FREMONT, Calif., Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel RNA interference-based therapeutics, announced today that it has signed a collaboration agreement with the University of Michigan Kresge Hearing Research Institute (http://www.khri.med.umich.edu/) to begin pre-clinical studies of several new siRNA compounds for the treatment of acute hearing loss associated with acoustic (noise-induced) trauma through the inhibition of Quark's novel targets. These pre-clinical studies will be led by Professor Yehoash Raphael, Ph.D., Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Michigan.
These studies will target several different siRNA-based drug candidates that work by way of inhibition of Quark's proprietary target genes for the prevention and treatment of acoustic trauma-induced acute hearing loss. The multi-stage, animal model study will assess the ability to deliver these siRNA compounds to relevant cochlear cells in the inner ear. The efficacy of the selected siRNA compounds before and after acoustic trauma, the residence time of siRNA in the inner ear cells, and the duration of the therapeutic siRNA effect will also be primary focuses of the studies.
Daniel Zurr, CEO of Quark Pharmaceuticals, commented, "The establishment of this significant research collaboration with the University of Michigan enables us to expand our research program aimed at preventing and treating hearing loss. With an estimated 28 million Americans having some degree of hearing loss, this is a significant medical issue in the United States and throughout the world. Moreover, hearing loss is an under-diagnosed and under- treated health issue. Quark continues to draw on its expertise in the development of siRNA-based therapeutics and we continue to broaden our pipeline portfolio to include new drug candidates that act by way of inhibiting our novel targets for this disease and an increasing number of indications with unmet medical needs."
Quark Pharmaceuticals expects to file an IND before the end of 2007 for its first hearing loss drug candidate, AHLi-11, for the prevention of cisplatin (a chemotherapeutic agent) induced ototoxic hearing loss.
About Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics based on its proprietary gene discovery science and technology, with an initial focus on drug candidates that work through the natural mechanism in the cell known as RNA interference, or RNAi, for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress. Quark believes that its proprietary target gene discovery platform, BiFAR(TM), combined with its ability to design and successfully deliver synthetic molecules of the new class of RNAi therapeutics known as small-interfering RNA, or siRNA, to specific organs in the body, enables the Company to rapidly develop drug candidates. Quark has two internally discovered and developed lead product candidates: RTP801i-14 in phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration, and AKIi-5 for the prevention of acute renal failure. The Company has licensed RTP801i-14 to Pfizer on an exclusive worldwide basis. Quark has, in addition, a product candidate portfolio of RNAi therapeutics based on novel targets and therapeutic concepts discovered using BiFAR(TM) and designed for the treatment of oxidative stress associated diseases of the inner ear, lungs and additional organs of the body.
Quark is headquartered in Fremont, California and operates research and development facilities in Boulder, Colorado and Ness-Ziona, Israel. Additional information is available at www.quarkpharma.com
Forward-looking statement
Various statements in this release concerning the Company's future expectations, plans and prospects, including its intention to publicly offer shares of its common stock, constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including risks related to fluctuations in our stock price, as well as those risks more fully discussed in the "Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results" section of the Company's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward- looking statements represent the Company's views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Gavin Samuels (646) 502-7488 GSamuels@quarkpharma.com The Ruth Group Stephanie Carrington / Elizabeth Scott (investors) (646) 536-7017 / 7014 scarrington@theruthgroup.comescott@theruthgroup.com Janine McCargo (media) (646) 536-7033 jmccargo@theruthgroup.com
Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc.CONTACT: Gavin Samuels of Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-646-502-7488,GSamuels@quarkpharma.com; or Investors: Stephanie Carrington,+1-646-536-7017, scarrington@theruthgroup.com, or Elizabeth Scott,+1-646-536-7014, escott@theruthgroup.com, or Media: Janine McCargo,+1-646-536-7033, jmccargo@theruthgroup.com, all of The Ruth Group for QuarkPharmaceuticals
