Ethris enters SNIM modified RNA alliance with Shire

German biotech firm Ethris GmbH has initiated a research based alliance focused on the development and commercialization of novel RNA-based therapeutics with Ireland headquartered Shire (LSE: SHP). Financial terms of the accord were not disclosed.

Many devastating human diseases are the result of an inability of the body’s cells to make specific proteins that have an essential function for the whole body. The German company noted. The replacement of proteins with normally functioning ones provides a potential approach to treat multiple devastating diseases. Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) that encode for such proteins have been the focus of much biopharmaceutical research and development, however, RNA’s inherent instability and immunogenicity has proven to be a significant hurdle in the past, it said.

Based in Munich, Ethris and its co-founders - Carsten Rudolph and Christian Plank - have developed a novel RNA modification technology that creates Stable and Non-Immunogenic Messenger RNA (SNIM-RNA) molecules that are ideally suited for use in protein replacement therapies to treat monogenic genetic diseases. Ethris is financed by QureInvest II, a life sciences investment fund managed by HS LifeSciences, based in Dusseldorf, Germany.