Benitec grants licence to US xeno firm Revivicor

Benitec (ASX:BLT) has granted a licence to US company Revivicor to use its patented RNAi-mediated gene-silencing technology for mammalian cells to develop transgenic pigs as a source of organ transplants for humans.

Virginia-based Revivicor is a pioneer in the field of regenerative medicine -- the replacement of human cells, tissues and organs with 'humanised' grafts from other species, broadly known as xenotransplantation.

Benitec said Revivicor chose DNA-directed RNA interference (ddRNAi) as the most appropriate RNAi technology for xenotransplantation research. The company has already begun pre-clinical trials.

The ddRNAi technique involves inserting 'designer' transgenes into animals that disrupt the expression of target genes -- in this case, genes that code for proteins that cause the human immune system to reject transplanted xenografts.

Revivicor will pay an up-front fee for non-exclusive access to Benitec's proprietary technology, plus annual maintenance fees, plus ongoing royalties after commercialisation.

Benitec CEO John McKinley described Revivicor's decision to use ddRNAi as a "milestone achievement" for Benitec, and the new agreement as indicative of the earning potential of Benitec's ddRNAi patents. "It's how we plan to conduct our licensing in all human therapeutic areas in the future -- we believe our technology is widely applicable to medical research and development," he said.

Benitec expects to do similar deals in the cancer research field. With its first RNAi anti-viral therapy for hepatitis C scheduled to enter clinical trials next year, it hoped to leverage its technological leadership to establish partnerships with companies interested in commercialising therapeutics emerging from its own RNAi anti-viral and cancer research programs.