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Updated: Jul 19, 2025

MISSION esiRNA for RNAi Screening in Mammalian Cells
Published on: May 12, 2010
25 years of maturation: A systematic review of RNAi in the clinic
Ida Juhl Corydon1, Bjørn Kristensen Fabian-Jessing1,2, Thomas Stax Jakobsen1,2
1Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 10, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Abstract:
The year 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the discovery of RNAi. RNAi-based therapeutics enable sequence-specific gene knockdown by eliminating target RNA molecules through complementary base-pairing. A systematic review of published and ongoing clinical trials was performed. Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase were searched from January 1, 1998, to December 30, 2022 for clinical trials using RNAi. Following inclusion, data from the articles were extracted according to a predefined protocol. A total of 90 trials published in 81 articles were included. In addition, ongoing clinical trials were retrieved from ClinicalTrials.gov, resulting in the inclusion of 48 trials. We investigated how maturation of RNAi-based therapeutics and developments in delivery platforms, administration routes, and potential targets shape the current landscape of clinically applied RNAi. Notably, most contemporary clinical trials used either N-acetylgalactosamine delivery and subcutaneous administration or lipid nanoparticle delivery and intravenous administration. In conclusion, RNAi therapeutics have gained great momentum during the past decade, resulting in five approved therapeutics targeting the liver for treatment of severe diseases, and the trajectory depicted by the ongoing trials emphasizes that even more RNAi-based medicines also targeting extra-hepatic tissues are likely to be available in the years to come.
Insights
RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics, enabling sequence-specific gene knockdown, have seen significant advancement. The landscape shows increasing clinical applications and development towards targeting extra-hepatic tissues.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Genetics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics offer precise gene knockdown by targeting RNA molecules via complementary base-pairing.
- 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of RNAi discovery, highlighting its therapeutic potential.
- The field has evolved significantly, with advancements in delivery systems and clinical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review published and ongoing clinical trials of RNAi-based therapeutics.
- To analyze the current landscape of clinically applied RNAi, focusing on therapeutic maturation, delivery platforms, administration routes, and targets.
- To understand the trajectory and future potential of RNAi therapeutics.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase databases was conducted for clinical trials from January 1, 1998, to December 30, 2022.
- Data extraction followed a predefined protocol for 90 published trials (from 81 articles).
- Ongoing clinical trials were identified from ClinicalTrials.gov, adding 48 trials to the analysis.
Main Results:
- A total of 90 published and 48 ongoing clinical trials utilizing RNAi were included.
- Contemporary trials predominantly employ N-acetylgalactosamine delivery with subcutaneous administration or lipid nanoparticle delivery with intravenous administration.
- Five RNAi therapeutics targeting the liver for severe diseases have been approved.
Conclusions:
- RNAi therapeutics have demonstrated substantial growth over the last decade.
- The increasing number of ongoing trials suggests a promising future for RNAi-based medicines.
- Future developments are expected to expand RNAi therapeutic applications beyond hepatic tissues.
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