London, ON, Canada
Oct 23, 2024
i-RNA Corporation, a privately-owned biotech company, announced that Subrata Chakrabarti, MBBS, PhD, FRCP(C), Professor at the University of Western Ontario, and Cofounder & Chair of i-RNA Corporation will present research findings on non-coding RNAs for potential diagnosis and treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a oral presentation at the XXVIth biennial meeting of the International Society of Eye Research (ISER), to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 20-24, 2024.
Within the last two decades, the rapid advent of genomic technologies has identified long non-coding RNAs (IncRNAs) as an important class of RNA transcripts that are larger than 200 nucleotides, possess limited protein-coding capacities, are dynamically regulated and present with distinct functionalities that help govern the expression of genes involved in a multitude of biological and pathological processes. In particular, IncRNAs play roles in regulation of genes involved in diabetic retinopathy. Such IncRNAs can be used as biomarkers to diagnose DR, including early stage DR. In a proof-of-concept study, The Chakrabarti lab showed that one of the IncRNAs can be a therapeutic target for treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
“Our lead candidate, a siRNA molecule targeting lncRNA HOTAIR, is a robust and long-lasting blocker of several angiogenic molecules, including VEGF,and other molecules causing retinal damage.. Furthermore, we have developed a modified siRNA molecule which can potentially be used as an eyedrop’ said Subrata Chakrabarti. “I look forward to presenting our detailed findings to the ISER community at the upcoming biennial meeting”.
About i-RNA
Based in London, Ontario, i-RNA Corporation is an early-stage spin-off company from the University of Western Ontario, that is dedicated to the development of innovative methods for the treatment and diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness worldwide. The company is developing proprietary first-in-class lncRNA-based drugs that are potentially longer lasting, more effective, more robust and less expensive than existing treatments for diabetic retinopathy and other ocular diseases.