Alnylam lands German gene-silencing patent

Biotechnology company Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. said German officials granted the company a patent that covers 52 claims for small interfering RNA's.

The goal of RNAi-based treatments is to target the gene at the root of a disease or condition and "silence" or switch it off without affecting other genes or cells. The patent granted to Alnylam, called '607,' is part of the Kreutzer-Limmer I patent series.

The patent series has been licensed to the company's development and research partners. (AP)