MitoProd SA today announced the completion of the conception of a new class of interfering RNA, called ciRNA^®, designed for the Health Industry. The innovation, protected by an international patent, consists in the circularization of the active molecules, therefore removing their extremities and thus protecting them against nucleases’ action. The structure of the ciRNA^®s alsoenables them to be more efficient in vivo, compared to siRNAs.

Interfering RNAs represent a powerful tool for the pharmaceutical industry since the end of 90s. Indeed, these molecules can specifically knock down a targeted gene. The discovering of the basic mechanism of RNA interference was made by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello, who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2006. Since then, a few tens of these molecules are already in pre-clinical and clinical development, in order to treat unmet diseases, such as cancers, infectious diseases, or age-related diseases.

However, a few technological issues are disrupting the development of those siRNA drug candidates, mainly in vivo stability issues. “Our ciRNA®s are actually resistant against nucleases’ action, which answer to the pharmaceutical industry’s expectactions” said Guillaume Plane, CEO of MitoProd SA. “Coupled with our innovative patented technology for RNA manufacturing, which enables us to produce RNA at industrial scale, this innovation is going to facilitate the development of siRNA-based drugs.” Until now, MitoProd SA was specialized in the production of custom RNA. But with ciRNA®s, the company can now offer new innovative solutions for the development of siRNA-based drugs.