powerful transfection reagent for DNA and siRNA
jetPRIME (TM) expands rich catalogue of innovative reagents
Strasbourg, France, May 11th, 2009 – Polyplus-transfection, a company specialized in research, development and marketing of innovative reagents for transfection and nucleic acid-based therapies, today announced the launch of jetPRIME (TM), a new versatile and powerful reagent for DNA and siRNA transfection.
jetPRIME (TM) brings pharmaceutical and biotechnology researchers a number of advantages over most competitive offerings in the marketplace for day-to-day transfection experiments. The versatile reagent may be used for DNA as well as siRNA transfection in order to conduct transient gene expression studies and gene silencing by RNA interference. jetPRIME™ is very efficient regardless of the nucleic acid delivered and gentle to cells because it uses smaller amounts of both nucleic acid and reagent compared to most reagents on the market. Furthermore, jetPRIME™ is adapted to co-transfection of DNA and siRNA.
“Today’s announcement of jetPRIME™ brings a significant new extension to our range and demonstrates Polyplus-transfection’s ability to develop powerful transfection reagents,” said Frédéric Perraud, CEO of Polyplus-transfection. “It also shows our commitment to continually improve our core business – the development of innovative solutions for transfection and therapeutic nucleic acid delivery.”
Note to editors
Gene transfection consists in introducing a plasmid into the nucleus of a cell to produce a protein that may affect the cell. Understanding gene function potentially leads to the development of therapeutic strategies against diseases. Transient gene transfection is also a means of producing viruses or recombinant proteins used in therapy.
In contrast, siRNA transfection only requires delivery of siRNA into the cytoplasm of a cell to block gene expression. The ability to silence a gene permits the understanding of its function, and helps learning about mechanisms of disease caused by the misregulation of specific genes.
Polyplus-transfection announces the development of “ZNA™”, a new class of modified oligonucleotides
ZNA™, new molecular biology tools for research and diagnostics extend Polyplus offering, and will be presented at the Advances in qPCR conference in Stockholm, September 17-18
Strasbourg, September 15, 2008 – Polyplus-transfection, a company specialized in the research, development and marketing of innovative reagents for transfection and RNA interference (RNAi), announces today that it has developed a new class of cationic oligonucleotides. These are called “ZNA™” and have a promising potential in molecular biology. Polyplus owns the intellectual property.
Polyplus has recently established proof of concept showing that ZNA™ used as detection probes improve PCR technology performance. In particular, ZNA™ increase the sensitivity of tests and the ability to detect mutations. As well as presenting a similar efficacy to the best modified oligonucleotides on the market, ZNA™ possess major advantages compared to competing products. They are easy to design and will cost less to produce.
ZNA™ offer an increased affinity for nucleic acids without losing selectivity and therefore will improve the performance of other molecular hybridisation techniques such as in situ hybridisation and microarrays. They could also be used for in vitro detection of micro-RNAs, a new class of intracellular effectors. This means that ZNA™ are likely to become powerful and reliable tools in research and diagnostics.
“Polyplus is extending its activities from transfection reagents to molecular biology tools for research and diagnostics,” said Joëlle Bloch, CEO of Polyplus-transfection. “Our next step will be to market ZNA™ via a network of firms specialized in this field. We are also actively seeking partners to help us develop a range of applications for ZNA™.”
Polyplus-transfection will present its first results in a talk entitled “ZNA™: New High-Affinity Synthetic Oligonucleotides as Powerful Tools for PCR” at the international Advances in qPCR conference taking place in Stockholm Sweden, September 17-18 2008.
About “ZNA™”
ZNA™ are oligocation-oligonucleotide conjugates which have an increased affinity for their complementary sequence without losing selectivity. This affinity increase is due to the oligocationic part which reduces the charge repulsion between the two strands of nucleic acid. Because of the non-directive nature of electrostatic interactions, this affinity gain is independent of the base sequence and is therefore predictable, thus making the design of ZNA™ extremely easy.
ZNA™ are made with a standard oligonucleotide synthesizer allowing fast, cost-effective production as well as the ability to add other modifications such as fluorescent markers.
Senesco Signs A Supply Agreement For Polyplus-transfection’s Delivery System
New Brunswick, N.J, USA, July 3, 2008 - Senesco Technologies, Inc. ( »Senesco » or the « Company ») (AMEX:SNT) announced today that it has contracted with Polyplus-transfection (Illkirch, France) to supply Polyplus’s « in vivo-jetPEI » for systemic delivery of Senesco’s combination therapy of siRNA against Factor 5A and a plasmid of the Factor 5A gene.
Senesco has previously reported positive preclinical in vivo results using its combination siRNA and plasmid delivered with « in vivo-jetPEI » against subcutaneous multiple myeloma tumors in immunodeficient mice.
« This supply agreement will help Senesco move toward the necessary preclinical toxicology study and ultimately the planned clinical trial targeting multiple myeloma, » commented Bruce Galton, Senesco’s President and CEO. « Polyplus’ PEI technology is already being used in clinical oncology trials by other companies and we look forward to working with them and using their technology to deliver our Factor 5A technology. »
« We are proud that Senesco has chosen our delivery system targeting multiple myeloma and that we have an agreement to supply the company according to this agreement » said Joëlle Bloch, CEO of Polyplus-transfection. « We are delighted that our « in vivo-jetPEI » will be used as delivery vehicle for a combination of siRNA and plasmid DNA in this therapeutic approach. »
About Senesco Technologies, Inc.
Senesco Technologies, Inc. is a U.S. biotechnology company, headquartered in New Brunswick, NJ, USA. Senesco has initiated preclinical research to trigger or delay cell death in mammals (apoptosis) to determine if the technology is applicable in human medicine. Accelerating apoptosis may have applications to development of cancer treatments. Delaying apoptosis may have applications to certain inflammatory and ischemic diseases.
Senesco takes its name from the scientific term for the aging of plant cells: senescence. Delaying cell breakdown in plants extends freshness after harvesting, while increasing crop yields, plant size and resistance to environmental stress. The Company believes that its technology can be used to develop superior strains of crops without any modification other than delaying natural plant senescence. Senesco has partnered with leading-edge companies engaged in agricultural biotechnology and earns research and development fees for applying its gene-regulating platform technology to enhance its partners’ products.
Certain statements included in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from such statements expressed or implied herein as a result of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: the Company’s ability to raise capital to fund its research and development efforts; the development of the Company’s gene technology; the approval of the Company’s patent applications; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and joint ventures; the success of the Company’s license agreements; the acceptance by the market of the Company’s products; success of the Company’s preliminary studies and preclinical research; competition and the timing of projects and trends in future operating performance, our ability to maintain our continued listing standards for the next 12 months, as well as other factors expressed from time to time in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the « SEC »). As a result, this press release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
The Norwegian company siRNAsense has chosen to collaborate with the French company Polyplus-transfection for delivery of their first drug candidate.
Oslo, Norway June 13, 2008 - siRNAsense today announces that the company has chosen to use Polyplus-transfection’s « in vivo-jetPEI » delivery system for the systemic delivery of their drug candidate « siRNA targeting Tissue Factor » for treatment of melanoma metastasis. siRNAsense selected Polyplus´ delivery system after experimental validation of several potential delivery systems.
« We have chosen the Polyplus delivery system because we found it to be well suited for systemic delivery of our drug candidate against melanoma metastasis. This is a very important step for siRNAsense. Following encouraging efficacy data in a mouse model of metastasis, we are now proceeding with preclinical studies in mice and primates to further develop our drug candidate using Polyplus´ delivery system », says Hanne Mette Kristensen, CEO of siRNAsense.
siRNA is short for « small interfering RNA » and represents a major breakthrough in biology, whose potential therapeutic impact was recognized by the award of the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2006. siRNAsense’s drug candidate is a synthetic siRNA that interferes with metastasis of melanoma, primarily by inhibiting circulating cancer cells’ ability to attach to other cell membranes. For the drug to be efficient, it must be formulated in a vehicle which ensures delivery to the cancer cells. This is where Polyplus-transfection’s technology has proven to be effective.
« We are delighted that siRNAsense has chosen our delivery system. We look forward to future collaboration with siRNAsense, » said Joëlle Bloch, CEO of Polyplus-transfection. « It is an advantage for our « in vivo-jetPEI » to be used as delivery reagent for a new therapeutic target: the treatment of melanoma metastasis. »
About siRNAsense
Find and fight the cause, not the symptoms.
siRNAsense AS is an exciting biotechnology company based on RNA interference research performed at The Biotechnology Centre of Oslo. The discovery of RNA interference is the basis for development of a new class of drugs targeting serious diseases. siRNAsense intends to become a significant player of biomedical innovation and early phase drug discovery and development within the field of RNA interference. The company will achieve this through research and development of drug candidates initially within the oncology area.
siRNAsense’s first drug candidate is « siRNA targeting Tissue Factor ». The drug candidate interferes with metastasis in cancer cells by blocking the cancer cells’ ability to attach to other cell membranes. Over 90 per cent of cancer deaths are caused by metastasis. siRNAsense will now initiate clinical phase enabling studies with the lead drug candidate.
The company recently received a major grant from the Research Council of Norway to develop the drug candidate, and has also previously received support from the Council and the Norwegian Cancer Society. siRNAsense is a member of Oslo Cancer Cluster (OCC), a cluster comprising of 44 members with a total of 40 projects in the clinical pipeline. The company continues to enjoy close research collaboration with the Biotechnology Centre of Oslo.
siRNAsense has a good dialogue with several of the major pharma companies, and receives a lot of interest in its work. The business model is to license out from phase I/II clinical studies.
For more information visit http://www.sirnasense.com
Polyplus-transfection unveils a new technology that improves intracellular delivery of small interfering RNAs in vivo and opens the way to new therapeutic possibilities
The « STICKY SIRNA »™ technology is already being tested in vivo by academic laboratories and biotech companies
Strasbourg, April 24th, 2008 - Polyplus-transfection, a company specialized in research, development and commercialization of innovative reagents for delivery of biomolecules, today announces the development of a new technology that improves in vivo delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) when they are associated with a cationic polymer. This technology is based on a new class of small interfering RNAs the company has developed: « STICKY SIRNA« ™ (ssiRNAs™).
The technology involves extending the opposite ends of interfering RNAs with short complementary A(5-8)/T(5-8) 3′ sequences that are able to form concatemers in the presence of a cationic polymer such as in vivo-jetPEI™ (also developed by Polyplus-transfection) and thus form complexes as stable as with genes. With this new technology, small interfering RNAs stay connected to their delivery reagent during the whole journey to the target cells, and induce the RNA interference mechanism. This innovation is applicable to therapeutic siRNAs, and a wide variety of pathologies could benefit from it such as cancers, allergies and viral diseases.
Up to now, the market for the delivery of therapeutic siRNAs has been dominated by the use of cationic lipids. Thanks to this ssiRNA™ technology, cationic polymers such as in vivo-jetPEI™ have now entered the market with clear advantages in specific areas.
« We are proud of having developed this new technology, for which we have filed a broad patent application as well as a trademark application, » said the C.E.O. of Polyplus-transfection, » Joëlle Bloch. « Within a few months, we have succeeded in offering our customers two major therapeutic advances: a GMP-compliant delivery reagent, in vivo-jetPEI™, and a new means of delivering siRNAs associated with this reagent. Our customers have already shown a keen interest in these two developments, and ssiRNAs™ are starting to be tested in vivo by several academic laboratories and biotechnology companies. »
Polyplus-transfection’s new technology was outlined in an article published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America in October 2007 under the title « Sticky overhangs enhance siRNA-mediated gene silencing », volume 104, pages 16,050-16,055, Bolcato-Bellemin et al.
RNA interference (RNAi)
RNA interference is a natural mechanism that operates in cells and makes it possible to selectively silencing or regulating specific gene expression. The mechanism of RNA interference is a major discovery in biology, whose potential therapeutic impact was recognized by the award of the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2006. As many diseases are the result of the inappropriate activity of some genes, the ability to control these genes selectively through RNA interference has speeded up the understanding of the roles of these genes and their interrelations.
Since then, it has been shown that RNA interference could be a means of treating a large number of diseases. In effect, RNA interference can be induced by small, double-stranded RNA molecules called small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Delivering these chemically synthesized molecules into cells is one of the means of activating RNA interference for therapeutic purposes, by targeting the messenger RNA of a gene to be knocked down. This process has the effect of stopping the production of a protein encoded by the target gene.
Polyplus-transfection will deliver GMP-compliant in vivo-jetPEI for a Phase II clinical trial
Strasbourg, February 1st, 2008 – Polyplus-transfection, a company specialized in the research, development and marketing of innovative reagents for transfection and RNA interference (RNAi), announced today the production of the first batch of its transfection reagent in vivo-jetPEI manufactured in full compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). This GMP-compliant in vivo-jetPEI is required for clinical trials involving nucleic acids delivery (DNA and siRNA).
Polyplus-transfection carried out preliminary work to transfer production to GMP-compliance in 2007 thanks to financial support from the AFM, France’s Muscular Dystrophy Association. This has made it possible for a Phase II clinical trial to start in the field of cancer therapy this year using Polyplus’ GMP-compliant in vivo-jetPEI. Details of the clinical trial have not yet been disclosed.
Polyplus-transfection offers its customers the possibility of using the same transfection reagent from the early stages of preclinical research to clinical trials in humans. The in vivo-jetPEI molecule is able to transfect effectively both in vitro and in vivo – which is not the case with most of the commercially available transfection reagents.
A Drug Master File (DMF) describing the manufacturing of in vivo-jetPEI has been filed with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The DMF provides confidential detailed information about the manufacturing process of the reagent, thus simplifying the FDA documentation required for clinical trial applications.
“We are proud to have delivered this first GMP-compliant batch of in vivo-jetPEI and to have completed the production process transfer,” said Joëlle Bloch, CEO of Polyplus-transfection. “The GMP-compliant availability of our leading product for human clinical use is a crucial advantage in the choice of a transfection agent for therapeutic projects. It will speed-up the growth of all Polyplus’ in vivo transfection agents.” And she added: “We are eagerly awaiting the beginning of this Phase II clinical trial using in vivo-jetPEI that is scheduled for 2008 in the field of anti-cancer therapy.”
The development of the in vivo-jetPEI GMP-compliant process has required the design of new quality control tests to meet the current requirements in the US and the EU.
September 21, 2007 - Polyplus-transfection to supply RNAi therapeutic delivery technology to AlnylamPolyplus-transfection to supply RNAi therapeutic delivery technology to Alnylam
Collaboration targets improving delivery of RNAi-based therapies
Strasbourg, France, September 21, 2007—Polyplus-transfection, a company specialized in the research, development and marketing of innovative reagents for RNA interference (RNAi) and transfection, announced today that it has signed a collaboration agreement with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, the leading RNAi therapeutics company, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.Under the terms of the agreement, Polyplus-transfection will provide Alnylam with its RNAi therapeutic delivery solutions and share its expertise in formulation for siRNAs, the molecules that mediate RNAi, in vivo. Alnylam will evaluate Polyplus’ formulations for delivery of RNAi therapeutics. Other terms were not disclosed.
The companies believe the collaboration has the potential to bring about improvements in the delivery of siRNA therapies. Although there has been significant progress in this area to date, creating delivery solutions for RNAi therapeutics remains an important component in realizing the full potential of this promising technology.
“As Alnylam is the leading RNAi therapeutics company, we at Polyplus-transfection are delighted to be collaborating with a firm at the cutting edge,” said Joëlle Bloch, CEO of Polyplus-transfection. “A big advantage of this relationship is that Polyplus-transfection will benefit from having its chemical carriers tested in several disease models while working with the most advanced target sequences and mixed chemical siRNA modifications from Alnylam.”
Polyplus-transfection is developing several in vivo siRNA formulation solutions based on its lead compounds in vivo-jetPEI (now GMP available) and INTERFERin, as well as on an original RNA modification, sticky siRNA (ssiRNA) .
About RNA interference (RNAi)
RNA interference (or RNAi) is a naturally occurring mechanism within cells for selectively silencing and regulating specific genes. The discovery of RNAi has been widely acknowledged as a major breakthrough in biology, and the technology was recognized for its potential broad impact in medicine with the award of the 2006 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. Since many diseases are caused by the inappropriate activity of specific genes, the ability to silence genes selectively through RNAi has accelerated the understanding of these genes and their related pathways. Additionally, RNAi could provide a new way to treat a wide range of human diseases. RNAi is induced by small, double-stranded RNA molecules. One method to activate RNAi is with chemically synthesized small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, which are double-stranded RNAs that are targeted to a specific disease-associated gene. The siRNA molecules are used by the natural RNAi machinery in cells to cause targeted gene silencing.
About Polyplus-transfection
Polyplus-transfection is focused on developing innovative solutions for intracellular delivery of nucleic acids. The company is marketing its transfection reagents worldwide since 2001 and is reinvesting most of its revenues into research and development. Transfection consists in introducing a gene or a small interfering RNA into cells. This technique makes it possible to cross the cellular barriers and deliver such biomolecules into the cell for research or therapeutic purposes. Customers of Polyplus-transfection’s products and services include biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies as well as life science research laboratories. Polyplus-transfection offers high quality consultancy, personalized scientific support and expertise in regulatory affairs related to the use of its reagents in clinical trials. Phase I/II cancer gene therapy and AIDS trials are underway in Israel, USA and Hungary using GMP-grade reagents from Polyplus-transfection.
Polyplus’ innovative R&D has well-established partnerships with biotech companies, is involved in several European research collaborations networks such as GIANT (Gene Therapy, an Integrated Approach to Neoplastic Treatment) and RIGHT (RNA Interference Technology as Human Therapeutic Tool). The company also drives the OligoPlus research program for the “Therapeutic Innovations” Competitiveness Cluster, focusing on new tools for diagnostic.
The Strasbourg-based company is one of the technology leaders in the transfection market with ISO 9001:2000 certification, three exclusive licenses from the CNRS and numerous patents filed.
Polyplus-transfection launches “Polyplus in vivo Consortium” to speed development of gene therapy clinical trials
Innovative reagent specialist forms network of researchers and clinicians using Polyplus’ synthetic gene transfer reagents
Strasbourg, France, June 7, 2007—Polyplus-transfection, a company specialized in research, development and marketing of innovative reagents for drug delivery, gene therapy and transfection announces today that it is setting up a group called the “Polyplus in vivo Consortium”. This group will be developed on a user group model and bring together research scientists and clinicians in an international network of users of Polyplus-transfection’s gene therapy reagents. Polyplus-transfection expects the new group to increase the number of clinical trials using its synthetic gene transfer reagents and accelerate their development.
The Polyplus in vivo Consortium aims at letting users of Polyplus-transfection’s products and solutions share their experience to accelerate the implementation of clinical trials and give them access to Polyplus-transfection’s latest technology. The company plans to organize regular meetings and workshops and will actively support the Polyplus in vivo Consortium members in their preclinical and clinical therapeutic projects. Members will benefit from personalized support, from Polyplus-transfection’s expertise regarding in vivo delivery as well as preferential conditions for products used for therapeutic development. Among other services, Polyplus-transfection will supply appropriate certificates of analysis for preclinical and toxicology studies.
Polyplus-transfection’s in vivo-jetPEI compound will play a key role in the Consortium. It is derived from the synthetic molecule polyethylenimine (PEI) for which Polyplus-transfection holds the exclusive worldwide license for the transfection of nucleic acids. In vivo-jetPEI is widely used for in vivo experiments. It allows intracellular delivery of nucleic acids and has become a benchmark in gene delivery.
“The Polyplus in vivo Consortium will make research and development of gene therapy applications easier,” said Joëlle Bloch, CEO of Polyplus-transfection. “The project meets a real need that was revealed by the first clinical research teams using our products. It will allow Polyplus-transfection to build a true network where users of our transfection reagents can exchange know-how and experience. This network will help our customers get their clinical trials under way and also help Polyplus-transfection develop solutions that suit users’ needs.”
Polyplus-transfection obtains an AFM grant for the development of its gene/drug delivery tool for clinical applications
Strasbourg, France, May 14, 2007—Polyplus-transfection, a company specialized in research, development and marketing of innovative reagents for drug delivery, gene therapy and transfection, announces today that it has obtained a EUR 80,000 grant from AFM (Association Française contre les Myopathies), France’s Muscular Dystrophy Association. The grant will finance the cGMP (current good manufacturing practices) compliant production process of its in vivo-jetPEI™ reagent, thus enabling its use in gene therapy.
Polyplus-transfection believes this upgrade to the cGMP production process will accelerate the use of in vivo-jetPEI™ in gene therapy clinical trials in humans. The funding also covers the development of new quality control procedures as well as stability studies.
In vivo-jetPEI™ is a synthetic molecule, polyethylenimine (PEI). PEI is a cationic linear polymer recognized as being the most effective reagent on the market for in vivo delivery of nucleic acids. With in vivo-jetPEI™, Polyplus-transfection offers clinicians an alternative technology for gene therapy to the commonly used viral approach using deactivated viruses. In vivo-jetPEI™ is easy to use and does not trigger an immune response, a huge advantage compared to viruses which are very immunogenic and do not allow repeated use.
“Today Polyplus-transfection offers the only solution on the market to deliver genetic material using a synthetic molecule instead of a virus,” said Joëlle Bloch, CEO of Polyplus-transfection. “With the help of the AFM funding for the development of a cGMP production process, in vivo-jetPEI™ will be available to customers for use in clinical trials. This new gene/drug delivery tool represents a new hope for patients.
“At Polyplus-transfection we believe that this new process will accelerate our growth as well as demonstrate our expertise in the field of gene delivery, offering a serious alterative to viral approaches and emphasize the strength of our reagents for in vivo assays.”
