Strategic Research Institute--first international siRNA conference. Prospect for new therapeutics and commercial opportunities for pharma and biotech. 24-25 March 2003, LaJolla, CA, USA.
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), with their power to selectively silence genes, have gained much attention from biotech and pharmaceutical companies and investors. Key players in the field, from innovative biotech start-ups to big pharmaceutical companies, gathered at Strategic Research Institute's First International siRNA conference in the scenic Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines. Topics addressed ranged from the latest technology advances and applications of RNA interference (RNAi) in drug discovery, to critical business issues such as intellectual property portfolio strategy and market prospects. While RNAi is indisputably accepted as a powerful tool in target validation and functional genomics, the concept of an siRNA drug is still viewed by big pharma companies as next-generation therapeutics. Yet challenges seem tractable. Several companies, such as Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals Inc, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Intradigm Corp, are working hard to prove that the bigger companies are being too conservative. The conference provided a clear vision of RNAi in drug discovery today, its potential and remaining challenges.
Xu
Jing
J
BioMinerva Group, San Diego, CA 92126, USA. jxu4@san.rr.com
D000818:Animals; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D003132:Commerce / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering