Adhera Therapeutics Inc (ATRX)

[rodster73]

BOTHELL, WA, Jan 26, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- MDRNA, Inc. (NASDAQ:
MRNA), a leading RNAi-based drug discovery and development company, today
announced that the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic
of China (PRC) has issued a Notification of Granting Patent Rights for PRC
200480018784 which includes the use of nucleic acids, e.g., an siRNA, for the
treatment of cancer. The patent describes modulation of claudins, which are
proteins implicated in tumor progression and metastasis.

"China's pharmaceutical markets are growing nearly 20% a year," said J. Michael
French, President and CEO of MDRNA. "China has seen significant expansion in
both the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, which provides an ideal environment
for our ongoing efforts to seek international R&D collaborations and investment
opportunities. With this patent and our recent allowance of a patent covering
RNAi-based modulation of JAM-1 for the treatment of cancer we continue to extend
our oncology patent estate worldwide."

About MDRNA's Technology

MDRNA has a broad intellectual property estate that encompasses four key RNAi
technology platforms: siRNA constructs, chemistry, nucleic acid delivery, and
gene targets. The MDRNA-owned siRNA constructs and chemistry include its
proprietary UsiRNA construct, which is a duplex siRNA chemically modified with
non-nucleotide acyclic monomers (UNAs), and is distinct from the standard siRNA
construct used by others in the industry. UsiRNAs are fully recognized by the
RNAi machinery and provide for potent RNAi activity while specific placement of
UNAs in a duplex siRNA minimizes potential off-target effects by the guide
strand and reduces undesired passenger strand activity. Furthermore, UsiRNAs
escape the surveillance mechanisms associated with cytokine induction, and
provide protection from nuclease degradation.

The MDRNA delivery platforms include DiLA2 and nanoparticle forming peptides.
DiLA2 is an MDRNA proprietary delivery platform of novel synthetic di-alkylated
amino acid compounds used to make liposomal delivery formulations. The DiLA2
platform enables MDRNA to tailor the charge, linker and acyl chains of amino
acids in order to configure liposomes for delivery to target tissues of
interest. In addition, the platform is designed to permit attachment of various
peptides and other targeting molecules to improve a variety of delivery
characteristics. The MDRNA peptide nanoparticle platform includes exclusively
in-licensed and developed IP surrounding the use of peptides for nanoparticle
formulations that increase cellular uptake and endosomal release of siRNAs.
MDRNA is currently biopanning its patented phage display library to identify
additional peptides for targeted delivery, cellular uptake and endosomal release
of siRNA.

MDRNA owns or controls 7 issued or allowed patents, and has more than 40 pending
patent applications, 126 pending foreign patent applications and 6 PCT
applications.

About MDRNA, Inc.

MDRNA is a biotechnology company focused on the development and
commercialization of therapeutic products based on RNA interference (RNAi). Our
goal is to improve human health through the development of RNAi-based compounds
and drug delivery technologies that together provide superior therapeutic
options for patients. Over the past decade, we have developed substantial
capabilities in molecular biology, cellular biology, lipid chemistry, peptide
chemistry, pharmacology and bioinformatics, which we are applying to a wide
range of RNAi technologies and delivery approaches. These capabilities plus the
in-licensing of key RNAi-related intellectual property have rapidly enabled us
to become a leading RNAi-based therapeutics company with a pre-clinical pipeline
in oncology. Through our capabilities, expertise and know-how, we are
incorporating multiple RNAi technologies as well as peptide- and lipid-based
delivery approaches into a single integrated drug discovery platform that will
be the engine for our clinical pipeline as well as a versatile platform for
establishing broad therapeutic partnerships with biotechnology and
pharmaceutical companies. We are also investing in new technologies that we
expect to lead to safer and more effective RNAi-based therapeutics while
aggressively building upon our broad and extensive intellectual property estate.
By combining broad expertise in siRNA science with proven delivery platforms and
a strong IP position, MDRNA is well positioned as a leading RNAi-based drug
discovery and development company. Additional information about MDRNA, Inc. is
available at http://www.mdrnainc.com.