Info

RPI, at www.rpi.com , is a global leader in the development of ribozyme-based biotherapeutics and diagnostic tools for the treatment and monitoring of significant human diseases. Ribozymes are the product of Nobel Prize-winning research and are synthetically engineered to act as "molecular scissors" capable of cleaving target RNA in a highly specific manner, blocking gene expression and preventing production of unwanted proteins. In addition to its therapeutic and diagnostic pipeline, RPI is leveraging its broad-based nucleic acid technology for applications in genomics, proteomics, and individualized therapeutics. To date, RPI has spun out and licensed technology to atugen AG which is focused on target validation and additionally earlier this year announced a licensing agreement with Archemix, Inc. for the use of allosteric ribozymes in drug discovery and optimization and environmental monitoring. RPI holds equity positions in both companies and retains certain residual rights. RPI is currently engaged in negotiations with third parties concerning other possible strategic alliances. RPI's anti-hepatitis C virus ribozyme, HEPTAZYME(TM), is in Phase II clinical development in a multi-center trial in the U.S. RPI is partnered with Chiron Corporation for the development and commercialization of ANGIOZYME®, an anti-angiogenic ribozyme designed to inhibit the growth of new vasculature to supply blood to tumors and prevent tumor growth and metastasis, which is also in two Phase II clinical trials. Other RPI development projects include, HERZYME(TM), an anti-HER2 ribozyme for treatment of breast and other cancers in Phase I development and HepBzyme(TM), a ribozyme for the treatment of hepatitis B. The HERZYME program is being developed by an RPI/Elan business venture, Medizyme Pharmaceuticals Ltd. In addition, RPI is collaborating with Geron Corporation utilizing the expertise of each company to accelerate process development for Geron's lead telomerase inhibitor, GRN163. RPI also entered into an agreement with Fujirebio, Inc., the largest domestic diagnostic company in Japan, to develop and commercialize ribozyme-based clinical diagnostic products.