Cambridge Biolabs (CBL) is developing innovative drugs for use in veterinary medicine. Our IP includes the tkRNAi technology exclusively licensed from Marina Biotech, Inc. for veterinary and agricultural purposes. We use this bacterial vector technology for the treatment of a common disease in cattle.
The recent discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) allows the targeted suppression of disease causing genes through a highly specific and efficient natural mechanism. Disease related genes can now be targeted and inactivated, creating an entirely new class of drugs, RNAi therapeutics. CBL scientists have described the method of transkingdom RNAi (tkRNAi™) technology*, which uses live bacterial vectors to express mediators of RNA interference, short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The intended target organs for tkRNAi™ include mucosal surfaces, such as the gastrointestinal and genitonurinary tracts, and CBL is developing tkRNAi™ for veterinary use. tkRNAi™ combines the power of RNA interference therapeutics with a very low cost of goods as is required in the context of therapies for livestock animals. Losses due to Johne’s disease, a ruminant ailment similar to Crohn’s in humans, can have a devastating economic impact on farms and food production. By providing inexpensive treatment, CBL’s science will help to diminish the financial impact these diseases cause and to improve human nutrition.
*tkRNAi ™ exclusively licensed from Marina Biotechnology for use in veterinary applications
