MADISON, Wis., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Mirus Bio Corporation announced the development of a powerful new method to analyze gene function in vivo. The technique utilizes the company’s proprietary hydrodynamic injection technology to efficiently introduce a type of nucleic acid known as a small interfering RNA (“siRNA”) to the liver of animal models, resulting in the suppression of target gene activity. Researchers can employ this new tool to decipher the function of genes by studying the biological and physiological impact of a change in gene expression, which is useful in the identification of new therapeutic drug targets. This tool will be of significant interest to researchers engaged in studying metabolic diseases, toxicology, liver cancer, and other related fields. Protocols are also available to study gene expression and/or suppression in other tissues.
This new technique is described in detail in the August 31, 2006 Advanced Access service of the journal Nucleic Acids Research. The publication entitled “Transcriptional and phenotypic comparisons of Ppara knockout and siRNA knockdown mice” resulted from a collaboration between a research group at Rosetta Inpharmatics (a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck & Co.) led by Dr. Peter S. Linsley and the group at Mirus Bio led by Dr. David L. Lewis. The team utilized siRNA to suppress Ppara, an endogenous gene involved in regulating fatty acid metabolism, and demonstrated that the technique caused molecular and phenotypic changes that were highly comparable to those which occur in knockout mice.
The conventional method of doing in vivo genetic analysis is to utilize “knockout” animals, which are animals which have been genetically engineered from birth to lack a gene necessary for production of a protein of interest. While this is a powerful technique, one can only study genes that are not embryonically lethal. In addition, it can take months to years to generate and breed such animals at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars, and can only practically be used in a few strains of mice. The new technique developed at Mirus Bio bypasses these hurdles and enables any gene to be studied in a matter of weeks at a fraction of the cost.
“This represents an exciting new component of our expanding portfolio of in vivo and in vitro discovery research tools for use in key target cells and tissues. Together with our labeling chemistries, our products are highly valued by investigators pursuing genetic research in diseases of liver, joint and skeletal muscle,” notes James Hagstrom, PhD, Vice President of Scientific Operations and one of Mirus Bio’s co-founders.
Mirus Bio is making this research tool available for use within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry by both offering to provide services or grant licenses to interested companies.
About Mirus Bio Corporation:
Mirus Bio Corporation is a leader in the emerging fields of gene therapy and RNA interference, based upon its expertise in nucleic acid chemistry and delivery. The company currently markets state-of-the-art DNA and siRNA transfection and labeling products to researchers worldwide. In addition, the company is developing novel human therapeutics enabled by its proprietary Pathway IV(TM) delivery platform. The company’s lead therapeutic is a treatment for Muscular Dystrophy, which is being developed collaboratively with Transgene S.A. of Strasbourg, France.
For more information go to: http://www.mirusbio.com .
Mirus Bio Corporation
CONTACT: Corporate, Richard Schifreen, PhD, VP Research Products,+1-608-238-4400, or Rich.Schifreen@MirusBio.com , or Technical, JimHagstrom, PhD, VP Scientific Operations, +1-608-238-4400, orJim.Hagstrom@MirusBio.com , both of Mirus Bio Corporation
Web site: http://www.mirusbio.com/