UK based MiNA Therapeutics has announced the initiation of a research collaboration with AstraZeneca to evaluate small activating RNA ("saRNA") molecules in metabolic diseases. The collaboration combines MiNA's leading expertise in the discovery and development of saRNA therapeutics with AstraZeneca's experience in identifying and bringing breakthrough treatments to patients with metabolic diseases.

Robert Habib, CEO of MiNA said, “Many metabolic diseases lack sufficient treatment options to help patients manage their disease and to treat the underlying causes to improve patient outcomes. This is an exciting opportunity for us to collaborate with AstraZeneca, a global leader in the discovery and development of prescription medicines to treat metabolic diseases that may lead to therapeutic advances for a large number of patients globally. We continue to evaluate the potential of saRNA therapeutics in a variety of indications, in parallel with advancing our proprietary programs in cancer.”

Under the terms of the agreement MiNA and AstraZeneca will conduct in vitro and in vivo studies that may enable the future development of saRNA therapeutics to treat metabolic diseases through biological pathways not addressable by conventional treatment strategies.

Shalini Andersson, Chief Scientist, New Modalities, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca said, “saRNA molecules are a novel therapeutic modality that upregulate genes and have the potential to access disease-relevant targets that cannot be addressed efficiently with other approaches. We look forward to working with MiNA to investigate the potential of saRNAs further.”

Upon completion of these studies, AstraZeneca will have the option to negotiate a license agreement to further develop saRNA molecules that activate an undisclosed gene target identified by AstraZeneca. No further details about the collaboration have been disclosed.