Sirna Therapeutics, Inc. To Join The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sirna Therapeutics, Inc. , a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that the company was added to the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index , effective at the open of the U.S. markets today.

“We are extremely pleased to be included among the leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies listed on the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index,” said Howard W. Robin, Chief Executive Officer of Sirna Therapeutics. “Our addition to this Index further supports the important achievements Sirna has made in the field of RNA interference. Our company is at the forefront of RNAi-based therapeutic research and development having been the first company to present human clinical trial data on a short interfering RNA compound. We will continue to pioneer the development of RNAi-based therapeutics and look forward to bringing this novel class of drugs to patients in need.”

Launched in 1993, the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index includes securities that are classified according to the FTSE Global Classification System(TM) as biotechnology or pharmaceutical, and is ranked on a semi-annual basis in May and November. All securities are listed on the NASDAQ National Market(R) and meet minimum requirements for market value, average daily share volume and seasoning as a public company. For more information about the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index, including eligibility criteria, visit http://www.NASDAQ.com.

About Sirna Therapeutics

Sirna Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing RNAi-based therapies for serious diseases and conditions, including age- related macular degeneration (AMD), hepatitis B and C, dermatology, asthma, Huntington’s disease, diabetes and oncology. Sirna Therapeutics has presented interim Phase 1 clinical trial data for its most advanced compound, Sirna-027, a chemically optimized siRNA targeting the clinically validated vascular endothelial growth factor pathway to treat AMD. Sirna-027, which has been partnered with Allergan, Inc., has been shown to be safe and well tolerated with a trend toward visual acuity improvement and demonstrated biological activity. Sirna has a leading intellectual property portfolio in RNAi with 45 issued patents and over 250 pending applications worldwide. More information on Sirna Therapeutics is available on the Company’s web site at http://www.sirna.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this press release which are not strictly historical are “forward-looking” statements which should be considered as subject to many risks and uncertainties. For example, Sirna’s ability to develop products and operate as a going concern requires significant cash to fund its operating programs and clinical trials, which may not be successful. Further, there is a significant risk for any given patent application that it will not become an issued patent, or that for any issued patent, it could be subject to challenge or may not be enforceable. Additional risks and uncertainties include Sirna’s early stage of development and short operating history, Sirna’s history and expectation of losses and need to raise capital, Sirna’s need to obtain clinical validation and regulatory approval for products, Sirna’s need to obtain and protect intellectual property, risk of third-party patent infringement claims, Sirna’s need to attract and retain qualified personnel, Sirna’s need to engage collaborators, availability of materials for product manufacturing, the highly competitive nature of the pharmaceutical market, the limited trading volume and history of volatility of Sirna’s common stock, Sirna’s concentration of stock ownership, and risks from relocating Sirna headquarters. These and additional risk factors are identified in Sirna’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Forms 10-K and 10-Q and in other SEC filings. Sirna undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward- looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

Contacts: J. Michael French, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development Sirna Therapeutics, Inc., +1-303-449-6500 Francesca DeMartino (investors) or Jason Rando (media), both of The Ruth Group, +1-646-536-7024 / 7025

Sirna Therapeutics, Inc.

CONTACT: J. Michael French, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development,Sirna Therapeutics, Inc., +1-303-449-6500; Francesca DeMartino - investors,+1-646-536-7024, or Jason Rando - media, +1-646-536-7025, both of The RuthGroup

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