Marina Biotech Receives Notice of Allowance for U.S. Patent Related to Its Lipid Based Nucleic Acid Drug Delivery Platform

BOTHELL, WA--(Marketwire - Feb 22, 2012) - Marina Biotech, Inc. (OTCQX: MRNA), a leading nucleic acid-based drug discovery and development company, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance for patent application U.S. 10/505,107 with claims that broadly cover a library of nucleic acid delivery lipids related to its SMARTICLES® delivery technology. The SMARTICLES delivery technology has been licensed to ProNAi Therapeutics, Inc. for delivery of single-stranded oligonucleotide therapeutics and to Mirna Therapeutics, Inc. for delivery of double-stranded microRNA mimics. The company's library of patent protected delivery compounds includes both DiLA² and SMARTICLES-based compounds, such as sterol derivatives and two-tailed lipids.

"Our extensive library of delivery compounds provides a large and diverse chemistry space within which we can develop specific delivery formulations tailored to a nucleic acid payload, gene target, and therapeutic indication," stated Richard Ho, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Research and Development at Marina Biotech. "Combined with the company's proprietary method for screening large numbers of lipids as well as liposomal compositions, we can quickly identify potent and well tolerated formulations for lead selection. This provides us with a unique ability to offer partners a broad approach to nucleic acid drug discovery and development. We are currently applying our delivery technologies, both DiLA² and SMARTICLES, in both in-house preclinical efforts as well as through licensing collaborations with The Debiopharm Group and Mirna Therapeutics respectively. This patent is part of our larger global portfolio of delivery compound patents, which ensures the broadest patent protection available to us for our nucleic acid delivery development efforts."

About Marina Biotech, Inc.
Marina Biotech is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics utilizing multiple mechanisms of action including RNA interference (RNAi) and messenger RNA translational blocking. The Marina Biotech pipeline currently includes a clinical program in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (a precancerous syndrome) and two preclinical programs -- in bladder cancer and malignant ascites. Marina Biotech entered into an exclusive agreement with The Debiopharm Group for the development and commercialization of the bladder cancer program. In addition, Marina Biotech has entered into an agreement with Mirna Therapeutics to license Marina Biotech's SMARTICLES^® technology for the delivery of Mirna Therapeutics' microRNA mimics. Marina Biotech's goal is to improve human health through the development of RNAi- and oligonucleotide-based compounds and drug delivery technologies that together provide superior therapeutic options for patients. Additional information about Marina Biotech is available at http://www.marinabio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this news release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Federal Securities laws that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the ability of Marina Biotech to obtain additional funding; (ii) the ability of Marina Biotech to attract and/or maintain manufacturing, research, development and commercialization partners; (iii) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to successfully complete product research and development, including preclinical and clinical studies and commercialization; (iv) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to obtain required governmental approvals; and (v) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to develop and commercialize products prior to, and that can compete favorably with those of, competitors. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements are contained in Marina Biotech's most recent periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Marina Biotech assumes no obligation to update and supplement forward-looking statements because of subsequent events.