Nastech says RNAi therapeutics program for influenza successful

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., March 16 - Nastech Pharmaceutical Co., Inc. released new results demonstrating the effectiveness of the company's small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics to broadly target and inhibit influenza viral production.

In vitro and in vivo results were presented for siRNAs that are specifically designed to target conserved regions of the influenza viral genome, according to a company news release.

Nastech said it believes that targeting the conserved regions could enable an siRNA therapeutic to be effective against both current and future strains of the influenza virus, which is essential in stockpiling a treatment for rapid mobilization during an influenza pandemic.

In vitro screening results identified highly potent siRNAs that were effective against representative human and avian influenza strains, including the H5N1 avian influenza virus, the company said.

Furthermore, in vivo results demonstrated that direct-to-lung and intravenous administrations of selected proprietary formulations of siRNAs effectively inhibited influenza viral production in a preclinical model: a 200-fold reduction of viral concentration in the blood was observed.

"Nastech's goal is to rapidly develop a safe and effective treatment that is broadly applicable against current and future influenza strains so that the medical community can be better prepared for an influenza pandemic, which has become an impending threat to worldwide public health," Steven C. Quay, chairman, president and chief executive officer, said in the release.

Nastech is a pharmaceutical company based in Bothell, Wash., that develops products based on proprietary drug-delivery technologies.

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