Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announce Allowance of First U.S. Patent Covering Human microRNAs
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY) and Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISIS) announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has allowed claims in a patent application that covers microRNAs (miRNAs) and therapeutic molecules that target these miRNAs. The USPTO issued a “Notice of Allowance” for patent application 10/490,955, which is derived from the “Tuschl III” patent series licensed co-exclusively to Alnylam and Isis for miRNA therapeutics on a world-wide basis through an agreement with Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH, the licensing agent for the Max Planck Society. Following a “Notice of Allowance,” the companies would expect final issuance of the patent within six months.