Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company developing a novel approach to the potential treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, has entered into a Materials Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (M-CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to evaluate the company’s Toll-like receptor (TLR) antagonists as a potential approach to the treatment of certain genetically defined B-cell lymphomas.

"We are pleased to have entered into this agreement, and we look forward to communicating further on it as the work underway proceeds," said Sudhir Agrawal, D Phil., chief executive officer of Idera Pharmaceuticals.

Idera Pharmaceuticals technology platform involves creating novel synthetic RNA- and DNA-based compounds to modulate immune responses. Idera has applied this platform to develop proprietary Toll-like receptor (TLR) antagonists as immunomodulatory drug candidates.