MicroRNA (miRNA) are continually being identified as essential regulators of gene expression in a wide variety of different cellular contexts. A study published in March of 2012 in Nature Cell Biology1 identified an atheroprotective miRNA signaling pathway in which the miR-143/145 gene cluster is upregulated in endothelial cells and transferred to underlying smooth muscle cells (SMCs) via extracellular vesicles. Increased sheer stress of endothelial cells in vitro induced miR-143/145 gene expression via the transcription factor KLF2. In turn, miR-143/145 were packaged into extracellular vesicles that signaled to nearby SMCs. miRs 143 and 145 targeted and repressed several genes in SMCs, including ELK1 and KLF4, in an atheroprotective manner. Taking these studies a step farther, ApoE-/- mice were used to study the in vivo development of atherosclerotic [click to continue…]
Cambridge UK, 21 January, 2015: Abcam plc, a global leader in the supply of life science research tools, today announces that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of Firefly BioWorks Inc (“Firefly”) (“the Acquisition”) on a cash-free/debt-free basis for £18.5m ($28.0m). The consideration, which is payable in cash on completion, will be funded from Abcam’s existing resources [1].
Firefly has developed a novel multiplex assay platform for the detection of biomarkers, based on a microfabrication technology developed by the founders at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has developed its first product for detection of microRNAs (miRNAs). Firefly has 15 employees and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Acquisition fits well with Abcam’s strategy outlined in September to establish new growth platforms and supports the Company’s mission to enable scientists to discover more. Firefly will strengthen [click to continue…]
Regulus Announces Key Goals Under its ‘Clinical Map Initiative’ for 2015
Accelerates RG-101 for HCV with Dual-Track Clinical Development Strategy; Top-Line, Single Dose, 4 mg/kg Results as Well as 2mg/kg
Extended Follow Up Results from Ongoing Study to be Reported in Early February 2015
LA JOLLA, Calif., Jan. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ – Regulus Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLS), a biopharmaceutical company leading the discovery and development of innovative medicines targeting microRNAs, today announced key goals for 2015 under its ‘Clinical Map Initiative’ to advance its microRNA therapeutics portfolio and biomarkers platform.
“Regulus enters 2015 with the scientific and financial strength to realize the transformative potential of microRNAs. As such, we’ve set aggressive goals for the year focused on creating a clear path to value for what we believe to be our greatest opportunities,” said Kleanthis G. Xanthopoulos, Ph.D., President and CEO of Regulus. “Under our ‘Clinical Map Initiative’, we are focusing our near term efforts on accelerating RG-101 for HCV with a Phase II dual-track clinical development strategy, while advancing our overall therapeutics pipeline and aligning our biomarker efforts to streamline our clinical development decisions.”
Key Goals Under Regulus’ ‘Clinical Map Initiative’ for 2015
- ‘Clinical Map’ of RG-101 for HCV Defined: Dual-Track Strategy Accelerates Phase II Development; Multiple Data Read-Outs in 2015. Following the favorable interim results reported inOctober 2014 from its ongoing clinical study, Regulus has accelerated development of RG-101, a wholly-owned, GalNAc-conjugated anti-miR targeting microRNA-122 (“miR-122″) for the treatment of HCV. Regulus is pursuing a Phase II dual-track development strategy (i) to investigate RG-101 in combination with oral agents to potentially shorten treatment durations, optimize clinical outcomes and potentially improve responses in certain underserved HCV patient populations; and (ii) to investigate RG-101 further as a single agent to determine [click to continue…]
SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Dec. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — SomaGenics has recently been awarded $2,275,000 in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from the NIH to further develop and expand its RNA-based technologies in the areas of wound healing, hepatitis delta virus (HDV) therapeutics, microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling, and next-generation sequencing.
SomaGenics’ wound healing program is focused on treatment of chronic wounds of diabetics. These wounds, frequently occurring on the feet, are the major reason for amputations in the diabetic population and represent a large unmet medical need. SomaGenics’ new NIH funds, in the form of a Phase II SBIR grant, will [click to continue…]
MicroRNAs have emerged as promising biomarkers of organ damage including injury of the liver. In this study the new generation of high-throughput sequencing technology was applied to detect circulating miRNAs in serum from patients with accidental acetaminophen overdose and identified a set of 33 known miRNAs and 3 novel miRNA-like small RNAs that are functionally associated with liver-specific biological processes and relevant to acetaminophen toxic mechanisms. The study suggests a profile of circulating miRNAs in human serum that might provide additional biomarker candidates for drug-induced liver injury and possibly adds mechanistic information relevant to liver injury.
Figure: Serum levels of liver-associated miRNAs after acetaminophen overdose. The liver associated miRNAs miR-122 and miR-192 were detected in serum from acetaminophen-overdosed patients. The graph represents serum levels, based on normalized sequencing reads, of the liver-associated miRNA hsa-miR-122 (A) and hsa-miR-192 (B) in control and acetaminophen-overdosed samples.
For the full article:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25359176
Krauskopf J, Caiment F, Claessen SM, Johnson KJ, Warner RL, Schomaker SJ, Burt DA, Aubrecht J, Kleinjans JC. Application of High-Throughput Sequencing to Circulating microRNAs Reveals Novel Biomarkers for Drug-induced Liver Injury. Toxicol Sci. 2014 Oct 29. pii: kfu232. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 25359176.
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