Transgene initiated partnership to develop therapies using novel gene delivery technology, Mirus entered into a research and license agreement to develop gene therapy products using Mirus' muscle delivery technology for the delivery of Transgene's plasmid-based and adenoviral vectors to skeletal muscle.
Fund provided by the transgene for one year research program to Mirus to apply Mirus' technology to Transgene's gene therapy product candidates for muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis.
Mirus grants Transgene options to license its technology for the intra-vascular delivery of therapeutic genes to skeletal muscle. Transgene has developed a broad portfolio of viral and plasmid-based vectors for gene delivery and, through its partnership with Human Genome Sciences and its functional genomics approaches, has the capacity to identify novel genes for therapeutic use.
Mirus Corporation also responsible for the distribution of the TaKaRa Bio (Kyoto, Japan) products in North and South America since 2003. On 2004, Mirus Bio had been awarded a $1.26 million, multiyear Phase II SBIR grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a gene therapy product to treat anemia.
Mirus also entered into an agreement with Genzyme Corporation covering research applications of Mirus’ proprietary hydrodynamic gene delivery technology. Under this agreement, Genzyme will have the non-exclusive right to utilize a range of Mirus’ technologies in its research programs, including its Pathway IV™ protocol, a novel method to efficiently deliver genes to muscle via the blood stream.
Mirus Bio Corporation has been awarded five federal grants and contracts since January of year 2007 totaling $5.4 million. They are:
*Two Phase II SBIR grants totaling $2.4 million to further develop the Company’s Dynamic PolyConjugates™ siRNA delivery platform and alternative nanoparticle technologies, focused primarily on improving potency for liver applications;
*One Phase II DOD contract for $1.8 million to optimize the Dynamic PolyConjugates™ siRNA delivery platform for lung delivery and to develop a treatment against respiratory infections;
*A Phase I SBIR grant for $0.3 million to improve gene expression technologies;
*A previously announced Phase II SBIR grant for $0.9 million to develop improved labeling technologies for microRNA, which is expected to lead to new research products.
These funds were critical in maintaining their leadership position in nucleic acid delivery technologies.
Bio Corporation had entered into a two year, multimillion dollar agreement with Pfizer Inc. to investigate and optimize gene silencing methods in animal models. The studies will utilize Mirus Bio’s nucleic acid delivery platforms to target and suppress the expression of genes of interest to Pfizer.
