Respiratory syncytial virus – ALN-RSV-01

US biotech Alnylam is taking another tack – it is developing an RNAi-based drug to attack respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is the most common cause of child hospitalisation in the developed world, and is also a big problem in both the elderly and adults with compromised immune systems. Although vaccines are in development, as yet none is on the market, and the effectiveness of existing drugs is limited. US biotech Alnylam is taking another tack – it is developing an RNAi-based drug to attack the virus.

The drug, ALN-RSV-01, is a short interfering RNA, or siRNA, that targets the nucleocapsid N gene of the RSV genome, thus preventing the synthesis of the viral nucleocapsid protein and interfering with the virus’s replication process.¹ In two single and multiple dose, randomised, dose escalation, observer blinded safety and tolerability studies, 101 healthy adults were given the drug or placebo.²

The drug was given intranasally and was well tolerated over a dose range up to 150mg, and as both single doses and in five daily do