Regulus Therapeutics has signed a new collaboration agreement with Biogen Idec to identify microRNA biomarkers in multiple sclerosis (MS).
The research will be carried out at the Regulus microMarkers division and will focus on profiling whole blood samples of patients treated with a Biogen MS therapy to identify microRNA signatures.
Go deeper with GlobalData
As part of the new agreement, Regulus will receive $2m upfront and is eligible for future payments upon reaching certain milestones related to the identification of potential microRNA signatures.
In August 2012, the firms teamed up and profiled more than 400 serum samples from MS patients, comparing them with the profiles of healthy volunteers.
Regulus has used its reproducible and proprietary technology platform to extract, profile, and analyse microRNAs from small volumes of blood such as plasma, serum or whole blood.
The results from these experiments have enabled the companies to expand the scope of their research under the new agreement.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataRegulus Therapeutics chief business officer and general counsel David Szekeres said: "We are pleased to grow the Regulus microMarkers division and expand our research on microRNA biomarkers with Biogen Idec.
"Our collaboration has made significant progress to date and we are hopeful to continue to help advance Biogen Idec’s leading multiple sclerosis franchise in a meaningful way with our innovative technology platform."
MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules with around 20 to 25 nucleotides in length. They regulate gene expression rather than encoding proteins.
