Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) and RNAi technology
As I have said in a previous posting, most
large biopharmaceutical companies have been focusing on humanizing antibodies. It is good to find that there are some
companies that are looking at RNAi. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) is focusing more
on RNAi and lipid nanoparticles. Their
technology recently been licensed to Ascletis
Pharmaceuticals, a Chinese/American company where the two companies have formed
a strategic collaboration to develop ALN-VSP, an RNAi therapeutic for treatment
of liver cancer.
On July 12th, Ascletis announced the
formation of an agreement between Alnylam and a Ascletis to develop ALN-VSP, an
RNAi Therapeutic for the Treatment of Liver Cancers (http://www.ascletis.com/N07122012.html
)
So what do I think of Alnylam, this is an
exciting company that has the potential to treat a lot of different diseases
and syndromes. It is based in Cambridge MA, which is one of the nuclei of
pharmaceutical companies in the US. Using nanoparticles made of lipids provides
a way to transfer the interfering RNAs (RNAi) into the cell without triggering
the immune system response is the way to go. Avoiding the use of viruses will
help it be accepted by the public.
The use of RNAi’s clearly demonstrates that
this company is following the most recent literature and an understanding that
epigenetic regulation of the cell is an important aspect to understand for
treatment of cancers and disease. Their focus on the liver for their drug is
understandable, since the liver has a high capacity for taking in lipid based particles
into the cell, and the liver has a higher degree of cellular division than most
tissues.
The one aspect of this company that makes me
cautious to recommend it fully, is that it is not hiring scientists in the US.
I agree that collaboration is good, and China has a plethora of people and
scientists to collaborate with, but that Alnylam is not hiring and supporting scientists
in the US makes me hesitate about fully endorsing this company.
What about the stock itself? S and P gave it 4 stars. Reuter’s gives it
7/10 in neutral toward the positive and Second Opinion upgraded it about 34
days ago closer to “Improving”. It has had a positive run in the last month; it
seems to have a resistance at 13.00. If you wait for a pull back, I think it’s
a good bargain. Or if you are going to hold it for long, I recommend this
stock. (my 2cents, no I don’t own the stock)
Some extra information below:
From scottrade:
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Alnylam) is a
biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics based on ribonucleic acid
interface (RNAi). Its Alnylam 5x15, is focused on the development and
commercialization of novel RNAi therapeutics for the treatment of genetically
defined diseases. Its core programs in clinical or pre-clinical development
are: ALN-TTR for the treatment of transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR);
ALN-APC for the treatment of hemophilia; ALN-PCS for the treatment of severe
hypercholesterolemia; ALN-HPN for the treatment of refractory anemia, and
ALN-TMP for the treatment of hemoglobinopathies, including beta-thalassemia and
sickle cell anemia. The Company has three partner-based programs in clinical or
pre-clinical development, including ALN-RSV01 for the treatment of respiratory
syncytial virus (RSV), infection, ALN-VSP for the treatment of liver cancers
and ALN-HTT for the treatment of Huntington's disease (HD).
 |
| Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in the last 3 months, courtesy of Scottrade |
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