3 February, 2022
aptaTargets is one of seven Spanish companies that have created the OLIGOFASTX consortium with the aim of facilitating and contributing to the development of new RNA oligonucleotide-based therapies to treat rare diseases and promote its arrival on the market.
OLIGOFASTX is led by Sylentis (PharmaMar Group) and brings together companies that cover the entire value chain that is needed to develop these drugs: aptaTargets, Aptus Biotech, Arthex Biotech and Sylentis, experts in the design and development of RNA-based therapies (ASOs, siRNAs and aptamers); Nanovex and Sylentis, with extensive experience in the development of directed release strategies for nucleic acids, BDI Biotech and Nostrum Biodiscovery, specialised in implementing new disruptive strategies for nucleic acid synthesis.
Oligonucleotide RNA-based therapies are showing commercial viability, due to several factors, and they are expanding rapidly. This trend can also be seen in the high success rate for approval from North American and European regulatory agencies since, over the last 5 years, between 1 and 2 RNA drugs have been approved per year.
The project will end in 2024 and has received a grant worth €5.4 million from the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan-Next Generation EU funds. The total budget amounts to €7.4 million.
Ana Isabel Jiménez, COO of Sylentis, emphasises “the high level of commitment from all the participants of this project, which received the highest ranking in the final decision of the latest call Missions Science and Innovation”.
David Segarra, CEO of aptaTargets, notes that “we have been able to align the technologies and capacities of companies that are leaders in RNA. OLIGOFASTX is an important step in responding to many unmet medical needs and also spearhead the definitive growth of these advanced therapies in Spain and Europe”.
If you would like more information, please visit oligofastx.com and also read the article Spain launches its bid to become a leader in the treatment of rare diseases using RNA therapies through the project OLIGOFASTX, published in the journal Farmabiotec.