Regulus Therapeutics, Inc. Receives Exclusive License for Intellectual Property to microRNA-33a and microRNA-33b to Treat Diseases that Include Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Syndrome

LA JOLLA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulus Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company leading the discovery and development of innovative new medicines targeting microRNAs, today announced that it has obtained exclusive rights from New York University (NYU) for intellectual property covering methods of use in modulating microRNA-33a (miR-33a) and microRNA-33b (miR-33b) for metabolic diseases such as atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome. Regulus scientists and collaborators from NYU were the first to show that antagonizing miR-33a and miR-33b with therapeutic oligonucleotide anti-miRs have several beneficial effects, including reduction in atherosclerotic plaque and increase in levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the ‘good’ cholesterol. Regulus is developing microRNA therapeutics targeting both miR-33a and miR-33b.