Accell siRNA Simplifies Delivery to Cells and Significantly Improves
Effectiveness of RNAi in Key Life Sciences Applications
WALTHAM, Mass., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thermo Fisher
Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science, has
developed a breakthrough gene-silencing tool that greatly simplifies RNA-
interference (RNAi) technology and eliminates barriers associated with
previous cellular delivery methods. The advance is expected to accelerate
research and drug discovery in many important life sciences fields,
including neuroscience, immunology, stem-cell science and oncology.
Thermo Scientific Dharmacon Accell(TM) siRNA is a novel form of short-
interfering RNA (siRNA) that is absorbed directly by cells without the use
of conventional delivery methods such as transfection reagents, viruses or
electroporation. Dharmacon Accell siRNA effectively silences genes in all
cell types tested to date.
RNAi is a powerful technology used to silence, or knock down, target
genes and the proteins they produce, revealing their role in biological
pathways and disease processes. Understanding gene function is critical for
the development of drugs targeting those genes.
"Previous technologies for delivering siRNA into difficult cell types,
such as primary cells, suspension cells, stem cells and neurons, were often
ineffective and resulted in high levels of cell death," said Dr. Ian
Jardine, vice president of global research and development for Thermo
Fisher Scientific. "Dharmacon Accell is the only siRNA molecule that has
been able to penetrate every cell type we have tested -- without the need
for delivery reagents that can skew experimental results. With Dharmacon
Accell siRNA and our Dharmacon SMARTvector shRNA advancement, scientists
now have an effective RNAi tool set for biomedical and pharmaceutical
research that will have broad implications for human health."
Dharmacon Accell siRNA is simply mixed with the optimized Accell
delivery media, then added to cultured cells. It is an easy two-step
process that saves researchers significant time in their laboratories and
avoids the experimental variability caused by toxicity and off-target
effects of conventional siRNA delivery methods.
"There is often a narrow window of conditions in which conventional
siRNA delivery is effective. Dharmacon Accell siRNA achieves highly
efficient siRNA delivery for gene silencing without the need for
optimization," explained Jardine. "In addition, the elimination of delivery
reagents, along with the associated non-specific effects, greatly
simplifies the interpretation of RNAi experiments."
Preliminary studies also suggest that long-term silencing of up to 30
days can now be achieved through repeated application of Dharmacon Accell
siRNA -- previously not possible with conventional synthetic siRNA
reagents.
Visit http://www.thermo.com/dharmacon to purchase, or for more information on
Thermo Scientific Dharmacon Accell siRNA.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in
serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier,
cleaner and safer. With annual revenues of $10 billion, we have more than
30,000 employees and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and
biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities,
research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and
industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier
brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical
challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo
Scientific offers customers a complete range of high-end analytical
instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services,
consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow
solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory
equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific
research, safety and education. Together, we offer the most convenient
purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our technologies
to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers
and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike. Visit
http://www.thermofisher.com.
Media Contact Information: Investor Contact Information:
Lori Gorski Ken Apicerno
Phone: 781-622-1242 Phone: 781-622-1111
E-mail: lori.gorski@thermofisher.com E-mail: ken.apicerno@thermofisher.com
Website: http://www.thermofisher.com
SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.thermo.com/dharmacon
http://www.thermofisher.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/877850.html /
CONTACT:
Media, Lori Gorski, +1-781-622-1242,
lori.gorski@thermofisher.com, or Investors, Ken Apicerno,
+1-781-622-1111, ken.apicerno@thermofisher.com, both of Thermo
Fisher Scientific Inc.
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