LifeTech Capital Positive On Marina Biotech (MRNA)

LifeTech Capital is positive on Marina Biotech MRNA, and rates shares at "Strong Speculative Buy." It has a $2.50 price target on shares. In a note to clients, LifeTech writes, "Marina Biotech announced the publication of data for their DiLA2-based delivery technology for systemic administration of siRNAs in the latest issue of Molecular Therapy. The paper titled “An Amino Acid-based Amphoteric Liposomal Delivery System for Systemic Administration of siRNA” describes the development of an amphoteric DiLA2 delivery system which enabled efficient knockdown of multiple targets in liver. One of the DiLA2-based delivery formulations administered systemically, resulted in >80% knockdown of ApoB, TTR, Factor VII and PCSK9 messenger RNA (mRNA) with a single 2 mg/kg dose. The ED50 (effective dose in 50% of population) values for knockdown of these mRNAs ranged from 0.1 to 0.25 mg/kg. The formulation was well tolerated with single and multiple dose regimens. Importantly, frozen DiLA2-based formulations demonstrated physical and chemical stability for greater than one year, a necessary attribute for developing liposomal-based siRNA drug products." Shares of MRNA closed at 55 cents yesterday.