Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company, engages in the discovery and development of novel synthetic DNA- and RNA- based drug candidates. It is developing drug candidates designed to modulate immune responses mediated through Toll-like Receptors (TLRs); and evaluating gene silencing oligonucleotides (GSOs), which inhibit the production of disease-associated proteins by targeting RNA. The company focuses on developing products for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Its autoimmune and inflammatory disease programs include IMO-3100, an antagonist of TLR7 and TLR9, which has completed Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of psoriasis; and IMO-8400, an antagonist of TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 that is in Phase I clinical trials for the treatment of psoriasis/lupus. The company's cancer program comprises IMO-2055, which has completed Phase Ib clinical trials for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer; and has completed Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of squamous cell, head and neck, and colorectal cancer. It is also developing IMO-2134 that has completed Phase I clinical trials to treat asthma and allergy. In addition, the company's research candidates include IMO-4200 for hematologic malignancies; and TLR3 Agonists for infectious diseases and other applications, as well as gene silencing oligonucleotides for inhibition of gene expression by targeting RNA. The company has license agreement with Merck KGaA to research, develop, and commercialize products containing its TLR9 agonists for the treatment of cancer; and license and research collaboration agreement with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. to research, develop, and commercialize vaccine products containing its TLR7, 8, and 9 agonists in the fields of cancer, infectious diseases, and Alzheimer's disease. Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.