On the Radar…

miRagen Therapeutics, Inc of Boulder, Colorado andArchemix Corp of Cambridge, Massachusetts announced a collaboration effort today. The research and development pursuit will seek to combine miRagen’s microRNA expertise with Archemix’s experience with aptamers, synthetically-derived short sequences of nucleic acids, to create conjugated aptamer-microRNA therapies. Both microRNAs and apatmers afford the possibility for powerful yet highly targeted therapies. microRNAs are active at the genetic level through the regulation of sets of genes and control of pathways, while apatamers bind to specific protein targets. The companies did not state a therapeutic area of focus for the collaboration, but both companies’ pipelines show activity in the cardiovascular space (miRagen is also active in muscular disorders and Archemix in hematological conditions and oncology). Under the agreement, both companies will contribute resources and miRagen has an exclusive option to negotiate for exclusive rights to further develop and commercialize certain aptamer-microRNA therapeutics generated during the collaboration.