Under the collaboration agreement, Thermo Fisher Scientific will provide Genentech with small-interfering RNA (siRNA) design, stabilization, delivery and related RNA interference (RNAi) technologies from its RNAi Discovery and Therapeutic Services laboratory in Lafayette, Colorado.
Genentech may use these technologies in the development of potential siRNA-based drugs. Such drugs would work by reducing, or silencing, the expression of specific genes implicated in disease. The research could extend drug discovery efforts to disease targets where traditional discovery technologies have not been successful.
Ian Jardine, vice president of global R&D at Thermo Fisher Scientific, said: “By combining Genentech’s expertise in the development of biological therapeutics with Thermo Fisher’s capabilities in RNAi and RNA chemistry, we hope to advance this promising therapeutic class. Our work with Genentech will focus on developments that will enable in vivo target validation and potentially human therapeutic applications of RNAi technology.”