Benitec has announced an exclusive licensing deal with Stanford University. Under the license, Benitec receives exclusive rights to use the Minicircle DNA technology pioneered at Stanford University for all RNAi therapeutic uses, with sub-licensing rights.

Minicircles, developed by Mark A. Kay, professor of Paediatrics and Genetics at Stanford University and Strategic Consultant to Benitec, provides a significant advance over current RNAi non-viral systems and expands the repertoire of non-viral delivery methods available to researchers undertaking therapeutic programmes.

Minicircles result in gene expression up to 500 times greater than that seen with traditional plasmid DNA and were created from the discovery in the Kay laboratory that bacterial sequences present in normal plasmid DNA result in significant down-regulation of gene expression in animal models.

"With this new technology, we have demonstrated therapeutic levels of transgene product in animal models for up to 10 months, with no toxicity from this non-integrating vector" Dr. Kay stated adding, "We designed a unique plasmid to allow for easy purification and large-scale production of Minicircles, making this a feasible vector for clinical use."

"The commercial advancement of this innovative technology builds on the relationship we established with Stanford through the license of Dr. Kay's RNAi patent applications. We consider our continuing involvement with Stanford and the Kay laboratory to be a tremendous competitive advantage," said Sara Cunningham, COO of Benitec, Inc.

"We are very pleased at the strengthening of our ties with Stanford. Having ourselves pioneered the development of ddRNAi, we recognise the need for innovation in this exciting and fast-developing field. We will therefore continue to identify in-licensing opportunities for Benitec in delivery methods and clinical targets from other leading centers of innovation in both the United States and abroad," stated John McKinley, Executive chairman and CEO of Benitec.

Benitec pioneered the development of DNA directed RNAi (ddRNAi) and in partnership with the CSIRO of Australia, has the earliest priority date for its patents and owns the only issued patents covering ddRNAi. In addition, Benitec is the only RNAi Company to practice and hold intellectual property (IP) rights over both ddRNAi and siRNA, being both filed and issued patents and in-licensed IP from leading research institutes.