By Amanda Lyle, Assistant, Managing Editor and Michael J. Harris, Managing Editor Extracting hope from dire situations Judging by television's line-up of shows like "CSI" and "Bones," DNA forensics is a current hit. But it's not only TV networks that are realizing the potential of forensics-from governments to private corporations, forensic science is used today in more ways than ever before. It has only been over the past 10 years, however, that DNA's use in criminal cases and archeology has

Managing Editor Smart drugs emphasize prognosis over diagnosis School is in, and pharmacogenomics may just be the "cheat sheet" that can make doctors and drugs smarter by providing the blueprint which unlocks the answers to problems associated with administering drugs and patient response. Once again, it seems, we are led to tout the beginning of a new development in biotechnology which can revolutionize drug discovery. Only this time, the novel topic of interest has the credibility of being

Professor, Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School Co-discoverer of RNA interference Congratulations, Dr. Mello, on your election to the National Academy of Sciences. How do you envision its bearing on your work? Thank you. I am honored by my selection and I hope my election to the academy allows me to spread the message of the good that science in general offers. If it results in more positive exposure for science, then I'll be happy. The goal of all biomedical

Managing Editor Ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) has grown from a curiosity, outlived its hype and has emerged as a sound market that has revolutionized biotechnology research and is proceeding toward the ultimate goal of producing effective marketed therapeutics for treatment of a variety of disease targets. RNAi has achieved credibility as a research tool in scientific, laboratory, and now, clinical, applications and has been the breadwinner for its market while the therapeutics sector

antisense A piece of DNA that produces a mirror image (or antisense) mRNA that is opposite in sequence to the one that directs protein synthesis. The RNA will bind tightly to its mirror image, thus preventing the production of the particular protein. C. elegans (Caenorhabditis elegans) A nematode worm that is relatively as primitive an organism as exists but shares many of the essential biological characteristics that comprise predominant concerns of human biology, making it an ideal laboratory

Managing Editor The completion of the Human Genome Project (HGP) in 2003 has busted many technologies out of their cells, immediately commuting pipelines that seemed to be serving life sentences in clinical development, and confined by suspect technologies that were arresting corporate progress and detaining funding opportunities. Three established markets in the RNA/DNA field that are poised to additionally grow on that success are RNAi, pharmacogenomics and DNA forensics, while others, such

The industry for RNAi-related conferences and meetings has accelerated in the past year, as interest in the emerging technology has increased among executives and researchers. There are many events that focus on the research and development sector of the industry and, consequently, offer value for clinical and laboratory staff, as well as management personnel. The following schedule consists of events that exclusively address RNAi, as well as affairs that incorporate specific sessions assigned

RNAi Therapeutics: How Likely, How Soon? Robinson R. (2004) RNAi Therapeutics: How Likely, How Soon?. PLoS Biol 2(1): e28. Published January 20, 2004. Fire et al. Potent and Specific Genetic Interference by Double-Stranded RNA in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature. 1998 Feb 19;391 (6669): 806:11. Clark J, Tyson K, Stanton B, et al. Patent Pools: A Solution to the Problem of Access in Biotechnology Patents? USPTO white paper (December 2000). Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award: Targeting Cancer

Managing Editor Amid a fast warm-up and high expectations the market is a go The development of the RNAi biotechnology sector has been generally managing according to projection on its fundamental levels since its discovery and as the market segment progresses toward clinical trials that it envisions will eventually deliver therapeutics to market. There have been problems, such as the intellectual property disputes and uncertainty associated with anticipated entry into clinical trials, but

Conducted By Michael J. Harris, Managing Editor Interview with John McKinley, Chairman and CEO, Benitec, Ltd. What are the immediate objectives of Benitec? We aim to become, or remain, a leader in the field of RNAi therapeutic development with a foundation based on our proprietary ddRNAi technology. We intend to license out that technology for external research opportunitesand enter into collaborative alliances that fortify out financial position and afford greater company value

Conducted By Michael J. Harris, Managing Editor Interview with Steve Kriegsman, President and CEO, CytRx Corporation How did your agreement with University of Massachusetts Medical School contribute to CytRx's start in the field of RNAi? When I took over CytRx in 2002 with plans to restructure the company in a direction that focused on a breakthrough technology, one of the ideas from our newly formed scientific advisory board was to look into RNAi. Following up on that idea, we identified

Conducted By Michael J. Harris, Managing Editor Interview with Nassim Usman, Ph.D., COO and Sr. VP, Sirna Therapeutics Inc. RNAi has not yet overcome issues such as delivery and stability, but you have emphasized toxicity as a primary interest requiring attention. How is Sirna addressing the issue? Toxicity is a concern because it is still an unknown. We don't have enough experience to answer the questions yet. We've completed our initial toxicity studies and filed for an IND in age-related

Managing Editor RNAi is proving itself a logical progression, or replacement, of antisense and ribozyme mechanisms The timely discovery of siRNA to address target validation issues in 2001 coincided with the stagnation of antisense and ribozyme technologies, as the latter two processes were enveloped in a pattern of delivering disappointing results that cast doubt on the effectiveness of the technologies as valid drug discovery mechanisms. RNAi, antisense and ribozymes are similarly

Managing Editor Reagent market helps account for fast start of the general RNAi market The RNAi reagent/research materials industry is an established market, fully capable of supplying the research needs of the relative biotechnology drug development market. Conveyance of drugs to target cellular areas is a fundamental element in the discovery and administration of therapeutics, and RNAi research is effectively using intelligence obtained from the study of the successes and limitations of

Managing Editor The RNAi patent litigation market gets off to a thriving start The fact that there are presently more RNAi litigation cases than there are RNAi products, or even relative clinical trials, puts a perspective on the state of the technology and industry, as well as the impending importance of intellectual property issues on the future of therapeutic development. Litigation in the current patent landscape is the major issue facing RNAi technology, as there is confusion over

antisense A piece of DNA that produces a mirror image (or antisense) mRNA that is opposite in sequence to the one that directs protein synthesis. The RNA will bind tightly to its mirror image, thus preventing the production of the particular protein. C. elegans (Caenorhabditis elegans) A nematode worm that is relatively as primitive an organism as exists but shares many of the essential biological characteristics that comprise predominant concerns of human biology, making it an ideal laboratory

Managing Editor RNA interference (RNAi) has been the most talked about technology in the biotechnology world for more than one year, but any discussion regarding the success of the market must be primarily relegated to references of potential, in view of the facts that no drugs have been approved for market, clinical trials have not yet begun and there are unresolved factors that will influence the market's course. Potential is a word that is used frequently in this publication when