Santaris Pharma A/S announce agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to develop RNA-targeted medicines

HOERSHOLM, Denmark and SAN DIEGO, Jan. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Santaris Pharma A/S has announced today that they have signed an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), whereby, pursuant to an option right, GSK gains access to Santaris' Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) technology to develop RNA-targeted medicines.  Under the terms of the agreement, GSK can obtain rights to utilize Santaris Pharma's proprietary Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) Drug Platform to research, develop and commercialize LNA-medicines targeted against up to three targets. Financial details on the deal were not disclosed.

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"We are delighted to do this new deal with GSK," said Dr. Henrik Oerum, Chief Scientific Officer and VP business development of Santaris Pharma. "This is the sixth partner deal we have concluded in the past 12 months with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, so it has really been a spectacular year for Santaris Pharma."

About Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) Drug Platform 
The LNA Drug Platform and Drug Discovery Engine developed by Santaris Pharma A/S combines the company's proprietary LNA chemistry with its highly specialized and targeted drug development capabilities to rapidly deliver LNA-based drug candidates against both mRNA and microRNA, thus enabling scientists to develop drug candidates against diseases that are difficult, or impossible, to target with contemporary drug platforms such as antibodies and small molecules. The LNA Drug Platform overcomes the limitations of earlier antisense and siRNA technologies through a unique combination of small size and very high affinity that allows this new class of drugs candidates to potently and specifically inhibit RNA targets in many different tissues without the need for complex delivery vehicles. LNA is also sometimes referred to as BNA (Bicyclic or Bridged Nucleic Acid). 

About Santaris Pharma A/S
Santaris Pharma A/S is a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of RNA-targeted therapies.  The LNA Drug Platform and Drug Discovery Engine developed by Santaris Pharma A/S combine the company's proprietary LNA chemistries with its highly specialized and targeted drug development capabilities to rapidly deliver potent single-stranded LNA-based drug candidates across a multitude of disease states.  The company's research and development activities focus on cardiometabolic disorders, infectious and inflammatory diseases, cancers and rare genetic disorders, while partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies include a range of additional undisclosed therapeutic areas.  The company has strategic partnerships with Hoffmann-La Roche, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Shire PLC, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, miRagen Therapeutics, RaNa Therapeutics Inc. and Isarna Therapeutics GmbH.  As part of its broad patent estate, the company holds exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture, have manufactured and sell products that contain LNA as an active ingredient for studies performed with a view to obtaining marketing approval.  Santaris Pharma A/S, founded in 2003, is headquartered in Denmark with operations in the United States.  Please visit www.santaris.com for more information.