any thoughts on the Silence annoucnement with AZ.Just a bit of smoke?
A little bit of smoke, but not all. It seems that AZ is still in the RNAi game. Also, the AZ guy on the PR is going to attend the Keystone conference. Seems to have a background in vascular endothelial biology (see AtuPLEX, DACC).
Dirk... you've been pretty quite on the latest Tekmira/Talon and Alnylam developments...
-Value your thoughts?I'll be back. Just trying to get as much as possible out of the Keystone meeting.
RE Talon: I have not delved yet into Talon's chances of getting approval for Marqibo. Still, it seems a tall order since the submission appears to be based on open-label, uncontrolled phase II results. I'm therefore hopeful that Talon, and their re-newed investors, know what they are doing. An approval though would be a nice upside surprise to Tekmira."I'll be back"
The Hausse is coming to silence the Terminator for good." It is clear that from a scientific perspective, oligonucleotide, including RNAi Therapeutics are feasible."
Wow, that does not sound very optimistic about RNAi, and differs considerably in tone from your numerous bullish articles about the future of RNAi. What the hell happened at the meeting to make you gear down your outlook?Dirk,
Can you comment on the basis for the ALNY patent infrigement suit?Over 3 years after Tekmira and BMS have openly been collaborating on SNALP delivery, Alnylam now interprets Tekmira's target validation deal with BMS as an infringing activity under the exclusive license of certain SNALP IP to Alnylam (you can forget about the cited ISIS patent as that one is of little relevance to RNAi, so it was thrown into the fray anyway). Of course, if you want to find a reason to sue somebody, you find them, and this looks like one of these gray areas. Tekmira may now cite the Research Exemption, that it was free to conduct such work under its target picks, and/or that the actual formulations used in that deal (to which Alnylam will not be privvy) did not have much to do with the cited patents.
But whatever, I believe Alnylam's motivation in this suit is quite obvious and that's what today was about.Any thoughts on the RaNa Atlas investment?Is it presaging new monies into RNAi?
Dirk
Read the report. Very informative, even to a lay person like me. Thanks much.
Have some questions, and let me know if they're something you prefer to answer by email rather than on your blog site.
Questions regarding the discussion in your report about Tekmira/Alnylam's reference to 1st gen, 2d gen (MC3), and Tekmira's 3d gen LNP. Regarding the latter, were there any more specifics on how it differs, other than dose concentration for efficacy, from MC3? Were there any reactions, questions, or response from Alnylam or other participants on this "3d generation" LNP from Tekmira? Did Ian indicate that further clinical testing of TKM-PLK1 would use either MC3 or the 3d generation lipid?
Shame Madden had to "depart" prematurely due to some news from British Columbia (ha! timing of the court order was great).
Thanks for any information you can share on those issues.The PLK1 question is one that I was asking myself. I really like PLK1 as a target, and also the PLK1 SNALP formulation should be superior to ALN-VSP02 due to its longer predicted circulatory half-life. On the other hand, it does seem that just like 1st, 2nd, 3rd gen for SNALP liver delivery, Tekmira has made progress in solid tumor delivery that may be significant enough to follow up on the first PLK1 candidate. It would be a tough decision though, and possibly should be done with a larger partner. Ironically, it might be easier to sell such a decision to investor if they get positive TKM-PLK1 data first. The next few weeks could be interesting in that regard.
What is your view on the Roche bid for illumina?
I see the Roche bid for ILMN very positive for RNAi Therapeutics. After all, RNAi is ideally suited for personalized medicine as it works on the genetic level (ILMN sequences genomes). Furthermore, as in 15-20 years essentially everybody will have their genomes sequenced (and cancer patients their cancers, too), it will be quite easy for example for Alnylam find the people which are about to develop TTR amyloidosis, Huntingtons's Disease, and Tekmira those cancer patients which are expected to respond to PLK1 treatment best.
Madden was not only missing at his poster, but apparently also on the MC3 US patent that is about to issue.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
The Keystone Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Meeting Report
Disclaimer: This blog is not intended for distribution to or use by any person or entity who is a citizen or resident of, or located in any locality, state, country or other jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, availability or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would subject the author or any of his collaborators and contributors to any registration or licensing requirement within such jurisdiction. This blog expresses only my opinions, they may be flawed and are for entertainment purposes only. Opinions expressed are a direct result of information which may or may not be accurate, and I do not assume any responsibility for material errors or to provide updates should circumstances change. Opinions expressed in this blog may have been disseminated before to others. This blog should not be taken as investment, legal or tax advice. The investments referred to herein may not be suitable for you. Investments particularly in the field of RNAi Therapeutics and biotechnology carry a high risk of total loss. You, the reader must make your own investment decisions in consultation with your professional advisors in light of your specific circumstances. I reserve the right to buy, sell, or short any security including those that may or may not be discussed on my blog.
16 comments:
I would like to sign up for your report on the Keystone meeting but I was unable to locate the ordering information on your gmail. Please ck. and advise.
Just send me an email and I will answer your questions. My gmail address is:
dirk dot haussecker AT gmail dot com
(no spaces)
any thoughts on the Silence annoucnement with AZ.Just a bit of smoke?
A little bit of smoke, but not all. It seems that AZ is still in the RNAi game. Also, the AZ guy on the PR is going to attend the Keystone conference. Seems to have a background in vascular endothelial biology (see AtuPLEX, DACC).
Dirk... you've been pretty quite on the latest Tekmira/Talon and Alnylam developments...
-Value your thoughts?
I'll be back. Just trying to get as much as possible out of the Keystone meeting.
RE Talon: I have not delved yet into Talon's chances of getting approval for Marqibo. Still, it seems a tall order since the submission appears to be based on open-label, uncontrolled phase II results. I'm therefore hopeful that Talon, and their re-newed investors, know what they are doing. An approval though would be a nice upside surprise to Tekmira.
"I'll be back"
The Hausse is coming to silence the Terminator for good.
" It is clear that from a scientific perspective, oligonucleotide, including RNAi Therapeutics are feasible."
Wow, that does not sound very optimistic about RNAi, and differs considerably in tone from your numerous bullish articles about the future of RNAi. What the hell happened at the meeting to make you gear down your outlook?
Dirk,
Can you comment on the basis for the ALNY patent infrigement suit?
Over 3 years after Tekmira and BMS have openly been collaborating on SNALP delivery, Alnylam now interprets Tekmira's target validation deal with BMS as an infringing activity under the exclusive license of certain SNALP IP to Alnylam (you can forget about the cited ISIS patent as that one is of little relevance to RNAi, so it was thrown into the fray anyway). Of course, if you want to find a reason to sue somebody, you find them, and this looks like one of these gray areas. Tekmira may now cite the Research Exemption, that it was free to conduct such work under its target picks, and/or that the actual formulations used in that deal (to which Alnylam will not be privvy) did not have much to do with the cited patents.
But whatever, I believe Alnylam's motivation in this suit is quite obvious and that's what today was about.
Any thoughts on the RaNa Atlas investment?Is it presaging new monies into RNAi?
Dirk
Read the report. Very informative, even to a lay person like me. Thanks much.
Have some questions, and let me know if they're something you prefer to answer by email rather than on your blog site.
Questions regarding the discussion in your report about Tekmira/Alnylam's reference to 1st gen, 2d gen (MC3), and Tekmira's 3d gen LNP. Regarding the latter, were there any more specifics on how it differs, other than dose concentration for efficacy, from MC3? Were there any reactions, questions, or response from Alnylam or other participants on this "3d generation" LNP from Tekmira? Did Ian indicate that further clinical testing of TKM-PLK1 would use either MC3 or the 3d generation lipid?
Shame Madden had to "depart" prematurely due to some news from British Columbia (ha! timing of the court order was great).
Thanks for any information you can share on those issues.
The PLK1 question is one that I was asking myself. I really like PLK1 as a target, and also the PLK1 SNALP formulation should be superior to ALN-VSP02 due to its longer predicted circulatory half-life. On the other hand, it does seem that just like 1st, 2nd, 3rd gen for SNALP liver delivery, Tekmira has made progress in solid tumor delivery that may be significant enough to follow up on the first PLK1 candidate. It would be a tough decision though, and possibly should be done with a larger partner. Ironically, it might be easier to sell such a decision to investor if they get positive TKM-PLK1 data first. The next few weeks could be interesting in that regard.
What is your view on the Roche bid for illumina?
I see the Roche bid for ILMN very positive for RNAi Therapeutics. After all, RNAi is ideally suited for personalized medicine as it works on the genetic level (ILMN sequences genomes). Furthermore, as in 15-20 years essentially everybody will have their genomes sequenced (and cancer patients their cancers, too), it will be quite easy for example for Alnylam find the people which are about to develop TTR amyloidosis, Huntingtons's Disease, and Tekmira those cancer patients which are expected to respond to PLK1 treatment best.
Madden was not only missing at his poster, but apparently also on the MC3 US patent that is about to issue.
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