Shire, a global specialty biopharmaceutical company, and ethris, a young biopharmaceutical company based in Germany, have initiated a research based alliance focused on the development and commercialization of novel RNA-based therapeutics.

"As a leader in the treatment of rare diseases, we are pleased to be working with ethris to develop SNIM®-RNA based therapies, with the objective of developing new treatment options for patients suffering from these rare disorders," said Dr. Philip J. Vickers, global head of R&D, human genetic therapies, Shire.

ethris and its co-founders, Dr. Carsten Rudolph and professor 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.

"We are delighted to extend our existing collaboration with Shire that may bring novel therapeutics to patients suffering from diseases with significant unmet medical need,” said Rudolph. “We aim to provide significant numbers of patients with new therapeutic alternatives that may provide a lasting solution to their disease.”

Plank said, "With Shire, we have a partnership based on a shared appreciation of the importance of our SNIM® technology. Under this partnership, we are aiming to develop an RNA modification and delivery technology that efficiently results in protein replacement in relevant cellular populations, providing hope to patients suffering from genetic diseases which have devastating clinical outcomes.”

Financial details of the alliance have not been disclosed.