jcder

Can MicroRNA Reverse Heart Disease?

It is true the RNAi therapeutics will impact targets other than their intended targets. Isn't that also true for any prospective drug? The key is to balance therapeutic benefits with their side effects. Don't forget that RNAi compounds of this type are frequently identical to endogenous molecules used for the similar purposes. In this sense, they are potentially safe to use therapeutically as they are ALREADY used for "natural" purposes.




On Dec 02 01:03 AM Jeff P wrote:

> There is one other glaring downfall of RNAi therapy that make your
> objections seem trivial - specificity. RNAi has been documented to
> not only silence its intended target, but multiple unintended targets
> as well. Sure, it may cure your heart disease, but how many other
> sequences of DNA is it silencing in the ~1 trillion cells of the
> human body.

Can MicroRNA Reverse Heart Disease?

1) the mouse model is just as complex as a pig or dog model, and just as applicable as an indicator of potential human results (where did you get your PhD, anyway?) 2) the current delivery method is the only one that currently works, but that will change sooner or later, i.e. by transfection via an otherwise inert virus. To say that it is a "terrible" drug when it shows such promise is to miss the point. Of course it will be years, even decades, before drugs of this type hit the market. Their potential, though, is astonishing.