Drug giants turn their backs on RNA interference

摘要

Not long ago, a technique called RNA interference (RNAi) seemed to be on the fast track to commercial success. Its discovery in 1998 revealed a new way to halt the production of specific proteins using specially designed RNA molecules, and it quickly became a favourite tool of basic research. In 2006, the scientists who made the discovery were awarded the Nobel prize for medicine, and the New Jersey-based pharmaceutical giant Merck paid more than US$1 billion to snatch up Sirna Therapeutics in San Francisco, California - one of the first biotechnology companies aiming to harness RNAi to create new drugs.rnYet all that seemed like ancient history last week when drugs and diagnostics corporation Roche in Basel, Switzerland - a major investor in RNAi-based drug research - announced it was killing its programme after spending three years and more than $500 million on the technique. Although part of a larger restructuring to cut costs, the move is the latest indication that big pharma may be losing faith in RNAi.