Nastech Wins Phase I SBIR Grant to Develop siRNA-Based Flu Drugs

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Nastech Wins Phase I SBIR Grant to Develop siRNA-Based Flu Drugs
August 29, 2006
GenomeWeb
NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) ? Nastech Pharmaceutical has obtained a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institutes of Health to help it develop small-interfering RNA influenza drugs.

The company did not disclose the mount of the grant but Phase I SBIRs typically do not exceed $100,000.

Nastech is developing siRNA therapeutics that specifically target conserved regions of the influenza viral genome. The company obtained the methods to do this when it acquired Galenea in February 2006.

The grant will help Nastech to design and optimize siRNAs against seasonal and avian influenza viruses, test in vivo activity of new siRNA delivery agents, and evaluate viral drug resistance mechanisms, Nastech said in a statement.
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