Bird flu triggers new drug development pact

As the H5N1 spreads with astonishing speed in Europe and into Africa, Switzerland's Novartis and U.S.-based Alnylam Pharmaceuticals have announced a pact to develop new pandemic flu therapies using RNAi technology. The companies will work with Alnylam's knowledge of RNAi interference and Novartis' abilities to commercialize drugs worldwide. RNA interference works to regulate individual genes that play a role in disease. Both companies are already working together to develop new therapies in other disease categories.

"The influenza virus, through rapid mutation and potential inter-species transfer, represents an epidemic threat to the citizens of all countries. Multiple therapies are likely to be required both to prevent and to treat influenza," said Mark Fishman, president of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research.

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PLUS: The H5N1 virus has been confirmed in Hungary and Croatia as Indian health officials begin screening people for the disease. Report