Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Leibensperger, Edward P., J.

This is an alleged misappropriation of trade secrets case. The parties are biotechnology companies located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Both companies are involved in the research, development and commercialization of therapeutics utilizing RNA interference (“RNAi”). Short interfering RNA (“siRNA") can be used to “silence” disease-causing genes using the RNAi mechanism. The parties’ factual contentions involve highly complex issues concerning molecular biology and nucleic acid chemistry.

Both Alnylam and Dicerna bid to purchase the assets, including the intellectual…