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ARTICLE · 24 FEBRUARY 2025

Patent examination shift for siRNA drugs in China

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Shift in patent examination practice for siRNA drugs to a more case-specific assessment.

ChinaIntellectual Property
Siqi Wang
Siqi Wang
Xiaoli Liu
Xiaoli Liu
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With the rapid expansion of siRNA research and application worldwide, the number of patent applications has also surged. An analysis of prosecution history of various siRNA patent applications in China shows there has been a shift in patent examination practice for siRNA drugs to a more case-specific assessment.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA), also known as short interfering RNA or silencing RNA, is a class of double-stranded non-coding RNA molecules, typically 20-24 base pairs in length. It knocks down expression of specific genes by binding and degrading messenger RNA (mRNA).

As a result, siRNA-based therapies have emerged as potent therapeutic approach to treat human diseases by reducing or inhibiting the abnormal expression of disease-causing genes.

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