Research deal delivers RNAi drugs

According to Philips, compounds based on RNAi represent a promising new class of drugs for the targeted treatment of a number of diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Currently, however, one of the greatest challenges in developing RNAi-based therapeutics is finding ways to deliver them to their target while keeping them fully active.

The joint research programme between Philips and US-based RXi will address this challenge by exploring, in preclinical studies, the possibility of using RXi’s sd-rxRNA (self-delivering rxRNA) in conjunction with Philips’ ultrasound technology to achieve the targeted delivery and monitoring of RNAi-based compounds in cells.

‘The development of ultrasound techniques that could non-invasively trigger the delivery of new drug formats such as RNAi therapeutics at a targeted location opens up exciting possibilities for advancing personalised medicine,’ said Henk van Houten, senior vice president of Philips Research and head of the healthcare research programme.

‘The most important technological challenges that need to be addressed in order to realise the promise of RNAi-based approaches to treating various human disorders are efficient and safe delivery of the RNAi compounds to the targeted organs, and uptake of these compounds by relevant cells,’ said Noah D Beerman, president and chief executive officer at RXi.