Intradigm Selects Agilent To Make RNAi Therapeutic

Intradigm Corporation, a developer of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics, selected Agilent to manufacture the active, small interfering RNA (siRNA) component of its RNAi therapeutic ICS-283. Agilent will provide the siRNA material to Intradigm to support the initiation of clinical development for ICS-283, which the company expects to begin in 2008. "By establishing this relationship with a leading GMP provider of siRNA components, we have taken a critical step toward securing ICS-283's advancement into the clinic,” Mohammad Azab, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Intradigm, said in a statement. ICS-283 is a nanoparticle-based siRNA compound being developed as a treatment for a variety of cancer indications. The compound is comprised of multiple siRNAs that target both VEGF (an established target in the treatment of cancer) and its receptor.