Silence gets green light for siRNA trial

The UK's Silence Therapeutics has won regulatory approval to begin an early-stage human trial that will for the first time test the infusion of one of its gene silencing therapies directly to the site of the illness. "The big challenge in this area is to deliver (the drug)," CEO Iain Ross tells Reuters. "This is a systemically delivered product, given by infusion. This is a major step forward." Silence Therapeutics is partnered with Pfizer and AstraZeneca in human trials that put short interfering RNA therapies directly on the treatment site. The upcoming Phase I trial in Germany will test Silence's Atu027 for advanced solid malignant tumors. Atu027 specifically targets PKN3, a molecule involved in cancer growth and metastasis formation. Release | Report