Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics. Founded in 2002 by David Bartel, Philip Sharp, Nathanael Gray, and Jack Schmidt, the company is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has collaborations with Sanofi, Genzyme, and Medicines Company. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals is a member of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index and has received funding from Venture capital firms such as Atlas Venture and Greylock Partners.

● History

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals was founded in 2002 by a group of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, including David Bartel and Philip Sharp, who is a Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine. The company's early research focused on the development of RNAi therapeutics for the treatment of genetic disorders such as Huntington's disease and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in collaboration with Isis Pharmaceuticals and Biogen Idec. In 2003, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals established a partnership with Merck & Co. to develop RNAi therapeutics for the treatment of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, with the help of University of California, San Francisco and Stanford University. The company has also collaborated with University of Oxford and University of Cambridge on various research projects.

● Products and Pipeline

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has a pipeline of RNAi therapeutics in various stages of development, including Patisiran for the treatment of Hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR), which has received Orphan drug designation from the European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company's pipeline also includes Givosiran for the treatment of Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), which is being developed in collaboration with University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH). Other products in development include Lumasiran for the treatment of Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1), which has received Breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA, and Vutrisiran for the treatment of hATTR, which is being developed in partnership with Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

● Research and Development

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has a strong research and development program focused on the discovery and development of RNAi therapeutics for the treatment of various diseases, including Genetic disorders, Infectious diseases, and Cancer. The company has established collaborations with University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Duke University to develop RNAi therapeutics for the treatment of Rare diseases such as Cystic fibrosis and Sickle cell disease. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has also partnered with GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer to develop RNAi therapeutics for the treatment of Respiratory diseases such as Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Asthma, with the help of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

● Financials and Partnerships

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has received funding from various Venture capital firms, including Atlas Venture and Greylock Partners, and has established partnerships with several Pharmaceutical companies, including Sanofi, Genzyme, and Medicines Company. The company has also collaborated with Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca on various research projects, and has received grants from National Institutes of Health (NIH) and European Commission. In 2014, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals established a partnership with Genzyme to develop and commercialize Patisiran for the treatment of hATTR, and has also partnered with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to develop Vutrisiran for the treatment of hATTR.

● Corporate Affairs

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has operations in United States, Europe, and Asia. The company is led by John Maraganore, who has served as CEO since 2002, and Yvonne Greenstreet, who serves as Chief Operating Officer. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals is a member of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), and has received awards from Ernst & Young and Deloitte for its innovative approach to Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Deloitte Technology Fast 500. The company has also been recognized by Forbes and Fortune (magazine) as one of the most innovative companies in the Biotechnology industry. Category:Biotechnology companies