CARLSBAD, Calif., June 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISIS - News) today announced results from preclinical studies demonstrating that inhibition of miR-122, a liver-specific microRNA (miRNA), by a second-generation antisense drug significantly improves high cholesterol, fatty liver, and liver function without affecting blood glucose levels in diabetic mouse models. MiRNAs are a recently discovered class of natural antisense RNAs that are important in the regulation of cellular functions. These data demonstrate that antisense inhibition is a powerful technique to regulate the function of miRNAs and suggest that miR-122 may be an attractive therapeutic target for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Dr. Sanjay Bhanot, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President of Metabolic Disease Research and Development at Isis Pharmaceuticals presented these data today at the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) 66th Annual Scientific Sessions in Washington D.C.
