Tekmira and Marina Biotech in license agreement for novel RNAi technology

Canadian RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics developer Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: TKMR) has obtained a worldwide, non-exclusive license to a novel RNAi payload technology called Unlocked Nucleobase Analog (UNA) from Marina Biotech (Nasdaq: MRNA) for the development of RNAi therapeutics.

Under the agreement, Tekmira has received worldwide, non-exclusive rights to Marina Biotech's UNA technology for the development of RNAi therapeutic products, and Marina will receive an upfront payment plus milestone and royalty payments on products developed by Tekmira that use UNA technology. Financial terms of the license agreement were not disclosed.

"Our license to Marina's UNA technology expands and diversifies our foundation of technologies that enable us to develop RNAi therapeutics. With Tekmira's leading LNP delivery technology, a strong balance sheet, and access to multiple RNAi payload technologies, we are well positioned to aggressively advance multiple products into human clinical trials," said Mark Murray, Tekmira's president and chief executive.