Marina Biotech, Inc. a leading RNAi-based drug discovery and development company, announced that the Canadian Patent Office has issued a Notice of Allowance for patent application 2,438,116 with claims that broadly cover amphoteric liposomal formulations (Smarticles) and their use for the delivery of nucleic acids and other compounds with therapeutic application. This allowance adds to the company's existing global patent estate for Smarticles delivery technology, which includes over 40 issued patents in countries including the United States, Japan, China, Singapore, Australia and countries throughout Europe.

At present, ProNAi Therapeutics Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company and licensee of the Smarticles technology, is conducting a dose-escalating phase I clinical study with a novel cancer therapeutic candidate (PNT2258) formulated with Marina Biotech's patented Smarticles delivery technology. The primary objective of this study is to assess the safety and tolerability of PNT2258 in patients with advanced solid tumors, and to enable dose selection for subsequent efficacy studies in patients. A secondary objective of this study is pharmacokinetics. Thus far, ProNAi has enrolled six patients and completed dosing regimens on five of those patients.

“We are pleased that the Canadian patent office allowed these claims which cover and protect our Smarticles technology,” stated J Michael French, President and CEO at Marina Biotech. “The company's global intellectual property portfolio represents fundamental IP necessary to develop and commercialize multiple RNA-based therapies. ProNAi's efforts demonstrate the breadth of that IP estate with the application of our delivery technology to their proprietary and innovative DNAi-based oligonucleotide molecule. Through ProNAi's efforts and capabilities, we expect to see significant Smarticles delivery technology advancements in the fight to treat cancer patients who have few, if any, therapeutic alternatives. In addition, we have ongoing collaborative efforts which are, in part, focused on both local and systemic delivery of siRNAs and other oligonucleotides using the Smarticles technology; one of multiple therapeutic options in the Marina Biotech nucleic acid-based discovery platform.”

Marina Biotech is focused on the development and commercialization of RNA interference- (RNAi) and RNA-based therapeutics. It includes a clinical programme in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (a precancerous syndrome) and two preclinical programmes -- in hepatocellular carcinoma and bladder cancer.