Tekmira readying release of clinical data

Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (TSX: TKM) is on track to release data from its highly anticipated Phase 1 clinical trial for its lead product ApoB SNALP in the first quarter next year, CEO Dr. Mark Murray said in the third quarter report.

The Vancouver-based company has leading edge technology in the area of RNA-interference and ApoB SNALP is being developed as a treatment for people with high levels of “bad” cholesterol.  Tekmira also expects to advance its second product candidate PLK1 SNALP as a treatment for cancer into human clinical trials in the second half of 2010.

Referring to partnership accords with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Roche, Dr. Murray said “we continued to earn significant revenue from our pharmaceutical partners who are advancing products enabled by our leading RNA-interference delivery technology.”

At the same time, the company is “conservatively managing (its) expenses” and has extended its cash resources into the second half of 2011, he added.