A disease-causing gene was silenced in monkeys through RNA interference (RNAi) therapy delivered into the bloodstream, scientists reported online yesterday (March 26) in Nature. This is the first study to show that systemic administration of RNAi works in non-human primates, and the findings affirm the promise of this new type of therapy, scientists say.In the study, gene silencing using the highest dose persisted for 11 days, without any observed toxicity, a finding that "bodes well for future human systemic trials of RNAi therapies," John Rossi of the Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope in Duarte, Calif., who did not participate in this study, told The Scientist. Scientists at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Protiva Biotherapeutics gave cynomolgus monkeys a single injection of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against the gene for apolipoprotein B (ApoB). This gene is involved in the assembly and secretion of low-density lipoprotein (LDL),...
APOB APOBAPOB previously obtained with rodentsAPOB John Maraganorein vitro APOB The ScientistMartin WoodleThe Scientistcchoi@the-scientist.comNaturehttp://www.nature.comThe Scientisthttp://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/22509/The Scientisthttp://www.the-scientist.com/2005/1/17/28/1/http://www.alnylam.comhttp://www.protivabio.comThe Scientisthttp://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/12106/Nature http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v432/n7014/full/nature03121.htmlhttp://www.alnylam.com/company/management.asphttp://www.intradigm.com/management_team.htm
Interested in reading more?
Become a Member of
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
