RNA Interference: A revolution in drug development

RNA interference (RNAi) or gene silencing technology is a phenomenon by which double stranded RNAs elicit degradation of a target mRNA containing homologous sequence. It is essentially a new incarnation of well-established antisense principle. This technology enables the researchers to trigger post-transcriptional gene silencing in vivo. It is a robust method for lowering specific protein levels, compared to traditional techniques such as antisense, ribozymes or microinjection of function-blocking antibodies. RNAi offers a powerful tool for ascribing functions to genes while its application to in vivo models of disease opens up tremendous opportunities to develop a novel generation of oligonucleotide-based drugs, thus offering an enormous potential of being developed as a therapeutic modality.