Marina Biotech Demonstrates That Its Proprietary Conformationally Restricted Nucleotides Technology Is Highly Active as a microRNA Antagonist

Marina Biotech, Inc. MRNA reported data demonstrating increased hybridization affinity and activity with the Company's proprietary Conformationally Restricted Nucleotide technology. When substituted into an oligonucleotide complementary to miR-21, the melting temperature was increased significantly; resulting in > 90% inhibition compared to 30% inhibition for a matched all-DNA version. MicroRNA-21 has established roles as an oncomiR in cancer and in proliferative conditions such as cardiac disease. Effective in vivo inhibition of miR-21 is expected to lead to increased expression of known miR-21 target genes. The inhibition of miR-21 and resulting increased gene expression could lead to the development of novel nucleic acid-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancers and other diseases. The data were presented by Michael V. Templin, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Preclinical Development at Marina Biotech, Inc., at TIDES Oligonucleotide and Peptide® Research, Technology and Product Development May 22 - 25, 2011 in Boston, MA.