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The Opposition Division of the European Patent Office, following a threeday hearing, announced its decision to revoke European Patent EP 1 230 375,exclusively licensed to Alnylam Pharmaceuticals from Cancer ResearchTechnology, Ltd (UK). The Patent, commonly referred to as the "Glover"patent, broadly relates to medicaments comprising an RNA interferencemediating RNA molecule.
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Opposition briefs to the Glover patent had been filed by SilenceTherapeutics AG, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Quark Biotech, Inc., SirnaTherapeutics, and Nucleonics, Inc. In the course of the oral hearing whichlasted from July 08 to July 10, 2008, Cancer Research Technology Ltd. filed atotal of seven auxiliary requests so as to defend the patent in a limitedmanner. None of these requests was able to overcome the concerns of theOpposition Division that the patent was legally invalid. Cancer ResearchTechnology and Alnylam are expected to appeal the decision.
Jeff Vick, Chief Executive Officer of Silence Therapeutics, said, "TheGlover patent was arguably Alnylam's broadest patent and the successfulopposition represents an important victory for us in allowing us to maintainour Freedom to Operate. We have long believed that this patent would berevoked and are very pleased with the outcome. This decision by the EuropeanPatent Office further strengthens our leading position in the field of RNAinterference."
Notes to Editors:
About Silence Therapeutics plc (http://www.silence-therapeutics.com)
Silence Therapeutics plc (AIM: SLN) is a leading European RNAi focusedbiotechnology company. RNAi can selectively 'silence' genes linked to theonset of disease. RNAi is a Nobel Prize winning technology and one of themost promising areas of drug discovery and development today.
Silence Therapeutics has developed a platform of novel short interferingRNA ('siRNA') molecules, AtuRNAi, which provide a number of advantages overconventional siRNA molecules, including increased stability against nucleasedegradation. In addition, the Company has developed a proprietary systemicdelivery system, AtuPLEX. This system enables the functional delivery of siRNAmolecules to targeted diseased tissues and cells, while increasing theirbioavailability and intracellular uptake.
Silence's lead internal product, Atu027, is a proprietary AtuRNAi moleculein preclinical development for systemic cancer indications. Atu027 hassuccessfully completed single and repeat dose toxicology and geno-toxicologystudies, as well as a 28-day toxicology study using multiple dosing regimens.Silence plans a regulatory filing in 2008 to commence clinical trials forAtu027.
In March 2008 Silence Therapeutics announced a collaboration withAstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) focused on the development of a range of novel deliveryapproaches for siRNA molecules. Under the terms of the agreement both SilenceTherapeutics and AstraZeneca will be allowed to commercialize the truly noveldelivery systems that the two partners develop together.
In July 2007, Silence Therapeutics formed its first research anddevelopment collaboration with AstraZeneca to develop novel AtuRNAitherapeutics against five specific targets, including those in respiratoryindications. This collaboration was the first industry validation of thepotential application of Silence Therapeutics' proprietary AtuRNAi moleculesand solidified the Company's leadership position in field of RNAitherapeutics.
The Company's AtuRNAi technology also has been sublicensed to Pfizer viaQuark's license to them of the compound RTP-801i-14 fo
