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Article: Big pharma makes 1st move into RNAi.(Merck acquires Sirna Therapeutics)(Brief article)
- Article from:
- Chemistry and Industry
- Article date:
- November 20, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Society of Chemical Industry. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In the decisive first move by big pharma into ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi), drug giant Merck (New Jersey) is to acquire RNAi firm Sirna Therapeutics (California) for $1.1 billion. As well as giving RNAi commercial credibility, the deal shows how much big pharma is pinning on the untested technology to replenish dwindling pipelines.
'This is the first time we've seen a big pharma player make a commitment like this into the RNAi field,' said Gustav Ando, analyst at Global Insight. 'It shows what lengths these companies will go to now to acquire new technologies, as RNAi is almost entirely untested in the clinical field.' Sirna does not have a phase II drug, ...