WO2018185252A1 - Nucleic acid conjugates - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to nucleic acid-carbohydrate conjugate compounds. The invention further relates to compositions comprising said conjugates and their use in medicine, research and diagnostics. The novel conjugate compounds may be used in the treatment of many diseases including central-nervous-system diseases, inflammatory diseases, metabolic disorders, genetic and inherited diseases, oncology, infectious diseases, and ocular disease.

Description

NUCLEIC ACID CONJUGATES

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to novel nucleic acid conjugate compounds. The invention further relates to compositions comprising said conjugates and their use in medicine, research and diagnostics. The novel conjugate compounds may be used in the treatment of many diseases including central-nervous-system, diseases, inflammatory diseases, metabol ic disorders, genetic and inherited diseases, oncology, infectious diseases, and ocular disease.

Background of the Invention

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA ) has been shown to block gene expression (Fire et al., 1998 and Elbashir et al., 2001) and this has been termed RNA interference or "KNAi", mediated by interfering RNA molecules (iRNA). Short dsRNA directs gene-specific, post -transcriptional silencing in many organisms, including vertebrates, and has provided a new tool for studying gene function. RNAi is mediated by RNA-induced silencing complex ( RISC ), a sequence- specific, mult i-component nuclea.sc that destroys messenger RNAs homologous to the silencing trigger. RNAis ( interfering RNA) such as si RNA (short interfering RNA), anti.sense RNA, and micro-RNA are oligonucleotides that prevent the format ion of proteins by gene-silencing i.e. inhibit ing translat ion of the protein. Gene-silencing agents are becoming increasingly important for therapeutic applicat ions in medicine.

Thus, means for efficient delivery of oligonucleotides, in particular double stranded siRNAs, to cells in vivo is becoming increasingly important and requires specific targeting and substant ial protection from the extracel lular environment, particularly serum proteins. One method of achiev ing specific targeting is to conjugate a targeting moiety to the RNAi duplex agent. The targeting moiety helps in targeting the RNAi duplex agent to the required target site and there is a need to design appropriate targeting moieties for the desired receptor sites for the conjugated molecules to be taken up by the ceils such as by endocytosis.

For example, the as i a log! y coprote i n receptor (ASGPR) is a high capacity receptor, which is highly abundant on hepatocytes. One of the first disclosures of triantennary cluster glycosides was in US patent number US 5,885,968. Conjugates having three GalNAc ligands and comprising phosphate groups are known and are described in Dubber et al. (2003). The ASGPR shows a 50-fold higher affinity for N-Acetyl-D-Galactosylamine (GalNAc) than D- Gal.

Hepatocytes expressing the Lectin ASGPR, which recognizes specifically terminal β- galactosyl subunits of glycosylated proteins or other oligosaccharides (P. 1 1. Weigel et. al., 2002,) can be used for targeting a drug to the liver by covalent coupling of galactose or galactosamine to the drug substance (S. Ishibashi, et. al. 1994). Furthermore the binding affinity can be significantly increased by the mult i- valency effect, which is achieved by the repetition of the targeting unit (E. A. L. Biessen et. al, 1995).

The ASGPR is a mediator for an active endosomal transport of terminal β-galactosyl containing glycoproteins, thus ASGPR is highly suitable for targeted delivery of drug candidates like siRNA, which have to be delivered into a cell (Akinc et al.).

However, targeting ligands developed so far do not always translate to in vivo setting and there is a clear need for more efficacious receptor specific ligand conjugated RNAi duplex agents and methods for their preparation for the in vivo delivery of oligonucleotide therapeutics, nucleic acids and double stranded siRNAs. The present inv ention attempts to address these needs.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid conjugate compound having a targeting ligand such as an N-acetyl galactosamine ligand. These conjugate compounds have been shown to have improved potency in vivo. In addition, the conjugate groups are easy to prepare.

The present invention relates to, as a first aspect, a conjugate for inhibiting expression of a target gene in a cell, said conjugate comprising a nucleic acid portion attached to a ligand portion, wherein said nucleic acid portion comprises; a first strand and a shorter second strand, wherein said first strand is (i) at least partially complementary to at least a portion of RNA transcribed from said target gene, and (ii) at least partially complementary to said second strand, wherein said first and second strand together form a molecule comprising a double stranded and a single stranded region, wherein the double stranded region is 8 to 20 nucleotides long, wherein the single stranded region is 1 to 12 nucleotides long and which single stranded region is part of the first strand, present at the 3 ' end of the first strand, wherein at least 40% of the nucleotides in the nucleic acid portion are modified and wherein the ligand portion comprises one or more carbohydrate moieties.

As used herein, the first strand may be referred to as the antisense strand and the second strand may be referred to as the sense strand. The terms first strand and antisense strand or second strand and sense strand should be treated as interchangeable.

The ligand portion of the conjugate of the first aspect may be conjugated exclusively at the 3 ' end or 5' end of a strand of the nucleic acid portion, such as at the 3' end or 5' end of the second strand. Suitably, the ligand portion of the conjugate of the first aspect is conjugated exclusively at the 3 ' end of the second strand. Suitably, the ligand portion of the conjugate of the first aspect is conjugated exclusively at the 5 ' end of the second strand. Suitably, the 3 ' and 5' ends of the first strand are not conjugated.

Preferably, there is no conjugation of the ligand portion to the nucleic acid portion other than to the nucleotide at the end of a strand of the nucleic acid portion, such as at the 3' or 5' end of the second strand.

The conjugate of the first aspect may have a carbohydrate moiety which comprises a saccharide moiety.

The conjugate of the first aspect may have a carbohydrate moiety which comprises an N- acetyl galactosamine moiety.

The conjugate of the first aspect may have a ligand that includes a linker, which linker links the nucleic acid portion to the N-acetyl galactosamine.

The nucleic acid conjugate of the first aspect may have no nucleic acid strand which forms a hairpin structure. In the conjugate of the first aspect, the double stranded region may be from 8 to 20 nucleotides in length, for example 13 to 16 e.g. 14 to 16 nucleotides in length. Suitably, the double stranded region may be 13 nucleotides in length.

In the conjugate, according to the first aspect, the double stranded region may have a blunt end or have a one or two nucleotide overhang.

In the conjugate of the first aspect, the single stranded region is 1 to 12 nucleotides in length, such as 4 to 8 nucleotides in length, suitably 5 to 6 nucleotides in length e.g. 6 nucleotides in length.

Thus, in the conjugate of the first aspect, the first strand may be from 9 to 32 nucleotides in length, such as 17 to 24 nucleotides in length, suitably 19 to 22 nucleotides in length e.g. 19 nucleotides in length.

Additionally, in the conjugate of the first aspect, the second strand may be 8 to 20 nucleotides in length, for example 13 to 16 e.g. 14 to 16 nucleotides in length. Suitably, the second strand may be 13 nucleotides in length.

Thus, in an embodiment, the double stranded region is 13 nucleotides in length and/or wherein the single stranded region is 6 nucleotides in length.

Additionally, in the conjugate of the first aspect, the double stranded region is 15 nucleotides in length and/or wherein the single stranded region is 4 nucleotides in length.

In the conjugate, according to the invention, each nucleic acid molecule in the single strand may have a phosphorothioate modification.

Suitably, each nucleotide in the nucleic acid portion may be linked to the neighbouring nucleotide by a phosphorothioate linkage.

Suitably, at least six nucleotides (such as six nucleotides) in a strand of the nucleic acid portion are linked by a phosphorothioate linkage, such as the terminal six nucleotides of at least one strand of the nucleic acid portion. Suitably, at least six nucleotides in the single stranded region are linked by a phosphorothioate linkage. The conjugate of the first aspect may have a single stranded region which has at least 3 phosphorothioate modifications e.g. 3 to 6 phosphorothioate modifications. Suitably, the terminal six nucleotides at the 3' end of the antisense strand are linked by a phosphorothioate linkage.

The terminal two nucleotides in a strand of the nucleic acid portion may be linked by a phosphorothioate linkage. Suitably, terminal two nucleotides of each strand in the double stranded region are linked by a phosphorothioate linkage. In an aspect, the terminal two nucleotides at the 5' end of the antisense strand are linked by a phosphorothioate linkage. In an aspect, the terminal two nucleotides at the 5 ' end of the sense strand are linked by a phosphorothioate linkage. In an aspect, the terminal two nucleotides at the 3' end of the sense strand are linked by a phosphorothioate linkage. In the conjugate, of the invention, the first strand may be fully complementary to a portion of R A transcribed from said target gene.

In the conjugate of the first aspect, the nucleic acid portion is attached to the ligand by a cleavable bond.

In the conjugate of the invention, position 1 of the first strand may be 5' phosphorylated and optionally 2' O-methyl modified.

In the conjugate of the invention, at least 40% of C and U nucleotides in the double stranded region may have one 2' O-methyl modification or a 2' fluoro modification.

In the conjugate of the invention the double stranded region may be 15 nucleotides and/or the single stranded region may be 4 nucleotides. Suitably, the nucleic acid is RNA.

The conjugate of the invention may comprise monomeric ligands at one or more ends of a strand of the nucleic acid portion, may comprise dimeric ligands at one or more ends of a strand of the nucleic acid portion, may comprise trimeric ligands at one or more ends of a strand of the nucleic acid portion, or may comprise tetrameric ligands at one or more ends of a strand of the nucleic acid portion. Trimeric ligands are preferred. Suitably, the conjugate comprises a trimeric ligand at one of the ends of the second strand, such as the 5 ' end of the second strand. Preferably there is no ligand conjugated at the 5 ' end of the first strand. The conjugate, according to the first aspect, may have a ligand which comprises the formula I:

wherein:

S represents a saccharide;

X¹ represents C3-C6 alkylene or (-CH2-CH2-0)_m(-CH2)2- wherein m is 1 , 2, or 3;

P is a modified phosphate;

X² is alkylene or an alkylene ether of the formula (-CH2)_n-0-CH2- where n = 1 - 6;

A is a branching unit;

X³ represents a bridging unit;

Z is the point of attachment to the nucleic acid portion; and where the linkage between X³ and Z is a phosphate or thiophosphate.

The connection to Z may be at the 3 ' or 5 ' end of a strand of the nucleic acid portion, suitably at the 3 ' or 5 ' end of the second strand e.g. the 5 ' end of the second strand.

Thus, a conjugate of the invention may comprise formula (I):

wherein S represents a saccharide;

X¹ represents C3-C6 alkylene or (-CH2-CH2-0)_m(-CH2)2- wherein m is 1 , 2, or 3;

P is a modified phosphate;

X² is alkylene or an alkylene ether of the formula (-CH2)_n-0-CH2- where n = 1 - 6;

A is a branching unit;

X³ represents a bridging unit; Z is the nucleic acid portion;

and where the linkage between X³ and Z is a phosphate or thiophosphate.

The conjugate of the first aspect may have a ligand which comprises

wherein O- indicates the point of attachment to a strand of the nucleic acid portion.

Alternatively, the conjugate may have a ligand which comprises:

wherein O- indicates the point of attachment to the 3 ' end or 5 ' end of the second strand, such as the 5 ' end of the second strand.

Suitably, the ligand comprises:

wherein O- indicates the point of attachment at the 5 ' end of the second strand.

Alternatively, the conjugate may have a ligand which is or comprises:

wherein Y is O or S, and O- indicates the point of attachment to a strand of the nucleic acid portion, particularly the point of attachment is the 3' end or 5' end of the second strand, such as at the 3 ' end of the second strand.

The conjugate, according to the first aspect, may have a second strand of formula (IV):

wherein c and d are independently 0 or 1 ;

wherein:

Z₂ is the RNA portion of the second R A strand;

Y is O or S;

Ri is H or methyl;

n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and

L is:

-(CH₂)r-C(0)-, wherein r = 2-12;

-(CH₂-CH₂-0)s-CH₂-C(0)-, wherein s = 1-5;

-(CH₂)t-CO-NH-(CH₂)t-NH-C(0)-, wherein t is independently is 1-5;

-(CH₂)u-CO-NH-(CH₂)u-C(0)-, wherein u is independently is 1-5; and

-(CH₂)v-NH-C(0)-, wherein v is 2-12; and wherein the terminal C(O) is attached to the NH group;

wherein c + d is 1.

A second aspect of the invention provides a composition comprising a conjugate of the first aspect, and a suitable carrier or excipient.

A third aspect of the invention provides a conjugate, of the first aspect, or a composition of the second aspect, for use in medicine.

The use may be for treating one or more of liver disease, genetic disease, hemophilia and bleeding disorder, liver fibrosis, non-alcoholic steotohepatitis (NASH), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), viral hepatitis, rare diseases (e.g. acromegaly), metabolic diseases (e.g. hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia), cardiovascular diseases, obesity, hemochromatosis, thalassemia, liver injury, alcoholic liver diseases, alcohol dependence and/or anemia of chronic disease.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a method of inhibiting (in vitro or in vivo) the expression of a target gene in a mammalian cell, the method comprising contacting the mammalian cell with a conjugate according to the first aspect of the invention.

A fifth aspect of the invention includes method of inducing RNAi in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a conjugate of the first aspect of the invention.

The method according to the fourth and fifth aspects may be for use in the treatment of liver disease, genetic disease, hemophilia and bleeding disorder, liver fibrosis, non-alcoholic steotohepatitis (NASH), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), viral hepatitis, rare diseases (e.g. acromegaly), metabolic diseases (e.g. hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia), cardiovascular diseases, obesity, hemochromatosis, thalassemia, liver injury, alcoholic liver diseases, alcohol dependence and/or anemia of chronic disease in patient in need thereof, comprising administration of a conjugate according to the first aspect of the invention.

A sixth aspect of the invention relates to a method of making a conjugate of the first aspect, the method comprising adding components of the conjugate to form the conjugate. The nucleic acid may be selected from R Ai, siRNA, siNA, antisense nucleic acid, ribozymes, aptamers and spiegelmers. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the conjugate compound of formula I. The nucleic acid molecule includes a double stranded region that may function in RNA interference and a single stranded region that may function in antisense.

In the various aspects of the invention (unless the stated otherwise) the targeting ligand may be any carbohydrate or saccharide ligand appropriate for the cell to be targeted. In one preferred embodiment, the targeting ligand targets ASGP receptors, especially such receptors on liver cells. For example, the targeting ligand is or comprises a saccharide moiety such as galactose or GalNAc, preferably GalNAc.

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows the structure of conjugate STS23001V4L4.

Figure 2 shows the structure of conjugate STS23001V2L11.

Figure 3 shows the structure of conjugate STS2300V3L35. Figure 4 shows the synthesis of the second strand of STS23001 V4L4. mA, mU, mC, mG - 2'- OMe RNA; fA, fU, fC, fG - 2'-F RNA; (ps) - phosphorothioate.

Figure 5 shows the synthesis of the second strand of STS23001V2L11. mA, mU, mC, mG - 2'-OMe RNA; fA, fU, fC, fG - 2'-F RNA; (ps) - phosphorothioate.

Figure 6 shows the synthesis of the second strand of STS2300V3L35. mA, mU, mC, mG - 2'- OMe RNA; fA, fU, fC, fG - 2'-F RNA; (ps) - phosphorothioate.

Figure 7 shows the sequence of each example conjugate as well as reference conjugate STS23001L4. mA, mU, mC, mG - 2'-OMe RNA; fA, fU, fC, fG - 2'-F RNA; (ps) - phosphorothioate.

Figure 8 shows the in vitro activity of STS23001 V4L4 after delivery by liposomal transfection. Figure 9 shows the in vitro activity of GalNAc-conjugated compressed siRNA agents after receptor-mediated uptake.

Figure 10 shows the in vivo activity of GalNAc-conjugated compressed siRNA agents in mice. Detailed Description of the Invention

The definitions and explanations below are for the terms as used throughout this entire document including both the specification and the claims.

Unless specified otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings: "Conjugate" or "conjugate group" means an atom or group of atoms bound to an oligonucleotide or oligomeric compound. In general, conjugate groups modify one or more properties of the compound to which they are attached, including, but not limited to pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetic, binding, absorption, cellular distribution, cellular uptake, charge and/or clearance properties. "GalNAc" means N-acetyl galactosamine.

Cx-Cy alkyl refers to a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having x-y carbon atoms which may be linear or branched. For example C₁-C₆ alkyl and includes C₁, C₂, C₃, C₄, C₅ and C₆. "Branched" means that at least one carbon branch point is present in the group. For example, tert-butyl and isopropyl are both branched groups. Examples of C₁-C₆ alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, 2-methyl-l -propyl, 2-methyl-2-propyl, 2-methyl-l -butyl, 3 methyl- 1 -butyl, 2-methyl-3 -butyl, 2,2-dimethyl-l -propyl, 2-methyl-pentyl, 3-methyl-l-pentyl, 4-methyl-l-pentyl, 2-methyl-2-pentyl, 3-methyl-2-pentyl, 4-methyl-2-pentyl, 2,2-dimethyl-l - butyl, 3,3-dimethyl-l-butyl, 2-ethyl-l -butyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl and n-hexyl. This also applies for C₁-C₆ alkylene. Cx-Cy alkoxy refers to a group or part of a group having an -0-C_x_C_y alkyl group according to the definition of C_x_C_y alkyl above. C₁_C₃ alkoxy contains from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and includes C₁, C₂ and C₃. Examples of C₁_C₃ alkoxy include methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy and isopropoxy. Alkoxy as employed herein also extends to embodiments in which the or an oxygen atom (e.g. a single oxygen atom) is located within the alkyl chain, for example CH₂CH₂OCH₃ or CH₂OCH₃. Thus the alkoxy may be linked through carbon to the remainder of the molecule, for example, -CH₂CH₂OCH₃, or alternatively, the alkoxy is linked through oxygen to the remainder of the molecule, for example -OC₁_₃ alkyl. In certain instances, the alkoxy may be linked through oxygen to the remainder of the molecule but the alkoxy group contains a further oxygen atom, for example -OCH₂CH₂OCH₃. The term "conjugated exclusively at the 3' and/or 5' end" means that the ligand may only be conjugated to the 3' ends and/or the 5' ends of one or both RNA strands, and excludes the possibility for the ligand to be conjugated to the oligonucleotide chain at any other location e.g. to a base.

The term "ligand" or "targeting ligand" refers to a moiety (or several moieties) such as a saccharide, such as a galactosamine derivative e.g. GalNAc which may be selected to have an affinity for at least one type of receptor on a target cell. In particular, the receptor is on the surface of a mammalian liver cell, for example, the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR). The term "monomeric ligand" means a ligand comprising only a single moiety which has affinity for at least one type of receptor on a target cell e.g. a single monosaccharide e.g. a single galactosamine derivative (e.g. GalNAc) moiety.

The term "dimeric ligand" means a ligand consisting of two moieties which have affinity for at least one type of receptor on a target cell e.g. a single monosaccharide e.g. a single galactosamine derivative (e.g. GalNAc) moiety.

The term "trimeric ligand" means a ligand consisting of three moieties which have affinity for at least one type of receptor on a target cell e.g. a single monosaccharide e.g. a single galactosamine derivative (e.g. GalNAc) moiety.

The term "tetrameric ligand" means a ligand consisting of four moieties which have affinity for at least one type of receptor on a target cell e.g. a single monosaccharide e.g. a single galactosamine derivative (e.g. GalNAc) moiety.

The term "nucleic acid" refers to molecules composed of monomeric nucleotides. A nucleic acid includes ribonucleic acids (RNA), deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA), single-stranded nucleic acids (ssDNA), double-stranded nucleic acids (dsDNA), small interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNA) and microRNAs (miRNA). A nucleic acid may also comprise any combination of these elements in a single molecule.

The term "treat" or "treating" or "treatment" may include prophylaxis and means to ameliorate, alleviate symptoms, eliminate the causation of the symptoms either on a temporary or permanent basis, or to prevent or slow the appearance of symptoms of the named disorder or condition. The compounds of the invention are useful in the treatment of humans and non- human animals.

By "effective amount" or "therapeutically effective amount" or "effective dose" is meant that amount sufficient to elicit the desired pharmacological or therapeutic effects, thus resulting in effective prevention or treatment of the disorder. Prevention of the disorder is manifested by delaying the onset of the symptoms of the disorder to a medically significant extent. Treatment of the disorder is manifested by a decrease in the symptoms associated with the disorder or an amelioration of the reoccurrence of the symptoms of the disorder.

A "pharmaceutical composition" or "composition" means a mixture of substances suitable for administering to an individual. For example, a pharmaceutical composition can comprise one or more active agents and a pharmaceutical carrier e.g. a sterile aqueous solution.

The ligand may comprise a saccharide moiety.

The ligand may comprise GalNAc.

The ligand may comprise a compound of formula I:

wherein:

S represents a saccharide;

X¹ represents C3-C6 alkylene or (-CH2-CH2-0)_m(-CH2)2- wherein m is 1 , 2, or 3; P is a modified phosphate;

X² is alkylene or an alkylene ether of the formula (-CH2)_N-0-CH2- where n = 1 - 6;

A is a branching unit;

X³ represents a bridging unit;

Z is the nucleic acid molecule; and where the linkage between X³ and Z is a phosphate or thiophosphate.

The connection to Z may be at the 3 ' or 5 ' end of a strand of the nucleic acid portion, suitably at the 3 ' or 5 ' end of the second strand e.g. the 5 ' end of the second strand.

In formula I, branching unit "A" branches into three in order to accommodate the three saccharide ligands. The branching unit is covalently attached to the tethered ligands and the nucleic acid. The branching unit may comprise a branched aliphatic group comprising groups selected from alkyl, amide, disulphide, polyethylene glycol, ether, thioether and hydroxyamino groups. The branching unit may comprise groups selected from alkyl and ether groups.

The branching unit A may have a structure selected from:

wherein each Ai independently represents O, S, C=0 or NH; and each n independently represents an integer from 1 to 20. The branching unit may have a structure selected from:

wherein each Ai independently represents O, S, C=0 or NH; and each n independently represents an integer from 1 to 20. The branching unit may have a structure selected from:

wherein Ai is O, S, C=0 or NH; and

each n independently represents an integer from 1 to 20.

The branching unit may have the structure:

The branching unit may have the structure:

The branching unit may have the structure:

Optionally, the branching unit consists of only a carbon atom. The "X³" portion of the compounds of formula I is a bridging unit. X³ may also be referred to as the conjugate linker. The bridging unit is linear and is covalently bound to the branching unit and the nucleic acid.

X³ may be selected from -C₁-C₂₀ alkylene-, -C2-C₂₀ alkenylene-, an alkylene ether of formula -(C₁-C₂₀ alkylene)-0-(C₁-C₂₀ alkylene)-, -C(0)-C₁-C₂₀ alkylene-, -C₀-C₄ alkylene(Cy)C₀-C₄ alkylene- wherein Cy represents a substituted or unsubstituted 5 or 6 membered cycloalkylene, arylene, heterocyclylene or heteroarylene ring, -C₁-C₄ alkylene-NHC(0)-C₁-C₄ alkylene-, -C₁- C₄ alkylene-C(0)NH-C₁-C₄ alkylene-, -C₁-C₄ alkylene-SC(0)-C₁-C₄ alkylene-, -C₁-C₄ alkylene-C(0)S-C₁-C₄ alkylene-, -C₁- C₄ alkylene-OC(0)-C₁-C₄ alkylene-, -C₁-C₄ alkylene- C(0)0-C₁-C₄ alkylene-, and -C₁-C₆ alkylene-S-S-C₁-C₆ alkylene-.

X³ may be an alkylene ether of formula -(C₁-C₂₀ alkylene)-0-(C₁-C₂₀ alkylene)-. X³ may be an alkylene ether of formula -(C₁-C₂₀ alkylene)-0-(C₄-C₂₀ alkylene)-, wherein said (C₄-C₂₀ alkylene) is linked to Z. X³ may be selected from the group consisting of -CH2-O-C3H6-, -CH₂- O-C₄H8-, -CH₂-0-C₆H₁₂- and -CH₂-0-C₈H₁₆-, especially -CH₂-0-C₄H₈-, -CH₂-0-C₆H₁₂- and - CH2-O-C8H16-, wherein in each case the -CH₂- group is linked to A.

The ligand may comprise a compound of formula (II):

wherein:

S represents a saccharide; X¹ represents C3-C6 alkylene or (-CH2-CH2-0)_m(-CH2)2- wherein m is 1, 2, or 3;

P is a modified phosphate; X² is C₁-C8 alkylene;

A is a branching unit selected from:

X³ is a bridging unit;

Z is the nucleic acid; and where the linkage between X³ and Z is a phosphate or thiophosphate. Branching unit A may have the structure:

Branching unit A may have the structure:

wherein X³ is attached to the nitrogen atom.

X³ may be C₁-C₂₀ alkylene. Preferably, X³ is selected from the group consisting of -C₃H₆-, C₄H8-, -C₆H₁₂- and -C₈H₁₆-, especially -C₄H₈- -C₆H₁₂- and -C₈H₁₆-.

The ligand may comprise a compound of formula (III):

wherein:

S represents a saccharide; X¹ represents C3-C6 alkylene or (-CH2-CH2-0)_m(-CH2)2- wherein m is 1, 2, or 3;

P is a modified phosphate; X² is an alkylene ether of formula -C3H6-O-CH2-; A is a branching unit;

X³ is an alkylene ether of formula selected from the group consisting of -CH2-O-CH2-, -CH₂- O-C2H4-, -CH2-O-C3H6-, -CH2-O-C₄H8-, -CH₂-0-C₅H₁₀-, -CH2-O-C6H12-, -CH2-O-C7H14-, and -CH2-O-C8H16-, wherein in each case the -CH₂- group is linked to A,

Z is the nucleic acid; and wherein the linkage between X³ and Z is a phosphate or thiophosphate

The branching unit may comprise carbon. Preferably, the carbon unit is carbon.

X³ may be selected from the group consisting of -CH2-O-C₄H8-, -CH2-O-C5H10-, -CH2-O- C₆H₁₂-, -CH2-O-C7H14-, and -CH2-O-C8H16-. Preferably, X³ is selected from the group consisting of -CH₂-0-C₄H₈-, -CH₂-0-C₆H₁₂- and -CH2-0-C₈H₁₆.

For any of the above aspects, P represents a modified phosphate group. P can be represented by:

wherein Y¹ and Y² each independently represent =0, =S, -O-, -OH, -SH, -BH₃, -OCH2CO2, - OCH₂C0₂R^x, -OCH₂C(S)OR^x, and -OR^x, wherein R^x represents C₁-C₆ alkyl and wherein indicates attachment to the remainder of the compound.

For example, Y¹ may represent -OH and Y² may represent =0 or =S; or Y¹ may represent -O- and Y² may represent =0 or =S; Y¹ may represent =0 and Y² may represent -CH₃, -SH, -OR^x, or -BH₃ Y¹ may represent =S and Y² may represent -CH₃, OR^x or -SH. It will be understood by the skilled person that in certain instances there will be delocalisation between Y¹ and Y².

Preferably, the modified phosphate group is a thiophosphate group. Thiophosphate groups include bithiophosphate (i.e. where Y¹ represents =S and Y² represents -S-) and

monothiophosphate (i.e. where Y¹ represents -O- and Y² represents =S, or where Y¹ represents =0 and Y² represents -S-). Preferably, P is a monothiophosphate. The inventors have found that conjugates having thiophosphate groups in replacement of phosphate groups have improved potency and duration of action in vivo.

P may also be an ethylphosphate (i.e. where Y¹ represents =0 and Y² represents OCH2CH3). The saccharide, which can also be referred to as the ligand, may be selected to have an affinity for at least one type of receptor on a target cell. In particular, the receptor is on the surface of a mammalian liver cell, for example, the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR).

For any of the above aspects, the saccharide may be selected from N-acetyl derivatives with one or more of galactosamine, mannose, galactose, glucose, glucosamine and fructose.

More generally, the saccharide may, for example, be or comprise a saccharide selected from galactosamine, mannose, galactose, glucose, glucosamine, fucose and fructose and derivatives thereof such as N-acetyl derivatives thereof. Preferably, the saccharide is an N- acetyl derivative of galactosamine, mannose, galactose, glucose, glucosamine, fucose and fructose, such as galactosamine. In an embodiment, the saccharide is two molecules of N- acetyl galactosamine (GalNAc). The compounds of the invention may have 3 ligands which are each preferably N-acetyl galactosamine.

"GalNAc" refers to 2-(Acetylamino)-2-deoxy-D- galactopyranose, commonly referred to in the literature as N-acetyl galactosamine. Reference to "GalNAc" or "N-acetyl

galactosamine" includes both the beta- form: 2-(Acetylamino)-2-deoxy-beta -D- galactopyranose and the alpha- form: 2-(Acetylamino)-2-deoxy-alpha-D- galactopyranose. In certain embodiments, both the beta-form: 2-(Acetylarnino)-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranose and alpha- form: 2-(Acetylamino)-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranose may be used

interchangeably. Preferably, the compounds of the invention comprise the beta- form, 2- (Acetylamino)-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranose.

2-(Acetylamino)-2-deoxy-D-galactopyranose

2-(Acetylamino)-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranose

2-(Acetylamino)-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranose

The "X'-P-X²" portion of the compounds of the present invention may also be referred to as the tether or linker. The linker comprises a linear group and is covalently attached to the saccharide ligand and the branching unit. For any of the above compounds of formula (III), X¹ may be an ethylene glycol stem (-CH₂- CH₂-0)_m(-CH₂)₂- wherein m is 1, 2, or 3. X¹ may be (-CH₂-CH₂-0)(-CH₂)₂-. X¹ may be (- CH₂-CH₂-0)₂(-CH₂)₂-. X¹ may be (-CH₂-CH₂-0)₃(-CH₂)₂-. Preferably, X¹ is (-CH₂-CH₂- 0)₂(-CH₂)₂-. Alternatively, X¹ represents C₃-C₆ alkylene. X¹ may be propylene. X¹ may be butylene. X¹ may be pentylene. X¹ may be hexylene. Preferably the alkyl is a linear alkylene. In particular, X¹ may be butylene. For compounds of formula (III), X² represents an alkylene ether of formula -C3H6-O-CH2- i.e. C₃ alkoxy methylene, or -CH2CH2CH2OCH2-.

The ligand may comprise or be the conjugate compound having the structure:

wherein Z is the nucleic acid. The connection to Z is at the 5 ' end of the second strand.

In another embodiment, the nucleic acid portion or the nucleic acid portion of a strand may be attached to a targeting ligand (e.g. saccharide) via a serinol-derived linker moiety. A "serinol- derived linker moiety" means the linker moiety comprises the following structure:

An O atom of said structure typically links to an RNA strand and the N atom typically links to the targeting ligand.

The moiety may comprise other groups such as methyl groups, such as a methyl group, for example a methyl group in the alpha-position:

The moiety may comprise a further linker group such as group L defined below, interposed between the N atom of the serinol-derived linker moiety and the targeting ligand. A further linker may also be present interposed between an O atom of the serinol-derived linker moiety and the RNA strand.

Serinol derived linker moieties may be based on serinol in any stereochemistry i.e. derived from L-serine isomer, D-serine isomer, a racemic serine or other combination of isomers. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the serinol-GalNAc moiety (SerGN) has the following stereochemistry:

i.e. is based on an (S)-serinol-amidite or (S)-serinol succinate solid supported building block derived from L-serine isomer.

In respect of the serinol-derived linkers of formula (IV), the ligands may be monomeric or multimeric (e.g. dimeric, trimeric, etc.).

Suitably, the ligands may be trimeric ligands wherein the ligand portions comprise only three moieties which have affinity for at least one type of receptor on a target cell e.g. three Gal Ac moieties.

Alternatively, the ligands are monomeric, thus containing a single targeting ligand moiety, e.g. a single GalNAc moiety.

The ligands may be dimeric ligands wherein the ligand portions comprise only two moieties which have affinity for at least one type of receptor on a target cell e.g. two GalNAc moieties.

The ligands may be tetrameric ligands wherein the ligand portions comprise only four moieties which have affinity for at least one type of receptor on a target cell e.g. four GalNAc moieties. In any of the above structures, suitably the ligands are selected from GalNAc and galactose moieties, especially GalNAc moieties e.g. GalNAc. Alternatively, GalNAc may be replaced by another targeting ligand, e.g. a saccharide.

The three serinol-derived linker moieties may be linked in series e.g. as shown below:

wherein n is 2; Y is S or O; the remaining part of the ligand and linker is attached to NH- and O- indicates positions of terminal hydroxyl group or connection to the oligonucleotide via a phosphorothioate or phosphoroate linkage.

Suitably, the conjugated RNA strands are conjugated to a targeting ligand via a serinol-derived linker moiety including a further linker wherein the further linker is or comprises a saturated, unbranched or branched C_1-15 alkyl chain, wherein optionally one or more carbons (for example 1, 2 or 3 carbons, suitably 1 or 2, in particular 1) is/are replaced by a heteroatom selected from O, N, S(0)p, wherein p is 0, 1 or 2 (for example a CH₂ group is replaced with O, or with NH, or with S, or with S0₂ or a -CH₃ group at the terminus of the chain or on a branch is replaced with OH or with NH₂) wherein said chain is optionally substituted by one or more oxo groups (for example 1 to 3, such as 1 group).

More suitably, the further linker comprises a saturated, unbranched C_1-15 alkyl chain wherein one or more carbons (for example 1, 2 or 3 carbons, suitably 1 or 2, in particular 1) is/are replaced by an oxygen atom.

More suitably, the further linker comprises a PEG-chain.

More suitably, the further linker comprises a saturated, unbranched C_1-15 alkyl chain.

More suitably, the further linker comprises a saturated, unbranched C₁-₆ alkyl chain.

More suitably, the further linker comprises a saturated, unbranched C₄ or C₆ alkyl chain, e.g. a C₄ alkyl chain.

Thus, in an embodiment, the conjugate, according to the first aspect, may have a second strand of formula (IV):

wherein c and d are independently 0 or 1 ;

wherein:

Z₂ is the RNA portion of the second RNA strand;

Y is O or S;

Ri is H or methyl;

n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and

L is:

-(CH₂)r-C(0)-, wherein r = 2-12;

-(CH₂-CH₂-0)s-CH₂-C(0)-, wherein s = 1-5;

-(CH₂)t-CO-NH-(CH₂)t-NH-C(0)-, wherein t is independently is 1-5;

-(CH₂)u-CO-NH-(CH₂)u-C(0)-, wherein u is independently is 1-5; and

-(CH₂)v-NH-C(0)-, wherein v is 2-12; and

wherein the terminal C(O) is attached to the NH group;

wherein c + d is 1.

Suitably, c is 1 and d is 0. Alternatively, c is 0 and d is 1.

In one embodiment, Y is O. In another embodiment, Y is S.

In one embodiment, Ri is H or methyl. In one embodiment, Ri is H. In another embodiment, Ri is methyl. In one embodiment, n is 0, 1, 2 or 3. Suitably, n is 2.

In one embodiment, L is selected from the group consisting of: -(CH₂)r-C(0)-, wherein r = 2-12;

-(CH₂-CH₂-0)s-CH₂-C(0)-, wherein s = 1-5;

-(CH₂)t-CO-NH-(CH₂)t-NH-C(0)-, wherein t is independently is 1-5;

-(CH₂)u-CO-NH-(CH₂)u-C(0)-, wherein u is independently is 1-5; and -(CH₂)v-NH-C(0)-, wherein v is 2-12; wherein the terminal C(O) is attached to the NH group.

Suitably, L is -(CH₂)_r-C(0)-, wherein r = 2-12. Suitably, r = 2-6. More suitably, r = 4 or 6 e.g. 4.

Optionally, a further linker as described above, may be interposed between Z₂ and the adjacent O as shown in Formula (IV).

In any of the above aspects, the 5 '-end of the sense strand may be conjugated to the targeting ligand, such that a conjugate with the following schematic structure is formed:

In any of the above aspects, the 3 '-end of the sense strand may be conjugated to the targeting ligand, such that a conjugate with the following schematic structure is formed:

These schematic diagrams are not intended to limit the number of nucleotides in the first or second strand, nor do the diagrams represent any kind of limitation on complementarity of the bases or any other limitation.

In one embodiment, the targeted cells are hepatocytes.

General Synthesis

Example compounds can be synthesised according to methods described below and known to the person skilled in the art. Assembly of the oligonucleotide chain and linker building blocks may, for example, be performed by solid phase synthesis applying phosphoramidte methodology (Figures 4-6). Solid phase synthesis may start from a base or modified building block loaded lcaa CPG. Phosphoramidite synthesis coupling cycle consists of 1) DMT- removal, 2) chain elongation using the required DMT -masked phosphoramidite and an activator, which may be benzylthiotetrazole (BTT), 3) capping of non-elongated oligonucleotide chains, followed by oxidation of the P(III) to P(V) either by Iodine (if phosphodiester linkage is desired) or EDITH (if phosphorothioate linkage is desired) and again capping (Cap/Ox/Cap or Cap/Thio/Cap). This process is set out in Figures 4-6. Gal Ac conjugation may be achieved by peptide bond formation of a GalNAc-carboxylic acid building block to the prior assembled and purified oligonucleotide having the necessary number of amino modified linker building blocks attached. The necessary building blocks are either commercially available or synthesis is described below. All final single stranded products were analysed by AEX-HPLC to prove their purity. Purity is given in %FLP (% full length product) which is the percentage of the UV-area under the assigned product signal in the UV-trace of the AEX-HPLC analysis of the final product. Identity of the respective single stranded products was proved by LC-MS analysis.

The synthesis of compounds ST23 and ST41 is described in WO 2017/174657 (Silence Therapeutics GMBH). An overview of the synthesis of ST23 and ST41 is shown below.

Galactosamine penta acetate is exposed to an activating agent such as trimethylsilyltrifluoromethanesulfonate in the presence of a solvent such as DCM at room temperature to form bicycle 15, which is treated with an activating agent such as trimethylsilyltrifluoromethanesulfonate in the presence of molecular sieves in a solvent such as DCM. The reaction is heated to an elevated temperature, such as 40 °C and then returned to room temperature before quenching with an aqueous basic solution such as ice-cold aqueous saturated NaHC0₃ solution to give compound 16. The benzyl group is removed under standard deprotection conditions such as 10% palladium on carbon in the presence of hydrogen to give 17. ST23 may be obtained by reacting the free hydroxy group of 17 with a phosphorodiamidite such as 2-cyanoethyl tetraisopropylphosphoro-diamidite in the presence of an activating agent such as 4,5-dicyanoimidazole under anhydrous conditions, such as by using dry solvent (such as acetonitrile and DCM) under and an inert atmosphere (e.g. an argon atmosphere) in the presence of molecular sieves.

Pentaerythritol is reacted with 4-benzyloxy-l-bromo butane under basic conditions, such as KOH in a solvent such as DMSO to obtain compound 1. Reaction with ethyl propiolate in the presence of a base such as N-methylmorpholine in a solvent such as DCM provides compound 2. Compound 3 is obtained by hydrogenation of the double bonds in 2 under standard conditions, such as 10%> palladium on carbon under a hydrogen atmosphere in the presence of a hydroalcoholic solvent such as ethanol and a base such as pyridine. Reduction of 3 in the presence of a reducing agent such as lithium aluminium hydride in a polar solvent such as tetrahydrofuran at a reduced temperature such as below 10 °C provides ST40. Protection with a hydroxy protecting group such as DMTr followed by removal of the benzyl group under standard protection and deprotection conditions respectively, which are known to persons skilled in the art, provides ST40DMTrOH. Reaction of ST40DMTrOH with a phosphoramidite such as 2-cyanoethyl Ν,Ν-diisopropylchlorophosphoramidite under basic anhydrous conditions at a reduced temperature such as 0 °C provides ST41. Suitable bases are organic bases such as DIPEA. Suitable solvents are dry solvents such as dry DCM. The reaction is carried out under anhydrous conditions which may be obtained using molecular sieves.

wherein Y is O or S, Z is the nucleic acid portion, and particularly the point of attachment is the 3 ' end or 5 ' end of the second strand, such as at the 5 ' end of the second strand.

The synthesis is shown in more detail in Figure 4. Oligonucleotide chain assembly is commenced using base loaded support e.g. 5'DMT-2'FdA(bz)-succinate-lcaa-CPG.

Phosphoramidite synthesis coupling cycle consisting of 1) DMT -removal, 2) chain elongation using the required DMT-masked phosphoramidite, 3) capping of non-elongated oligonucleotide chains, followed by oxidation of the P(III) to P(V) either by Iodine or EDITH (if phosphorothioate linkage was desired) and again capping (Cap/Ox/Cap or Cap/Thio/Cap) is repeated until full length of the product was reached. For the on-column conjugation of a tri-antennary GalNAc cluster the same synthesis cycle is applied with using the necessary trivalent branching amidite C4XLT (also known as ST41) followed by another round of the synthesis cycle using the GalNAc amidite ST23. Upon completion of this last synthesizer step, the oligonucleotide is cleaved from the solid support and additional protecting groups are removed by methylamine treatment. The crude products are then purified each by AEX- HPLC and SEC.

Synthesis of ST13(Ac)9 was achieved by following methods as described in Nair et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc, 2014, 136 (49), pp 16958-16961. Final deacetylation was achieved by treating ST13(Ac)9 with sodium methoxide in methanol.

Oligonucleotide synthesis of 3'trivalent tree-like GalNAc-cluster conjugated oligonucleotides is outlined in Figure 5. Synthesis was commenced using commercially available GlyC3Am- solid support:

Phosphoramidite synthesis coupling cycle is repeated until full length of the product is reached. Upon completion of chain elongation, the protective DMT group of the last coupled amidite building block was removed, as in step 1) of the phosphoramidite synthesis cycle. Finally, the respective oligonucleotides were cleaved from the solid support and set free from additional protective groups by methylamine treatment. This treatment also liberated the amino function in the GlyC3Am(TFA) building block. The crude product of was then purified by AEX-HPLC and SEC to yield the precursor oligonucleotide A0254 for further conjugation.

Scheme 5: Synthesis of the second strand of GlyC3AM(GalNAc) conjugates (STS23001V2L11)

wherein Y is O or S and Z is the nucleic acid portion, and particularly the point of attachment is the 3 ' end or 5 ' end of the second strand, such as the 3 ' end of the second strand.

Post solid phase synthesis trivalent GalNAc-conjugation was achieved by pre-activation of the trivalent-GalNAc-acid (ST13) by a peptide coupling reagent such as HBTU. The pre-activated acid ST 13 was then reacted with the amino-group in A0254 to form the desired second strand of conjugate STS23001V2L11 (A0255), which was further purified by AEX-HPLC and SEC.

Synthesis of serinol- derived GalNAc conjugates

Scheme 6: Synthesis of (S)-DMT-serinol(TFA) linker synthons

i) ethyl trifluoroacetate, NEt₃, MeOH, 0°C, 16h, 5: 90%, ii) DMTC1, pyridine, 0°C, 16h, 64% over two steps, iii) L1BH4, EtOH/THF (1/1, v/v), 0°C, lh, 76%, iv) 2-cyanoethyl- Ν,Ν-diisopropylchloro phosphoramidite, succinic anhydride,

DMAP, pyridine, RT, 16h, 38%, vi) HBTU, DIEA, amino-lcaa CPG (500A), RT, 18h, 29% loading).

(S)-DMT-Serinol(TFA)-phosphoramidite 7 can be synthesised from serinol derivative 2 according to literature published methods (Hoevelmann et al. Chem. Sci., 2016,7, 128-135).

(S)-DMT-Serinol(TFA)-succinate 6 can be made by conversion of intermediate 5 with succinic anhydride in presence of a catalyst such as DMAP.

Loading of 6 to a solid support such as a controlled pore glass (CPG support) may be achieved by peptide bond formation to a solid support such as an amino modified native CPG support (500A) using a coupling reagent such as HBTU. The (S)-DMT-Serinol(TFA)-succinate 6 and a coupling reagent such as HBTU is dissolved in a solvent such as CH3CN. A base, such as diisopropylethylamine, is added to the solution, and the reaction mixture is stirred for 2 min. A solid support such as a native amino-lcaa-CPG support (500 A, 3 g, amine content: 136 micromol/g) is added to the reaction mixture and a suspension forms. The suspension is gently shaken at room temperature on a wrist-action shaker for 16h then filtered, and washed with solvent such as DCM and EtOH. The support is dried under vacuum for 2 h. The unreacted amines on the support can be capped by stirring with acetic anhydride/lutidine/N- methylimidazole at room temperature. Washing of the support may be repeated as above. The solid support is dried under vacuum to yield solid support 10.

Scheme 7: Synthesis of GalNAc synthon 9

(vii) TMSOTf, DCM, hexenol, viii) RuCl₃, NaI0₄, DCM, CH3CN, H₂0, 46% over two steps.

Synthesis of the GalNAc synthon ST32 can be prepared according to methods as described in Nair et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc, 2014, 136 (49), pp 16958-16961, starting from commercially available per-acetylated galactose amine 8.

Scheme 8: Synthesis of serinol-derived precursor oligonucleotides

Oligonucleotide synthesis of 3' mono-GalNAc conjugated oligonucleotides is outlined in Figure 6 as an example. Synthesis is commenced using (S)-DMT-Serinol(TFA)-succinate- lcaa-CPG (10). Additional serinol building blocks are introduced by use of the (S)-DMT- serinol(TFA) amidite (7) in the appropriate solid phase synthesis cycle. For example, a second and third DMT-serinol(TFA) is coupled in the first and second cycle to the serinol(TFA)-CPG in order to make the example compound A0256. Afterwards, phosphoramidite synthesis cycle is applied using 5'-DMT-2'OMe-R A or 5'-DMT-2'F-DNA phosphoramidites until full length of the product is reached. Upon completion of chain elongation, the protective DMT group of the last coupled amidite building block is removed, as in step 1) of the phosphoramidite synthesis cycle. Finally, the respective oligonucleotides are cleaved from the solid support and additional protecting groups are removed by methylamine treatment. This treatment also liberates the amino function in the Serinol(TFA) building block. The crude products are then purified each by AEX-HPLC and SEC to yield the precursor oligonucleotide 11 (A0256) for further Gal Ac conjugation. Scheme 9: Synthesis of Ser(GN) conjugates

Post solid phase synthesis GalNAc-conjugation is achieved by pre-activation of the GalN(Ac₄)- C₄ -acid ST32 by a peptide coupling reagent such as HBTU. The pre-activated acid ST32 is then reacted with the amino-groups in 11 (A0256) to form the intermediate GalN(Ac₄)- conjugate. The acetyl groups protecting the hydroxyl groups in the GalNAc-moities are cleaved off by methylamine treatment to yield the desired example compound 12 (A0257), which is further purified by AEX-HPLC and SEC.

The above processes (including Schemes 1 to 9 and Figures 4 and 6) may be easily adapted to replace GalNac with another targeting ligand e.g. a saccharide. Synthesis of double strands

In order to obtain double strand conjugates of the invention, individual single strands are dissolved in a concentration of 60 OD/mL in H₂0. Both individual oligonucleotide solutions can be added together to a reaction vessel. For reaction monitoring a titration can be performed. The first strand is added in 25% excess over the second strand as determined by UV-absorption at 260nm. The reaction mixture is heated e.g. to 80°C for 5min and then slowly cooled to RT. Double strand formation may be monitored by ion pairing reverse phase HPLC. From the UV- area of the residual single strand the needed amount of the second strand can be calculated and added to the reaction mixture. The reaction is heated e.g. to 80°C again and slowly cooled to RT. This procedure can be repeated until less than 10% of residual single strand is detected.

Nucleic Acid In all cases described herein, the nucleic acid may be selected from the group consisting of DNA, RNA, PNA and LNA. Suitably, the nucleic acid is RNA.

The nucleic acid may be a functional nucleic acid, whereby preferably the functional nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of mRNA, micro-RNA, shRNA, combinations of RNA and DNA, siRNA, siNA, antisense nucleic acid, ribozymes, aptamers and spiegelmers. In particular, the nucleic acid may be siRNA.

The nucleic acid may be selected from RNAi, siRNA, antisense nucleic acid, ribozymes, aptamers and spiegelmers, particularly siRNA.

The nucleic acids may be of any length and can have any number of nucleotides such that they are effective for RNAi. Preferably, the siRNAs range from 15 to 30 nucleotides.

Preferably, the nucleic acid portion comprises 2 RNA strands of 15-30 ribonucleotides, suitably 19-25 or 20-25 e.g. 19-23 ribonucleotides. The duplex region of a double stranded RNA may range from 8 to 20 nucleotide base pairs using the Watson-crick base pairing.

The first strand may be from 9 to 32 nucleotides in length, such as 17 to 24 nucleotides in length, suitably 19 to 22 nucleotides in length e.g. 19 nucleotides in length. The second strand may be 8 to 20 nucleotides in length, for example 13 to 16 e.g. 14 to 16 nucleotides in length. Suitably, the second strand may be 13 nucleotides in length.

The double stranded RNAs may be blunt ended at one end. The double stranded RNAs may have overhangs of 1 or more nucleotides one or both strands at one or both ends. The overhangs may be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 nucleotides n length. For any of the above, the nucleic acid may be a modified nucleic acid. The modification may be selected from substitutions or insertions with analogues of nucleic acids or bases and chemical modification of the base, sugar or phosphate moieties. The nucleic acid may: a) have an overhang at one end and a blunt end at the other; or b) have an overhang at both ends.

One or more nucleotides on the first and/or second strand may be modified, to form a modified oligonucleotide duplex. One or more of the odd numbered nucleotides of the first strand may be modified. One or more of the even numbered nucleotides of the first strand may be modified by at least a second modification, wherein the at least second modification is different from the modification on the one or more add nucleotides. At least one of the one or more modified even numbered nucleotides may be adjacent to at least one of the one or more modified odd numbered nucleotides. A plurality of odd numbered nucleotides in the first strand may be modified in the nucleic acid of the invention. A plurality of even numbered nucleotides in the first strand may be modified by a second modification. The first strand may comprise adjacent nucleotides that are modified by a common modification. The first strand may also comprise adjacent nucleotides that are modified by a second different modification. One or more of the odd numbered nucleotides of the second strand may be modified by a modification that is different to the modification of the odd numbered nucleotides on the first strand and/or one or more of the even numbered nucleotides of the second strand may be by the same modification of the odd numbered nucleotides of the first strand. At least one of the one or more modified even numbered nucleotides of the second strand may be adjacent to the one or more modified odd numbered nucleotides. A plurality of odd numbered nucleotides of the second strand may be modified by a common modification and/or a plurality of even numbered nucleotides may be modified by the same modification that is present on the first strand odd numbered nucleotides. A plurality of odd numbered nucleotides on the second strand may be modified by a second modification, wherein the second modification is different from the modification of the first strand odd numbered nucleotides.

The second strand comprises adjacent nucleotides that are modified by a common

modification, which may be a second modification that is different from the modification of the odd numbered nucleotides of the first strand.

In the nucleic acid of the invention, each of the odd numbered nucleotides in the first strand and each of the even numbered nucleotides in the second strand may be modified with a common modification and, each of the even numbered nucleotides may be modified in the first strand with a second modification and each of the odd numbered nucleotides may be modified in the second strand with a second different modification.

The nucleic acid of the invention may have the modified nucleotides of the first strand shifted by at least one nucleotide relative to the unmodified or differently modified nucleotides of the second strand.

The modification and / or modifications may each and individually be selected from the group consisting of 3' terminal deoxy thymine, 2' O methyl, a 2' deoxy modification, a 2' amino modification, a 2' alkyl modification, a morpholino modification, a phosphoramidate modification, 5'-phosphorothioate group modification, a 5' phosphate or 5' phosphate mimic modification and a cholesteryl derivative or a dodecanoic acid bisdecylamide group modification and/or the modified nucleotide may be any one of a locked nucleotide, an abasic nucleotide or a non-natural base comprising nucleotide. At least one modification may be 2'- O-methyl and/or at least one modification may be 2'-F. When the modification is a 2' deoxy modification, suitably only a small portion of the nucleotides may have this modification, for example less than 15%, less than 10% or less than 5%.

By nucleic acid it is meant a nucleic acid comprising two strands comprising nucleotides, that is able to interfere with gene expression. Inhibition may be complete or partial and results in down regulation of gene expression in a targeted manner. The nucleic acid comprises two separate polynucleotide strands; the first strand, which may also be a guide strand; and a second strand, which may also be a passenger strand. The nucleic acid may be an siR A molecule.

The first strand may also be referred to as an antisense strand. The second strand may also be referred to as a sense strand.

The nucleic acid may comprise ribonucleotides, modified ribonucleotides, deoxynucleotides, deoxyribonucleotides, or nucleotide analogues. Suitably only a small portion of the nucleotides may be a deoxynucleotide or a deoxyribonucleotide, for example less than 15 >, less than 10%> or less than 5%. The nucleic acid may further comprise a double stranded nucleic acid portion or duplex region formed by all or a portion of the first strand (also known in the art as a guide strand) and all or a portion of the second strand (also known in the art as a passenger strand). The duplex region is defined as beginning with the first base pair formed between the first strand and the second strand and ending with the last base pair formed between the first strand and the second strand, inclusive.

By duplex region refers it is meant the region in two complementary or substantially complementary oligonucleotides that form base pairs with one another, either by Watson- Crick base pairing or any other manner that allows for a duplex between oligonucleotide strands that are complementary or substantially complementary. For example, an

oligonucleotide strand having 21 nucleotide units can base pair with another oligonucleotide of 21 nucleotide units, yet only 19 nucleotides on each strand are complementary or substantially complementary, such that the "duplex region" consists of 19 base pairs. The remaining base pairs may exist as 5' and 3' overhangs, or as single stranded regions. Further, within the duplex region, 100% complementarity is not required; substantial complementarity is allowable within a duplex region. Substantial complementarity refers to complementarity between the strands such that they are capable of annealing under biological conditions. Techniques to empirically determine if two strands are capable of annealing under biological conditions are well known in the art. Alternatively, two strands can be synthesised and added together under biological conditions to determine if they anneal to one another.

The portion of the first strand and second strand that form at least one duplex region may be fully complementary and are at least partially complementary to each other.

Depending on the length of an nucleic acid, a perfect match in terms of base complementarity between the first strand and second strand is not necessarily required. However, the first and second strands must be able to hybridise under physiological conditions.

The complementarity between the first strand and second strand in the at least one duplex region may be perfect in that there are no nucleotide mismatches or additional/deleted nucleotides in either strand. Alternatively, the complementarity may not be perfect. The complementarity may be at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95%. The first strand and the second strand may each comprise a region of complementarity which comprises at least 15 contiguous nucleotides differing by no more than 3 nucleotides.

An "overhang" as used herein has its normal and customary meaning in the art, i.e. a single stranded portion of a nucleic acid that extends beyond the terminal nucleotide of a complementary strand in a double strand nucleic acid. The term "blunt end" includes double stranded nucleic acid whereby both strands terminate at the same position, regardless of whether the terminal nucleotide(s) are base paired. The terminal nucleotide of a first strand and a second strand at a blunt end may be base paired. The terminal nucleotide of a first strand and a second strand at a blunt end may not be paired. The terminal two nucleotides of an first strand and a second strand at a blunt end may be base paired. The terminal two nucleotides of a first strand and a second strand at a blunt end may not be paired.

The nucleic acid may have an overhang at one end and a blunt end at the other. The nucleic acid may have an overhang at both ends. The nucleic acid may be blunt ended at the end with the 5' end of the first strand and the 3' end of the second strand. The nucleic acid may comprise an overhang at a 3' or 5' end. The nucleic acid may have a 3' overhang on the first strand. The nucleic acid may have a 3' overhang on the second strand. The nucleic acid may have a 5' overhang on the first strand. The nucleic acid may have a 5' overhang on the second strand. The nucleic acid may have an overhang at both the 5' end and 3' end of the first strand. The nucleic acid may have an overhang at both the 5' end and 3' end of the second strand. The nucleic acid may have a 5' overhang on the first strand and a 3' overhang on the second strand. The nucleic acid may have a 3' overhang on the first strand and a 5' overhang on the second strand. The nucleic acid may have a 3' overhang on the first strand and a 3' overhang on the second strand. The nucleic acid may have a 5' overhang on the first strand and a 5' overhang on the second strand. An overhang at the 3 '-end or 5 ' end of the second strand or the first strand may be selected from consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 nucleotides in length. Optionally, an overhang may consist of 1 or 2 nucleotides, which may or may not be modified.

Suitably, the nucleic acid has a 3' overhang on the first strand of the nucleic acid portion. For example, the 3' overhang may be 1 to 12 nucleotides in length, such as 4 to 8 nucleotides in length, suitably 5 to 6 nucleotides in length e.g. 6 nucleotides in length. Unmodified polynucleotides, particularly ribonucleotides, may be prone to degradation by cellular nucleases, and, as such, modification/ modified nucleotides may be included in the nucleic acid of the invention.

One or more nucleotides on the second and/or first strand of the nucleic acid of the invention may be modified.

Modifications of the nucleic acid of the present invention generally provide a powerful tool in overcoming potential limitations including, but not limited to, in vitro and in vivo stability and bioavailability inherent to native RNA molecules. The nucleic acid according to the invention may be modified by chemical modifications. Modified nucleic acid can also minimise the possibility of inducing interferon activity in humans. Modification can further enhance the functional delivery of a nucleic acid to a target cell. The modified nucleic acid of the present invention may comprise one or more chemically modified ribonucleotides of either or both of the first strand or the second strand. A ribonucleotide may comprise a chemical modification of the base, sugar or phosphate moieties. The ribonucleic acid may be modified by substitution or insertion with analogues of nucleic acids or bases.

One or more nucleotides of a nucleic acid of the present invention may be modified. The nucleic acid may comprise at least one modified nucleotide. The modified nucleotide may be on the first strand. The modified nucleotide may be in the second strand. The modified nucleotide may be in the duplex region. The modified nucleotide may be outside the duplex region, i.e., in a single stranded region. The modified nucleotide may be on the first strand and may be outside the duplex region. The modified nucleotide may be on the second strand and may be outside the duplex region. The 3 '-terminal nucleotide of the first strand may be a modified nucleotide. The 3 '-terminal nucleotide of the second strand may be a modified nucleotide. The 5 '-terminal nucleotide of the first strand may be a modified nucleotide. The 5 '-terminal nucleotide of the second strand may be a modified nucleotide.

An nucleic acid of the invention may have 1 modified nucleotide or a nucleic acid of the invention may have about 2-4 modified nucleotides, or a nucleic acid may have about 4-6 modified nucleotides, about 6-8 modified nucleotides, about 8-10 modified nucleotides, about 10-12 modified nucleotides, about 12-14 modified nucleotides, about 14-16 modified nucleotides about 16-18 modified nucleotides, about 18-20 modified nucleotides, about 20-22 modified nucleotides, about 22-24 modified nucleotides, 24-26 modified nucleotides or about 26-28 modified nucleotides. In each case the nucleic acid comprising said modified nucleotides retains at least 50% of its activity as compared to the same nucleic acid but without said modified nucleotides. The nucleic acid may retain 55%, 60%>, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%), 85%), 90%), 95%) or 100% or above of its activity as compared to the same nucleic acid but without said modified nucleotides

The modified nucleotide may be a purine or a pyrimidine. At least half of the purines may be modified. At least half of the pyrimidines may be modified. All of the purines may be modified. All of the pyrimidines may be modified. The modified nucleotides may be selected from the group consisting of a 3' terminal deoxy thymine (dT) nucleotide, a 2' O methyl modified nucleotide, a 2' modified nucleotide, a 2' deoxy modified nucleotide, a locked nucleotide, an abasic nucleotide, a 2' amino modified nucleotide, a 2' alkyl modified nucleotide, a morpholino nucleotide, a phosphoramidate, a non natural base comprising nucleotide, a nucleotide comprising a 5'-phosphorothioate group, a nucleotide comprising a 5' phosphate or 5' phosphate mimic and a terminal nucleotide linked to a cholesteryl derivative or a dodecanoic acid bisdecylamide group.

When the modification is a 2' deoxy modification, suitably only a small portion of the nucleotides may have this modification, for example less than 15%, less than 10% or less than 5%.

The nucleic acid may comprise a nucleotide comprising a modified nucleotide, wherein the base is selected from 2-aminoadenosine, 2,6-diaminopurine riboside, inosine, pyridin-4-one riboside, pyridin-2-one riboside, phenyl riboside, pseudouridine, 2,4,6-trimethoxy benzene riboside, 3-methyl uridine, dihydrouridine, naphthyl, aminophenyl riboside, 5-alkylcytidine (e.g., 5-methylcytidine), 5-alkyluridine (e.g., ribothymidine), 5-halouridine (e.g., 5- bromouridine), 6-azapyrimidine riboside, 6-alkylpyrimidine riboside (e.g. 6-methyluridine), propyne riboside (e.g. 5-(l-propynyl)-2'-deoxy-Uridine (pdU) or 5-(l-propynyl)-2'- deoxyCytidine (pdC)), queuosine, 2-thiouridine, 4-thiouridine, wybutosine, wybutoxosine, 4- acetylcytidine, 5 -(carboxyhydroxymethyl)uridine, 5 '-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2- thiouridine, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyluridine, beta-D-galactosylqueosine, 1- methyladenosine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanosine, 3-methylcytidine, 2- methyladenosine, 2-methylguanosine, N6-methyladenosine, 7-methylguanosine, 5- methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, 5-methylaminomethyluridine, 5- methylcarbonylmethyluridine, 5-methyloxyuridine, 5-methyl-2-thiouridine, 2-methylthio-N6- isopentenyladenosine, beta-D-mannosylqueosine, uridine-5-oxyacetic acid and 2- thiocytidine.

Nucleic acids discussed herein include unmodified RNA as well as RNA which have been modified, e.g., to improve efficacy, and polymers of nucleoside surrogates. Unmodified RNA refers to a molecule in which the components of the nucleic acid, namely sugars, bases, and phosphate moieties, are the same or essentially the same as that which occur in nature, for example as occur naturally in the human body. Modified nucleotide as used herein refers to a nucleotide in which one or more of the components of the nucleic acid, namely sugars, bases, and phosphate moieties, are different from that which occur in nature. While they are referred to as modified nucleotides they will of course, because of the modification, include molecules which are not nucleotides, for example a polynucleotide molecules in which the ribophosphate backbone is replaced with a non-ribophosphate construct that allows hybridisation between strands i.e. the modified nucleotides mimic the ribophosphate backbone.

Many of the modifications described below that occur within a nucleic acid will be repeated within a polynucleotide molecule, such as a modification of a base, or a phosphate moiety, or the a non-linking O of a phosphate moiety. In some cases the modification will occur at all of the possible positions/nucleotides in the polynucleotide but in many cases it will not. A modification may only occur at a 3 Or 5' terminal position, may only occur in a terminal regions, such as at a position on a terminal nucleotide or in the last 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 nucleotides of a strand. A modification may occur in a double strand region, a single strand region, or in both. A modification may occur only in the double strand region of an nucleic acid of the invention or may only occur in a single strand region of an nucleic acid of the invention. A phosphorothioate modification at a non-linking O position may only occur at one or both termini, may only occur in a terminal region, e.g., at a position on a terminal nucleotide or in the last 2, 3, 4 or 5 nucleotides of a strand, or may occur in duplex and/or in single strand regions, particularly at termini. The 5' end or 3' ends may be phosphorylated.

Stability of a nucleic acid of the invention may be increased by including particular bases in overhangs, or to include modified nucleotides, in single strand overhangs, e.g., in a 5' or 3' overhang, or in both. Purine nucleotides may be included in overhangs. All or some of the bases in a 3 Or 5' overhang may be modified. Modifications can include the use of modifications at the 2' OH group of the ribose sugar, the use of deoxyribonucleotides, instead of ribonucleotides, and modifications in the phosphate group, such as phosphorothioate modifications. Overhangs need not be homologous with the target sequence.

When the modification is a 2' deoxy modification, suitably only a small portion of the nucleotides may have this modification, for example less than 15%, less than 10% or less than 5%.

The 5'- or 3'- overhangs at the sense strand, antisense strand or both strands of the conjugates of the invention may be phosphorylated. In some embodiments, the overhang region contains two nucleotides having a phosphorothioate between the two nucleotides, where the two nucleotides can be the same or different. In one embodiment, the overhang is present at the 3 '-end of the sense strand, antisense strand or both strands. In one embodiment, this 3 '- overhang is present in the antisense strand. In one embodiment, this 3 '-overhang is present in the sense strand.

Nucleases can hydrolyze nucleic acid phosphodiester bonds. However, chemical

modifications to nucleic acids can confer improved properties, and, can render

oligoribonucleotides more stable to nucleases.

Modified nucleic acids, as used herein, can include one or more of:

(i) alteration, e.g., replacement, of one or both of the non-linking phosphate oxygens and/or of one or more of the linking phosphate oxygens (referred to as linking even if at the 5' and 3' terminus of the nucleic acid of the invention);

(ii) alteration, e.g., replacement, of a constituent of the ribose sugar, e.g., of the 2' hydroxyl on the ribose sugar;

(iii) replacement of the phosphate moiety with "dephospho" linkers;

(iv) modification or replacement of a naturally occurring base;

(v) replacement or modification of the ribose-phosphate backbone; (vi) modification of the 3' end or 5' end of the RNA, e.g., removal, modification or replacement of a terminal phosphate group or conjugation of a moiety, e.g., a fluorescently labeled moiety, to either the 3 Or 5' end of RNA.

The terms replacement, modification, alteration, indicates a difference from a naturally occurring molecule.

Specific modifications are discussed in more detail below.

Examples of modified phosphate groups include phosphorothioate, phosphoroselenates, borano phosphates, borano phosphate esters, hydrogen phosphonates, phosphoroamidates, alkyl or aryl phosphonates and phosphotriesters. Phosphorodithioates have both non-linking oxygens replaced by sulphur. One, each or both non-linking oxygens in the phosphate group can be independently any one of S, Se, B, C, H, N, or OR (R is alkyl or aryl).

The phosphate linker can also be modified by replacement of a linking oxygen with nitrogen (bridged phosphoroamidates), sulfur (bridged phosphorothioates) and carbon (bridged methylenephosphonates). The replacement can occur at a terminal oxygen. Replacement of the non-linking oxygens with nitrogen is possible.

A modified nucleotide can include modification of the sugar groups. The 2' hydroxyl group (OH) can be modified or replaced with a number of different "oxy" or "deoxy" substituents.

When the modification is a 2' deoxy modification, suitably only a small portion of the nucleotides may have this modification, for example less than 15%, less than 10% or less than 5%.

Examples of "oxy"-2' hydroxyl group modifications include alkoxy or aryloxy (OR, e.g., R=H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl or sugar); polyethyleneglycols (PEG), 0(CH2CH20)nCH2CH20R; "locked" nucleic acids (LNA) in which the 2' hydroxyl is connected, e.g., by a methylene bridge, to the 4' carbon of the same ribose sugar; O-AMINE (AMINE=NH2; alkylamino, dialkylamino, heterocyclyl, arylamino, diaryl amino, heteroaryl amino, or diheteroaryl amino, ethylene diamine, polyamino) and aminoalkoxy,

0(CH2)nAMINE, (e.g., AMINE=NH2; alkylamino, dialkylamino, heterocyclyl, arylamino, diaryl amino, heteroaryl amino, or diheteroaryl amino, ethylene diamine, polyamino). "Deoxy" modifications include hydrogen; halo; amino (e.g., NH2; alkylamino, dialkylamino, heterocyclyl, arylamino, diaryl amino, heteroaryl amino, diheteroaryl amino, or amino acid); NH(CH2CH2NH)nCH2CH2-AMINE (AMINE=NH2; alkylamino, dialkylamino,

heterocyclyl, arylamino, diaryl amino, heteroaryl amino, or diheteroaryl amino),— NHC(0)R (R=alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl or sugar), cyano; mercapto; alkyl-thio-alkyl; thioalkoxy; and alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkenyl and alkynyl, which may be optionally substituted with e.g., an amino functionality. Other substitutents of certain embodiments include 2'-methoxyethyl, 2'-OCH3, 2'-0-allyl, 2'-C-allyl, and 2'-fluoro.

The sugar group can also contain one or more carbons that possess the opposite

stereochemical configuration than that of the corresponding carbon in ribose. Thus, a modified nucleotides may contain a sugar such as arabinose.

Modified nucleotides can also include "abasic" sugars, which lack a nucleobase at C— Γ. These abasic sugars can further contain modifications at one or more of the constituent sugar atoms. The 2' modifications may be used in combination with one or more phosphate linker modifications (e.g., phosphorothioate).

The phosphate group can be replaced by non-phosphorus containing connectors.

Examples of moieties which can replace the phosphate group include siloxane, carbonate, carboxymethyl, carbamate, amide, thioether, ethylene oxide linker, sulfonate, sulfonamide, thioformacetal, formacetal, oxime, methyleneimino, methylenemethylimino,

methylenehydrazo, methylenedimethylhydrazo and methyleneoxymethylimino. In certain embodiments, replacements may include the methylenecarbonylamino and

methylenemethylimino groups.

The phosphate linker and ribose sugar may be replaced by nuclease resistant nucleotides. Examples include the mophilino, cyclobutyl, pyrrolidine and peptide nucleic acid (PNA) nucleoside surrogates. In certain embodiments, PNA surrogates may be used.

The 3' and 5' ends of an oligonucleotide can be modified. Such modifications can be at the 3' end or the 5' end or both ends of the molecule. They can include modification or replacement of an entire terminal phosphate or of one or more of the atoms of the phosphate group. For example, the 3' and 5' ends of an oligonucleotide can be conjugated to other functional molecular entities such as labeling moieties, e.g., fluorophores (e.g., pyrene, TAMRA, fluorescein, Cy3 or Cy5 dyes) or protecting groups (based e.g., on sulfur, silicon, boron or ester). The functional molecular entities can be attached to the sugar through a phosphate group and/or a linker. The terminal atom of the linker can connect to or replace the linking atom of the phosphate group or the C-3' or C-5' O, N, S or C group of the sugar.

Alternatively, the linker can connect to or replace the terminal atom of a nucleotide surrogate (e.g., PNAs). These spacers or linkers can include e.g.,— (CH2)n— ,— (CH2)nN— ,— (CH2)nO— ,— (CH2)nS— , 0(CH2CH20)nCH2CH20H (e.g., n=3 or 6), abasic sugars, amide, carboxy, amine, oxyamine, oxyimine, thioether, disulfide, thiourea, sulfonamide, or morpholino, or biotin and fluorescein reagents. The 3' end can be an— OH group.

Other examples of terminal modifications include dyes, intercalating agents (e.g., acridines), cross-linkers (e.g., psoralene, mitomycin C), porphyrins (TPPC₄ , texaphyrin, Sapphyrin), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., phenazine, dihydrophenazine), artificial

endonucleases (e.g., EDTA), lipophilic carriers (e.g., cholesterol, cholic acid, adamantane acetic acid, 1 -pyrene butyric acid, dihydrotestosterone, l,3-Bis-0(hexadecyl)glycerol, geranyloxyhexyl group, hexadecylglycerol, borneol, menthol, 1,3 -propanediol, heptadecyl group, palmitic acid, myristic acid, 03-(oleoyl)lithocholic acid, 03-(oleoyl)cholenic acid, dimethoxytrityl, or phenoxazine) and peptide conjugates (e.g., antennapedia peptide, Tat peptide), alkylating agents, phosphate, amino, mercapto, PEG (e.g., PEG-40K), MPEG, [MPEG]2, polyamino, alkyl, substituted alkyl, radiolabeled markers, enzymes, haptens (e.g., biotin), transport/absorption facilitators (e.g., aspirin, vitamin E, folic acid), synthetic ribonucleases (e.g., imidazole, bisimidazole, histamine, imidazole clusters, acridine- imidazole conjugates, Eu3+ complexes of tetraazamacrocycles).

Terminal modifications can be added for a number of reasons, including to modulate activity or to modulate resistance to degradation. Terminal modifications useful for modulating activity include modification of the 5' end with phosphate or phosphate analogs. Nucleic acids of the invention, on the first or second strand, may be 5' phosphorylated or include a phosphoryl analog at the 5' prime terminus. 5 '-phosphate modifications include those which are compatible with RISC mediated gene silencing. Suitable modifications include: 5'- monophosphate ((HO)2(0)P— 0-5'); 5 '-diphosphate ((HO)2(0)P— O— P(HO)(0)— 0-5'); 5'- triphosphate ((HO)2(0)P— O— (HO)(0)P— O— P(HO)(0)— 0-5'); 5'-guanosine cap (7- methylated or non-methylated) (7m-G-0-5'-(HO)(0)P— O— (HO)(0)P— O— P(HO)(0)— O- 5'); 5 '-adenosine cap (Appp), and any modified or unmodified nucleotide cap structure (N— 0-5 '-(HO)(0)P— O— (HO)(0)P— O— P(HO)(0)— 0-5 '); '-monothiophosphate

(phosphorothioate; (HO)2(S)P— 0-5'); 5'-monodithiophosphate (phosphorodithioate;

(HO)(HS)(S)P— 0-5'), 5'-phosphorothiolate ((H0)2(0)P— S-5'); any additional combination of oxygen/sulfur replaced monophosphate, diphosphate and triphosphates (e.g., 5'-alpha- thiotriphosphate, 5 '-gamma-thio triphosphate, etc.), 5'-phosphoramidates ((H0)2(0)P— NH- 5', (H0)(NH2)(0)P— 0-5'), 5'-alkylphosphonates (R=alkyl=methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, propyl, etc., e.g., RP(OH)(0)— 0-5'-, (OH)2(0)P-5'-CH2-), 5Vinylphosphonate, 5'- alkyletherphosphonates (R=alkylether=methoxymethyl (MeOCH2-), ethoxymethyl, etc., e.g., RP(OH)(0)— 0-5'-).

The nucleic acid of the present invention may include one or more phosphorothioate modifications on one or more of the terminal ends of the first and/or the second strand.

Optionally, each or either end of the first strand may comprise one or two or three

phosphorothioate modified nucleotides. Optionally, each or either end of the second strand may comprise one or two or three phosphorothioate modified nucleotides. Optionally, both ends of the first strand and the 5 ' end of the second strand may comprise two

phosphorothioate modified nucleotides. By phosphorothioate modified nucleotide it is meant that the linkage between the nucleotide and the adjacent nucleotide comprises a

phosphorothioate group instead of a standard phosphate group.

The nucleic acid of the present invention may include one or more phosphodithioate modified nucleotides. By phosphorodithioate modified nucleotide it is meant that the linkage between the nucleotide and the adjacent nucleotide comprises a phosphorothioate group instead of a standard phosphate group. Optionally, each or either end of the first strand may comprise one or two or three phosphorodithioate modified nucleotides. Optionally, each or either end of the second strand may comprise one or two or three phosphorodithioate modified nucleotides. Optionally, both ends of the first strand and the 5 ' end of the second strand may comprise two phosphorodithioate modified nucleotides. Suitably, the first strand does not comprise a phosphorodithioate linkage between any of the two, three or four terminal nucleotides at the 5' end. Suitably, there is a phosphorodithioate linkage between each of the two, three or four terminal nucleotides at the 3 ' end of the first strand. Suitably, there is a phosphorothioate linkage between each of the three terminal 3' nucleotides and/or between each of the three terminal 5' nucleotides on the first strand, and/or between each of the three 3' terminal nucleotides and/or between each of the three 5' nucleotides of the second strand when there is no phosphorodithioate linkage present at that end. Terminal modifications can also be useful for monitoring distribution, and in such cases the groups to be added may include fluorophores, e.g., fluorscein or an Alexa dye. Terminal modifications can also be useful for enhancing uptake, useful modifications for this include cholesterol. Terminal modifications can also be useful for cross-linking an RNA agent to another moiety. Adenine, guanine, cytosine and uracil are the most common bases found in RNA. These bases can be modified or replaced to provide RNA's having improved properties. E.g., nuclease resistant oligoribonucleotides can be prepared with these bases or with synthetic and natural nucleobases (e.g., inosine, thymine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, nubularine, isoguanisine, or tubercidine) and any one of the above modifications. Alternatively, substituted or modified analogs of any of the above bases and "universal bases" can be employed.

Examples include 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-propyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl uracil and cytosine, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 5-halouracil, 5-(2-aminopropyl)uracil, 5-amino allyl uracil, 8- halo, amino, thiol, thioalkyl, hydroxyl and other 8-substituted adenines and guanines, 5- trifluoromethyl and other 5-substituted uracils and cytosines, 7-methylguanine, 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and 0-6 substituted purines, including 2- aminopropyladenine, 5-propynyluracil and 5-propynylcytosine, dihydrouracil, 3-deaza-5- azacytosine, 2-aminopurine, 5-alkyluracil, 7-alkylguanine, 5-alkyl cytosine, 7-deazaadenine, N6,N6-dimethyladenine, 2,6-diaminopurine, 5-amino-allyl-uracil, N3-methyluracil, substituted 1,2,4-triazoles, 2-pyridinone, 5-nitroindole, 3-nitropyrrole, 5-methoxyuracil, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid, 5-methoxycarbonylmethyluracil, 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 5- methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thiouracil, 5 -methylaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, 3 -(3 -amino-3 - carboxypropyl)uracil, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N<4>-acetyl cytosine, 2- thiocytosine, N6-methyladenine, N6-isopentyladenine, 2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenine, N-methylguanines, or O-alkylated bases. As used herein, the terms "non-pairing nucleotide analog" means a nucleotide analog which includes a non-base pairing moiety including but not limited to: 6 des amino adenosine (Nebularine), 4-Me-indole, 3-nitropyrrole, 5-nitroindole, Ds, Pa, N3-Me ribo U, N3-Me riboT, N3-Me dC, N3-Me-dT, Nl-Me-dG, Nl-Me-dA, N3-ethyl-dC, N3-Me dC. In some embodiments the non-base pairing nucleotide analog is a ribonucleotide. In other embodiments it is a deoxyribonucleotide.

As used herein, the term, "terminal functional group" includes without limitation a halogen, alcohol, amine, carboxylic, ester, amide, aldehyde, ketone, ether groups.

Certain moieties may be linked to the 5' terminus of the first strand or the second strand and includes abasic ribose moiety, abasic deoxyribose moiety, modifications abasic ribose and abasic deoxyribose moieties including 2' O alkyl modifications; inverted abasic ribose and abasic deoxyribose moieties and modifications thereof, C6-imino-Pi; a mirror nucleotide including L-DNA and L-R A; 5'OMe nucleotide; and nucleotide analogs including 4',5'- methylene nucleotide; l-(P-D-erythrofuranosyl)nucleotide; 4'-thio nucleotide, carbocyclic nucleotide; 5 '-amino-alkyl phosphate; l,3-diamino-2-propyl phosphate, 3-aminopropyl phosphate; 6-aminohexyl phosphate; 12-aminododecyl phosphate; hydroxypropyl phosphate; 1,5-anhydrohexitol nucleotide; alpha-nucleotide; threo-pentofuranosyl nucleotide; acyclic 3',4'-seco nucleotide; 3,4-dihydroxybutyl nucleotide; 3,5-dihydroxypentyl nucleotide, 5'-5'- inverted abasic moiety; 1,4-butanediol phosphate; 5'-amino; and bridging or non bridging methylphosphonate and 5'-mercapto moieties.

The nucleic acids of the invention may include one or more inverted nucleotides, for example inverted thymidine or inverted adenine (for example see Takei, et al., 2002. JBC 277

(26) :23800-06). In particular, the nucleic acids of the invention may comprise a modification wherein the terminal nucleotide at the 3 ' end of at least one of the first strand and the second strand is an inverted nucleotide and is attached to the adjacent nucleotide via the 3' carbon of the terminal nucleotide and the 3' carbon of the adjacent nucleotide and/ or the terminal nucleotide at the 5 ' end of at least one of the first strand and the second strand is an inverted nucleotide and is attached to the adjacent nucleotide via the 5' carbon of the terminal nucleotide and the 5' carbon of the adjacent nucleotide. For example, the inverted nucleotide at the 3 ' end of at least one of the first strand and the second strand and/ or the inverted nucleotide at the 5 ' end of at least one of the first strand and the second strand is a purine, such as an adenine.

As used herein, the term "inhibit", "down-regulate", or "reduce" with respect to gene expression means the expression of the gene, or level of RNA molecules or equivalent R A molecules encoding one or more proteins or protein subunits (e.g., mRNA), or activity of one or more proteins or protein subunits, is reduced below that observed in the absence of a nucleic acid of the invention; for example the expression may be reduced to 90%, 80%>, 70%>, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 5% or less than that observed in the absence of an inhibitor. The nucleic acid of the present invention may comprise an abasic nucleotide. The term

"abasic" as used herein, refers to moieties lacking a base or having other chemical groups in place of a base at the Γ position, for example a 3',3'-linked or 5',5'-linked deoxyabasic ribose derivative.

The nucleic acid may comprise one or more nucleotides on the second and/or first strands that are modified. Alternating nucleotides may be modified, to form modified nucleotides.

Alternating as described herein means to occur one after another in a regular way. In other words, alternating means to occur in turn repeatedly. For example if one nucleotide is modified, the next contiguous nucleotide is not modified and the following contiguous nucleotide is modified and so on. One nucleotide may be modified with a first modification, the next contiguous nucleotide may be modified with a second modification and the following contiguous nucleotide is modified with the first modification and so on, where the first and second modifications are different.

One or more of the odd numbered nucleotides of the first strand of the nucleic acid of the invention may be modified wherein the first strand is numbered 5 ' to 3 ' . The term "odd numbered" as described herein means a number not divisible by two. Examples of odd numbers are 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and so on. One or more of the even numbered nucleotides of the first strand of the nucleic acid of the invention may be modified, wherein the first strand is numbered 5' to 3'. The term "even numbered" as described herein means a number which is evenly divisible by two. Examples of even numbers are 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and so on. One or more of the odd numbered nucleotides of the second strand of the nucleic acid of the invention may be modified wherein the second strand is numbered 3' to 5'. One or more of the even numbered nucleotides of the second strand of the nucleic acid of the invention may be modified, wherein the second strand is numbered 3' to 5'.

One or more nucleotides on the first and/or second strand may be modified, to form modified nucleotides. One or more of the odd numbered nucleotides of the first strand may be modified. One or more of the even numbered nucleotides of the first strand may be modified by at least a second modification, wherein the at least second modification is different from the modification on the one or more add nucleotides. At least one of the one or more modified even numbered nucleotides may be adjacent to at least one of the one or more modified odd numbered nucleotides.

A plurality of odd numbered nucleotides in the first strand may be modified in the nucleic acid of the invention. A plurality of even numbered nucleotides in the first strand may be modified by a second modification. The first strand may comprise adjacent nucleotides that are modified by a common modification. The first strand may also comprise adjacent nucleotides that are modified by a second different modification.

One or more of the odd numbered nucleotides of the second strand may be modified by a modification that is different to the modification of the odd numbered nucleotides on the first strand and/or one or more of the even numbered nucleotides of the second strand may be by the same modification of the odd numbered nucleotides of the first strand. At least one of the one or more modified even numbered nucleotides of the second strand may be adjacent to the one or more modified odd numbered nucleotides. A plurality of odd numbered nucleotides of the second strand may be modified by a common modification and/or a plurality of even numbered nucleotides may be modified by the same modification that is present on the first stand odd numbered nucleotides. A plurality of odd numbered nucleotides on the second strand may be modified by a second modification, wherein the second modification is different from the modification of the first strand odd numbered nucleotides.

The second strand may comprise adjacent nucleotides that are modified by a common modification, which may be a second modification that is different from the modification of the odd numbered nucleotides of the first strand. In the nucleic acid of the invention, each of the odd numbered nucleotides in the first strand and each of the even numbered nucleotides in the second strand may be modified with a common modification and, each of the even numbered nucleotides may be modified in the first strand with a second modification and each of the odd numbered nucleotides may be modified in the second strand with the second modification.

The nucleic acid of the invention may have the modified nucleotides of the first strand shifted by at least one nucleotide relative to the unmodified or differently modified nucleotides of the second strand.

One or more or each of the odd numbered nucleotides may be modified in the first strand and one or more or each of the even numbered nucleotides may be modified in the second strand. One or more or each of the alternating nucleotides on either or both strands may be modified by a second modification. One or more or each of the even numbered nucleotides may be modified in the first strand and one or more or each of the even numbered nucleotides may be modified in the second strand. One or more or each of the alternating nucleotides on either or both strands may be modified by a second modification. One or more or each of the odd numbered nucleotides may be modified in the first strand and one or more of the odd numbered nucleotides may be modified in the second strand by a common modification. One or more or each of the alternating nucleotides on either or both strands may be modified by a second modification. One or more or each of the even numbered nucleotides may be modified in the first strand and one or more or each of the odd numbered nucleotides may be modified in the second strand by a common modification. One or more or each of the alternating nucleotides on either or both strands may be modified by a second modification.

RNA Modifications

Modifications of the si NA molecules of the present invention generally provides a powerful tool in overcoming potential limitations including, but not limited to, in vitro and in vivo stability and bioavailability inherent to native RNA molecules. The siRNA according to the invention may be modified by chemical modifications. Modified siRNA can also minimize the possibility of activating interferon activity in humans. Modification can further enhance the functional delivery of a siRNA to a target cell. The modified siRNA of the present invention may comprise one or more chemically modified ribonucleotides of either or both of the antisense strand or the sense strand. A ribonucleotide may comprise a chemical modification of the base, sugar or phosphate moieties. The ribonucleic acid may be modified by substitution or insertion with analogues of nucleic acids or bases.

One or more nucleotides of a siRNA of the present invention may comprise a modified base. In one aspect, the siRNA comprises at least one nucleotide comprising a modified base. In one embodiment, the modified base in on the antisense strand. In another embodiment, the modified base in on the sense strand. In another embodiment, the modified base is in the duplex region. In another embodiment, the modified base is outside the duplex region, i.e., in a single stranded region. In another embodiment, the modified base is on the antisense strand and is outside the duplex region. In another embodiment, the modified base is on the sense strand and is outside the duplex region. In another embodiment, the 3 '-terminal nucleotide of the antisense strand is a nucleotide with a modified base. In another embodiment, the 3'- terminal nucleotide of the sense strand is nucleotide with a modified base. In another embodiment, the 5 '-terminal nucleotide of the antisense strand is nucleotide with a modified base. In another embodiment, the 5 '-terminal nucleotide of the sense strand is nucleotide with a modified base.

In one embodiment, a siRNA may have 1 modified base. In another embodiment, a siRNA may have about 2-4 modified bases. In another embodiment, a siRNA has about 4-6 modified bases. In another embodiment, a siRNA has about 6-8 modified bases. In another

embodiment, a siRNA has about 8-10 modified bases. In another embodiment, a siRNA has about 10-12 modified bases. In another embodiment, a siRNA has about 12-14 modified bases. In another embodiment, a siRNA has about 14-16 modified bases. In another embodiment, a siRNA has about 16-18 modified bases. In another embodiment, a siRNA has about 18-20 modified bases. In another embodiment, a siRNA has about 20-22 modified bases. In another embodiment, a siRNA has about 22-24 modified bases. In another embodiment, a siRNA has about 24-26 modified bases. In another embodiment, a siRNA has about 26-28 modified bases. In each case the siRNA comprising said modified bases retains at least 50% of its activity as compared to the same siRNA but without said modified bases.

The modified base may be a purine or a pyrimidine. In another embodiment, at least half of the purines are modified. In another embodiment, at least half of the pyrimidines are modified. In another embodiment, all of the purines are modified. In another embodiment, all of the pyrimidines are modified. In another embodiment, the siRNA may comprise a nucleotide comprising a modified base, wherein the base is selected from 2- aminoadenosine, 2,6-diaminopurine, inosine, pyridin-4-one, pyridin-2-one, phenyl, pseudouracil, 2, 4, 6-trimethoxy benzene, 3-methyl uracil, dihydrouridine, naphthyl, aminophenyl, 5-alkylcytidine (e.g., 5-methylcytidine), 5-alkyluridine (e.g., ribothymidine), 5- halouridine (e.g., 5-bromouridine), 6-azapyrimidine, 6-alkylpyrimidine (e.g. 6- methyluridine), propyne riboside (e.g. 5-(l-propynyl)-2'-deoxy-Uridine (pdU) or 5-(l- propynyl)-2'-deoxyCytidine (pdC)), queuosine, 2-thiouridine, 4-thiouridine, wybutosine, wybutoxosine, 4-acetylcytidine, 5-(carboxyhydroxymethyl)uridine, 5'- carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyluridine, beta-D- galactosylqueosine, 1-methyladenosine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanosine, 3- methylcytidine, 2-methyladenosine, 2-methylguanosine, N6-methyladenosine, 7- methylguanosine, 5-methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, 5-methylaminomethyluridine, 5- methylcarbonylmethyluridine, 5-methyloxyuridine, 5-methyl-2-thiouridine, 2-methylthio-N6- isopentenyladenosine, beta-D-mannosylqueosine, uridine-5-oxyacetic acid and 2- thiocytidine.

In another aspect, a siRNA of the present invention comprises an abasic nucleotide. The term "abasic" as used herein, refers to moieties lacking a base or having other chemical groups in place of a base at the Γ position, for example a 3 ',3 '-linked or 5',5'- linked deoxyabasic ribose derivative. As used herein, a nucleotide with a modified base does not include abasic nucleotides. In one aspect, the siRNA comprises at least one abasic nucleotide. In one embodiment, the abasic nucleotide is on the antisense strand. In another embodiment, the abasic nucleotide is on the sense strand. In another embodiment, the abasic nucleotide is in the duplex region. In another embodiment, the abasic nucleotide is outside the duplex region. In another embodiment, the abasic nucleotide is on the antisense strand and is outside the duplex region. In another embodiment, the abasic nucleotide is on the sense strand and is outside the duplex region. In another embodiment, the 3 '-terminal nucleotide of the antisense strand is an abasic nucleotide. In another embodiment, the 3 '-terminal nucleotide of the sense strand is an abasic nucleotide. In another embodiment, the 5 '-terminal nucleotide of the antisense strand is an abasic nucleotide. In another embodiment, the 5 '-terminal nucleotide of the sense strand is an abasic nucleotide. In another embodiment, a siRNA has a number of abasic nucleotides selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Advantages of the nucleic acid molecule of the invention may include: resistance to various nucleases; alleviation of immune response induction; improved circulation and tissue uptake; uptake by cells without additional delivery means; activation of R Ai-mediated target gene down-regulation; ease of manufacture. Modifications to sugar moiety

Another aspect relates to modifications to a sugar moiety. One or more nucleotides of a siRNA of the present invention may comprise a modified ribose moiety. Modifications at the 2'-position where the 2'-OH is substituted include the non-limiting examples selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkaryl-, arylalkyl-, -F, -CI, -Br, -CN, -CF3, -OCF3, -OCN, -O-alkyl, -S-alkyl, HS-alkyl-O, -O-alkenyl, -S-alkenyl, -N-alkenyl, -SO-alkyl, -alkyl-OSH, -alkyl-OH, -O-alkyl-OH, -O-alkyl-SH, -S-alkyl-OH, -S-alkyl-SH, -alkyl-S-alkyl, -alkyl-O-alkyl, -ON02, -N02, -N3, -NH2, alkylamino, dialkylamino-, aminoalkyl-, aminoalkoxy, aminoacid, aminoacyl-, -ONH2, -O-aminoalkyl, -O-aminoacid, -

O-aminoacyl, heterocycloalkyl-, heterocycloalkaryl-, aminoalkylamino-, polyalklylamino-, substituted silyl-, methoxyethyl- (MOE), alkenyl and alkynyl. "Locked" nucleic acids (LNA) in which the 2' hydroxyl is connected, e.g., by a methylene bridge, to the 4' carbon of the same ribose sugar is further included as a 2' modification of the present invention. Preferred substituents are 2'-methoxyethyl, 2'-0-CH3, 2'-0-allyl, 2'-C-allyl, and 2'-fluoro.

In one embodiment, the siRNA comprises 1-5 2'-modified nucleotides. In another

embodiment, the siRNA comprises 5-10 2'-modified nucleotides. In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises 15-20 2'-modified nucleotides. In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises 20-25 2'-modified nucleotides. In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises 25- 30 2 '-modified nucleotides.

In one embodiment, the siRNA comprises 1-5 2'-0-CH3 modified nucleotides. In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises 5-10 2'-0-CH3 modified nucleotides. In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises 15-20 2'-0-CH3 modified nucleotides. In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises 20-25 2'-0-CH3 modified nucleotides. In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises 25-30 2'-0-CH3 modified nucleotides. In one embodiment, the siRNA duplex region comprises 1-5 2'-0-CH3 modified nucleotides. In another embodiment, the siRNA duplex region comprises 5-10 2'-0-CH3 modified nucleotides. In another embodiment, the siRNA duplex region comprises 15-20 2'-0-CH3 modified nucleotides. In another embodiment, the siRNA duplex region comprises 20-25 2'- 0-CH3 modified nucleotides. In another embodiment, the siRNA duplex region comprises 25-30 2'-0-CH3 modified nucleotides.

In one embodiment, the siRNA comprises an antisense strand of 19 nucleotides in length and a sense strand 19 nucleotides in length, wherein said antisense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19, and wherein said sense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 ,14, 16 and 18, wherein said antisense strand is numbered from 5 '-3' and said sense strand is numbered from 3 '-5'. In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises an antisense strand 20 nucleotides in length and a sense strand 20 nucleotides in length, wherein said antisense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19, and wherein said sense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 ,14, 16, 18 and 20 wherein said antisense strand is numbered from 5 '-3' and said sense strand is numbered from 3 '-5'.

In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises an antisense strand 21 nucleotides in length and a sense strand 21 nucleotides in length, wherein said antisense strand comprises 2'-0- CH3 modifications at nucleotides 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21, and wherein said sense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 ,14, 16, 18 and 20, wherein said antisense strand is numbered from 5 '-3' and said sense strand is numbered from 3 '-5'. In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises an antisense strand 22 nucleotides in length and a sense strand 22 nucleotides in length, wherein said antisense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21, and wherein said sense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 ,14, 16, 18, 20 and 22, wherein said antisense strand is numbered from 5'-3' and said sense strand is numbered from 3 '-5'. In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises an antisense strand 23 nucleotides in length and a sense strand 23 nucleotides in length, wherein said antisense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23, and wherein said sense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 ,14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 wherein said antisense strand is numbered from 5 '-3' and said sense strand is numbered from 3 '-5'. In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises an antisense strand 18-23 nucleotides in length and a sense strand 18-23 nucleotides in length, wherein said antisense strand comprises 2'-0- CH3 modifications at nucleotides 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17, and wherein said sense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 ,14 and 16, wherein said antisense strand is numbered from 5 '-3 ' and said sense strand is numbered from 3 '-5 ' . In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises an antisense strand 18-23 nucleotides in length and a sense strand 18-23 nucleotides in length, wherein said antisense strand comprises 2'-0- CH3 modifications at nucleotides 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15, and wherein said sense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14, wherein said antisense strand is numbered from 5 '-3 ' and said sense strand is numbered from 3 '-5 ' . In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises an antisense strand 18-23 nucleotides in length and a sense strand 18-23 nucleotides in length, wherein said antisense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 7, 9, 11, 13 and wherein said sense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 8, 10 and 12, wherein said antisense strand is numbered from 5'- 3' and said sense strand is numbered from 3 '-5'. In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises an antisense strand 18-23 nucleotides in length and a sense strand 18-23 nucleotides in length, wherein said antisense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 7, 9 and 11, and wherein said sense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 8, 10 and 12, wherein said antisense strand is numbered from 5'-3' and said sense strand is numbered from 3 '-5'. In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises an antisense strand 18-23 nucleotides in length and a sense strand 18-23 nucleotides in length, wherein said antisense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 7 and 9, and wherein said sense strand comprises 2'-0-CH3 modifications at nucleotides 8 and 10, wherein said antisense strand is numbered from 5 '-3' and said sense strand is numbered from 3 '-5'. In another embodiment, the siRNA comprises an antisense strand 18-23 nucleotides in length and a sense strand 18-23 nucleotides in length, wherein said antisense strand comprises 2'-0- CH3 modifications at nucleotides 9 and 11, and wherein said sense strand comprises 2'-0- CH3 modifications at nucleotides 8 and 10, wherein said antisense strand is numbered from 5 '-3' and said sense strand is numbered from 3 '-5'. Cleavable Linking Groups

A cleavable linking group is a linker which is stable outside the cell but is cleaved upon entry into a target cell. Cleavage releases the two parts the linker is holding together. In a preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid of the invention comprises a cleavable linking group that is cleaved at least 10 times or more, preferably at least 100-fold faster in a target cell or under a first reference condition (which can, for example, be selected to mimic or represent intracellular conditions) than in the blood of a subject, or under a second reference condition (which can, for example, be selected to mimic or represent conditions found in the blood or serum).

Cleavable linking groups are susceptible to cleavage agents, e.g. pH, redox potential, or the presence of degradative molecules. Degradative molecules include oxidative or reductive enzymes, reductive agents (such as mercaptans), esterases, endosomes or agents than can create an acidic environment, enzymes that can hydrolyze or degrade an acid cleavable linking group by acting as a general acid, peptidases, and phosphatases.

A cleavable linking group may be a disulphide bond, which is susceptible to pH.

A linker may include a cleavable linking group that is cleavable by a particular enzyme. The type of cleavable linking group incorporated into a linker can depend on the target cell. For example, a linker that includes an ester group is preferred when a liver cell is the target.

Linkers that contain peptide bonds can be used when targeting cells rich in peptidases, such as liver cells and synoviocytes.

In general, the suitability of a candidate cleavable linking group can be evaluated by testing the ability of a degradative agent (or condition) to cleave the candidate linking group. It will also be desirable to also test the candidate cleavable linking group for the ability to resist cleavage in the blood or when in contact with other non-target tissue. In preferred embodiments, useful candidate compounds are cleaved at least 2, 4, 10 or 100 times faster in the cell (or under in vitro conditions selected to mimic intracellular conditions) as compared to blood or serum (or under in vitro conditions selected to mimic extracellular conditions). In one aspect, the cleavable linking group may be a redox cleavable linking group. The redox cleavable linking group may be a disulphide linking group.

In one aspect, the linking group may be a phosphate-based cleavable linking group. Preferred embodiments are -0-P(0)(OH)-0-, -0-P(S)(OH)-0-, -0-P(S)(SH)-0-, -S-P(0)(OH)-0-, -O- P(0)(OH)-S-, -S-P(0)(OH)-S-, -0-P(S)(OH)-S-, -S-P(S)(OH)-0-, -0-Ρ(0)(Η)-0-, -O- P(S)(H)-0-, -S-P(0)(H)-0-, -S-P(S)(H)-0-, -S-P(0)(H)-S-, -0-P(S)(H)-S-. A preferred embodiment is -0-P(0)(OH)-0-.

In one aspect, the cleavable linking group may be an acid cleavable linking group. Preferably the acid cleavable linking group are cleaved in environments where the pH is 6.5 or lower, or are cleaved by agents such as enzymes that can act as a general acid. Examples of acid cleavable linking groups include but are not limited to hydrazones, esters, and esters of amino acids. Acid cleavable groups can have the general formula -C= N-; C(0)0, or -OC(O). A preferred embodiment is a linking group where the carbon attached to the oxygen of the ester (the alkoxy group) is an aryl group, substituted alkyl group, or tertiary alkyl group such as dimethyl pentyl or t-butyl.

In one embodiment, the cleavable linking group may be an ester-based cleavable linking group. Examples of ester-based cleavable linking groups include but are not limited to esters of alkylene, alkenylene and alkynylene groups.

In one embodiment, the cleavable linking group may be a peptide-based cleavable linking group. Peptide-based cleavable linking groups are peptide bonds formed between amino acids to yield oligopeptides (e.g., dipeptides, tripeptides etc.) and polypeptides. The peptide based cleavage group is generally limited to the peptide bond (i.e., the amide bond) formed between amino acids yielding peptides and proteins and does not include the entire amide functional group. Peptide-based cleavable linking groups have the general formula - NHCHRAC(0)NHCHRBC(0)-, where RA and RB are the R groups of the two adjacent amino acids.

Pattern

In one aspect, the antisense duplex region comprises a plurality of groups of modified nucleotides, referred to herein as "modified groups", wherein each modified group consists of one or more identically modified nucleotides, wherein each modified group is flanked on one or both sides by a second group of nucleotides, referred to herein as "flanking groups", wherein each said flanking group consists of one or more nucleotides that are either unmodified or modified in a manner different from the nucleotides of said modified group. In one embodiment, each modified group in the antisense duplex region is identical, i.e., each modified group consists of an equal number of identically modified nucleotides. In another embodiment, each flanking group has an equal number of nucleotide. In another embodiment, each flanking group is identical. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups in the antisense duplex region comprise a modified base. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups comprise a modified phosphate backbone. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups comprise a modified 2' position.

In another aspect, the sense duplex region comprises a plurality of groups of modified groups, wherein each modified group consists of one or more identically modified nucleotides, wherein each modified group is flanked on one or both sides by a flanking group, wherein each said flanking group consists of one or more nucleotides that are either unmodified or modified in a manner different from the nucleotides of said modified group. In one embodiment, each modified group in the sense duplex region is identical. In another embodiment, each flanking group has an equal number of nucleotides. In another

embodiment, each flanking group is identical. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups in the sense duplex region comprise a modified base. In another

embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups comprise a modified phosphate backbone. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups comprise a modified 2' position.

In another aspect, the antisense duplex region and the sense duplex region each comprise a plurality of modified groups, wherein each modified group consists of one or more identically modified nucleotides, wherein each modified group is flanked on one or both sides by a flanking group, wherein each said flanking group consists of one or more nucleotides that are either unmodified or modified in a manner different from the nucleotides of said modified group. In one embodiment, each modified group in the antisense duplex region and the sense duplex region are identical. In another embodiment, each flanking group in the antisense duplex region and the sense duplex region each have an equal number of nucleotides. In another embodiment, each flanking group in the antisense duplex region and in the sense duplex region are identical. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups in the antisense duplex region and the sense duplex region each comprise the same modified groups and the same flanking groups. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups in the antisense duplex region and the sense duplex region each comprise a modified base. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups in the antisense duplex region and the sense duplex region each comprise a modified phosphate backbone. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups in the antisense duplex region and the sense duplex region each comprise a modified 2' position.

In one aspect, the antisense strand comprises a plurality of groups of modified nucleotides, referred to herein as "modified groups", wherein each modified group consists of one or more identically modified nucleotides, wherein each modified group is fianked on one or both sides by a second group of nucleotides, referred to herein as "flanking groups", wherein each said flanking group consists of one or more nucleotides that are either unmodified or modified in a manner different from the nucleotides of said modified group. In one embodiment, each modified group in the antisense strand is identical, i.e., each modified group consists of an equal number of identically modified nucleotides. In another embodiment, each flanking group has an equal number of nucleotide. In another embodiment, each flanking group is identical. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups in the antisense strand comprise a modified base. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups comprise a modified phosphate backbone. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups comprise a modified 2' position.

In another aspect, the sense strand comprises a plurality of groups of modified groups, wherein each modified group consists of one or more identically modified nucleotides, wherein each modified group is flanked on one or both sides by a flanking group, wherein each said flanking group consists of one or more nucleotides that are either unmodified or modified in a manner different from the nucleotides of said modified group. In one embodiment, each modified group in the sense strand is identical. In another embodiment, each flanking group has an equal number of nucleotides. In another embodiment, each flanking group is identical. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups in the sense strand comprise a modified base. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups comprise a modified phosphate backbone. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups comprise a modified 2' position.

In another aspect, the antisense strand and the sense strand each comprise a plurality of modified groups, wherein each modified group consists of one or more identically modified nucleotides, wherein each modified group is flanked on one or both sides by a flanking group, wherein each said flanking group consists of one or more nucleotides that are either unmodified or modified in a manner different from the nucleotides of said modified group. In one embodiment, each modified group in the antisense strand and the sense strand are identical. In another embodiment, each flanking group in the antisense strand and the sense strand each have an equal number of nucleotides. In another embodiment, each flanking group in the antisense strand and in the sense strand are identical. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups in the antisense strand and the sense strand each comprise the same modified groups and the same flanking groups. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups in the antisense strand and the sense strand each comprise a modified base. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups in the antisense strand and the sense strand each comprise a modified phosphate backbone. In another embodiment, the nucleotides of said modified groups in the antisense strand and the sense strand each comprise a modified 2' position.

In another aspect, the modified groups and the flanking groups form a regular pattern on the antisense stand. In another aspect, the modified groups and the flanking groups form a regular pattern on the sense strand. In one embodiment, the modified groups and the flanking groups form a regular pattern on the both the antisense strand and the sense strand. In another embodiment, the modified groups and the flanking groups form a regular pattern on the antisense duplex region. In another aspect, the modified groups and the flanking groups form a regular pattern on the sense duplex region. In one embodiment, the modified groups and the flanking groups form a regular pattern on the both the antisense duplex region and the sense duplex region.

In another aspect, the pattern is a spatial or positional pattern. A spatial or positional pattern means that (a) nucleotide(s) are modified depending on their position within the nucleotide sequence of a double-stranded portion. Accordingly, it does not matter whether the nucleotide to be modified is a pyrimidine or a purine. Rather the position of a modified nucleotide is dependent upon: (a) its numbered position on a strand of nucleic acid, wherein the

nucleotides are numbered from the 5 '-end to the 3 '-end with the 5 '-end nucleotide of the strand being position one (both the antisense strand and sense strand are numbered from their respective 5 '-end nucleotide), or (b) the position of the modified group relative to a flanking group. Thus, according to this embodiment, the modification pattern will always be the same, regardless of the sequence which is to be modified. In one embodiment, each modified group on both the antisense strand and the sense strand is identical. In one embodiment, each modified group on both the antisense duplex region and the sense duplex region is identical. In another embodiment, each modified group and each flanking group on both the antisense strand and the sense strand are identical. In one embodiment, each modified group and each flanking group on both the antisense duplex region and the sense duplex region are identical.

In one embodiment, each modified group, each modified group position, each flanking group and each flanking group position on both the antisense strand and the sense strand are identical. In one embodiment, each modified group, each modified group position, each flanking group and each flanking group position on both the antisense duplex region and the sense duplex region are identical. In another embodiment, the modified groups on the antisense strand are complementary with the modified groups on the sense strand (the modified groups on the antisense strand and the sense strand are perfectly aligned across from one another). In another embodiment, there are no mismatches in the modified groups such that each modified group on the antisense strand is base paired with each modified group on the sense strand.

In another embodiment, each modified group on the sense strand is shifted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 nucleotides relative to the modified groups on the antisense strand. For example, if each modified group on the sense strand is shifted by one nucleotide or one group of nucleotides and a modified group started at position one on the antisense strand, a modified group on the sense strand would begin at position two. In another embodiment, the modified groups of the antisense strand do not overlap the modified groups of the sense strand, i.e., no nucleotide of a modified group on the antisense strand is base paired with a nucleotide of a modified group on the sense strand. In one embodiment, deoxyribonucleotides at an end of a strand of nucleic acid are not considered when determining a position of a modified group, i.e., the positional numbering begins with the first ribonucleotide or modified ribonucleotide. In another embodiment, abasic nucleotides at an end of a strand of nucleic acid are not considered when determining a position of a modified group. In one aspect, a modified group comprises a 5 '-end nucleotide of either or both of the antisense strand and the sense strand. In another embodiment, a flanking group comprises the 5 '-end nucleotide of either or both of the antisense strand and the sense strand. In another embodiment, the 5 '-end nucleotide of either or both of the antisense strand and the sense strand is unmodified. In another embodiment, a modified group comprises the 5 '-most nucleotide of either or both of the antisense duplex region and sense duplex region. In another embodiment, a flanking group comprises the 5 '-most nucleotide of either or both of the antisense duplex region or the sense duplex region. In another embodiment, the 5 '-most nucleotide of either or both of the antisense duplex region or the sense duplex region is unmodified. In one embodiment, the modification at the 2' position is selected from the group comprising amino, fluoro, methoxy, alkoxy and Cl-C3-alkyl. In another embodiment, the modification may be selected from 2'-0-methyl,2'-amino-2'-deoxy, 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro, 2'-0-methyl, 2'-0-alkyl, and 2'-0-(Cl-C3-alkyl). In another embodiment, the modification at the 2' position is 2'-0-methyl.

In another aspect, each modified group consists of one nucleotide and each flanking group consists of one nucleotide. In one embodiment, each modified group on the antisense strand is aligned with a flanking group on the sense strand. In another embodiment, the alignment of each modified group on the antisense strand with the modified group on the sense strand is shifted by one or more nucleotides.

Modifications to phosphate backbone

Another aspect relates to modifications to a phosphate backbone. All or a portion of the nucleotides of the siRNA of the invention may be linked through phosphodiester bonds, as found in unmodified nucleic acid. A siRNA of the present invention however, may comprise a modified phosphodiester linkage. The phosphodiester linkages of either the antisense stand or the sense strand may be modified to independently include at least one heteroatom selected from nitrogen and sulfur. In one embodiment, a phosphoester group connecting a ribonucleotide to an adjacent ribonucleotide is replaced by a modified group. In one embodiment, the modified group replacing the phosphoester group is selected from phosphorothioate, methylphosphonate, phosphorodithioate or phosphoramidate group.

In one embodiment, all of the nucleotides of the antisense strand are linked through phosphodiester bonds. In another embodiment, all of the nucleotides of the antisense duplex region are linked through phosphodiester bonds. In another embodiment, all of the nucleotides of the sense strand are linked through phosphodiester bonds. In another embodiment, all of the nucleotides of the sense duplex region are linked through phosphodiester bonds. In another embodiment, the antisense strand comprises a number of modified phosphoester groups selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. In another embodiment, the antisense duplex region comprises a number of modified phosphoester groups selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. In another embodiment, the sense strand comprises a number of modified phosphoester groups selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. In another embodiment, the sense duplex region comprises a number of modified phosphoester groups selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.

5 ' and 3 ' end modifications The siRNA of the present invention may include nucleic acid molecules comprising one or more modified nucleotides, abasic nucleotides, acyCLIC or deoxyribonucleotide at the terminal 5'- or 3 '-end on either or both of the sense or antisense strands. In one embodiment, the 5'- and 3 '-end nucleotides of both the sense and antisense strands are unmodified. In another embodiment, the 5 '-end nucleotide of the antisense strand is modified. In another embodiment, the 5 '-end nucleotide of the sense strand is modified. In another embodiment, the 3 '-end nucleotide of the antisense strand is modified. In another embodiment, the 3 '-end nucleotide of the sense strand is modified. In another embodiment, the 5 '-end nucleotide of the antisense strand and the 5 '-end nucleotide of the sense strand are modified. In another embodiment, the 3 '-end nucleotide of the antisense strand and the 3 '-end nucleotide of the sense strand are modified. In another embodiment, the 5 '-end nucleotide of the antisense strand and the 3 '-end nucleotide of the sense strand are modified. In another embodiment, the 3 '-end nucleotide of the antisense strand and the 5 '-end nucleotide of the sense strand are modified. In another embodiment, the 3 '-end nucleotide of the antisense strand and both the 5'- and 3 '-end nucleotides of the sense strand are modified. Both the 5'- and 3 '-end nucleotides of the antisense strand may be modified. In another embodiment, both the 5'- and 3 '-end nucleotides of the sense strand are modified.

The 5 '-end nucleotide of the antisense strand may be phosphorylated. In another

embodiment, the 5 '-end nucleotide of the sense strand is phosphorylated. In another embodiment, the 5 '-end nucleotides of both the antisense strand and the sense strand are phosphorylated. In another embodiment, the 5 '-end nucleotide of the antisense strand is phosphorylated and the 5 '-end nucleotide of the sense strand has a free hydroxyl group (5'- OH). In another embodiment, the 5 '-end nucleotide of the antisense strand is phosphorylated and the 5 '-end nucleotide of the sense strand is modified. In another embodiment the 5 '-end nucleotide of the antisense strand carries a 5 ^'-(E)-vinylphosphonate.

Modifications to the 5'- and 3 '-end nucleotides are not limited to the 5' and 3' positions on these terminal nucleotides. Examples of modifications to end nucleotides include, but are not limited to, biotin, inverted (deoxy) abasics, amino, fluoro, chloro, bromo, CN, CF, methoxy, imidazole, carboxylate, thioate, C₁ to C₁o lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, alkaryl or arylalkyl, OCF₃, OCN, 0-, S-, or N-alkyl; 0-, S-, or N-alkenyl; S0-CH3; S0₂CH₃; 0N0₂; N0₂, N₃; heterocycloalkyl; heterocycloalkaryl; aminoalkylamino; polyalkylamino or substituted silyl, as, among others, described, e.g., in PCT patent application WO 99/54459, European patents EP 0 586 520 Bl or EP 0 618 925 Bl, incorporated by reference in their entireties. As used herein, "alkyl" means C₁- C₁₂-alkyl and "lower alkyl" means C₁-C6-alkyl, including C₁-, C₂-, C₃-, C₄-, C₅- and C6-alkyl.

In another aspect, the 5 '-end of the antisense strand, the 5'- end of the sense strand, the 3 '-end of the antisense strand or the 3 '-end of the sense strand may be covalently connected to a prodrug moiety. In one embodiment, the moiety may be cleaved in an endosome. In another the moiety may be cleaved in the cytoplasm.

Examples of different kinds of end modification(s) are presented in Table 1.

In another embodiment, the terminal 3' nucleotide or two terminal 3 '-nucleotides on either or both of the antisense strand or sense strand is a 2'-deoxynucleotide. In another embodiment, the 2'-deoxynucleotide is a 2'-deoxy-pyrimidine. In another embodiment, the 2'- deoxynucleotide is a 2' deoxy-thymidine. The nucleic acid of the present invention can be produced using routine methods in the art including chemically synthesis or expressing the nucleic acid either in vitro (e.g., run off transcription) or in vivo. For example, using solid phase chemical synthesis or using an expression vector. In one embodiment, the expression vector can produce the nucleic acid of the invention in a target cell. Methods for the synthesis of the nucleic acid molecule described herein are known to persons skilled in the art.

Formulations for delivery of the nucleic acids of the present invention

Conjugates of the invention (such as siRNAs) can be delivered to cells, both in vitro and in vivo, by a variety of methods known to those skilled in the art, including direct contact with cells ("naked" siRNA) or by combination with one or more agents that facilitate targeting or delivery into cells. Such agents and methods include lipoplexes, liposomes, iontophoresis, hydrogels, cyclodextrins, nanocapsules, micro- and nanospheres and proteinaceous vectors. The nucleic acid/vehicle combination may be locally delivered in vivo by direct injection or by use of an infusion pump. Conjugates of the invention (such as siRNAs) can be delivered in vivo by various means including intravenous subcutaneous, intramuscular or intradermal injection or inhalation. The molecules can be used as pharmaceutical agents. Preferably, pharmaceutical agents prevent, modulate the occurrence, treat or alleviate a symptom of a disease state in a subject.

Conjugates of the invention (such as siRNAs) may be formulated as pharmaceutical compositions. The pharmaceutical compositions may be used as medicaments or as diagnostic agents, alone or in combination with other agents. For example, one or more conjugates of the invention (such as siRNAs) can be combined with a delivery vehicle (e.g., liposomes) and excipients, such as carriers, diluents. Other agents such as preservatives and stabilizers can also be added. Methods for the delivery of nucleic acid molecules are known in the art and within the knowledge of the person skilled in the art.

Pharmaceutically acceptable compositions may comprise a therapeutically-effective amount of one or more conjugates of the invention (such as siRNAs), taken alone or formulated with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipient and/or diluents.

Examples of materials which can serve as pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers include: (1) sugars, such as lactose, glucose and sucrose; (2) starches, such as corn starch and potato starch; (3) cellulose, and its derivatives, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate; (4) powdered tragacanth; (5) malt; (6) gelatin; (7) lubricating agents, such as magnesium state, sodium lauryl sulfate and talc; (8) excipients, such as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; (9) oils, such as peanut oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil and soybean oil; (10) glycols, such as propylene glycol; (11) polyols, such as glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol and polyethylene glycol; (12) esters, such as ethyl oleate and ethyl laurate; (13) agar; (14) buffering agents, such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide; (15) alginic acid; (16) pyrogen- free water; (17) isotonic saline; (18) Ringer's solution; (19) ethyl alcohol; (20) pH buffered solutions; (21) polyesters, polycarbonates and/or polyanhydrides; (22) bulking agents, such as polypeptides and amino acids (23) serum component, such as serum albumin, HDL and LDL; and (22) other non-toxic compatible substances employed in pharmaceutical formulations. Stabilisers may be agents that stabilise the conjugates of the invention (such as siRNAs), for example a protein that can complex with the nucleic acid, chelators (e.g. EDTA), salts, RNAse inhibitors, and DNAse inhibitors.

In some cases it is desirable to slow the absorption of the drug from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection in order to prolong the effect of a drug. This may be accomplished by the use of a liquid suspension of crystalline or amorphous material having poor water solubility. The rate of absorption of the drug then depends upon its rate of dissolution which, in turn, may depend upon crystal size and crystalline form. Alternatively, delayed absorption of a parenterally-administered drug form is accomplished by dissolving or suspending the drug in an oil vehicle.

Conjugates of the invention (such as siRNAs) can also be administered in combination with other therapeutic compounds, either administrated separately or simultaneously, e.g., as a combined unit dose. In one embodiment, the invention includes a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more siRNA conjugates according to the present invention in a physiologically/pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, such as a stabilizer, preservative, diluent, buffer, and the like. Conjugates of the invention (such as siRNAs) may, for example be formulated in water for example water for injection, saline or phosphate buffered saline.

Surfactants

Compositions comprising the conjugates of the invention (such as siRNAs) may include a surfactant. In one embodiment, the conjugate of the invention (such as siRNAs) is formulated as an emulsion that includes a surfactant.

A surfactant that is not ionized is a non-ionic surfactant. Examples include non-ionic esters, such as ethylene glycol esters, propylene glycol esters, glyceryl esters etc., nonionic alkanolamides, and ethers such as fatty alcohol ethoxylates, propoxylated alcohols, and ethoxylated/propoxylated block polymers.

A surfactant that carries a negative charge when dissolved or dispersed in water is an anionic surfactant. Examples include carboxylates, such as soaps, acyl lactylates, acyl amides of amino acids, esters of sulfuric acid such as alkyl sulfates and ethoxylated alkyl sulfates, sulfonates such as alkyl benzene sulfonates, acyl isethionates, acyl taurates and sulfosuccinates, and phosphates. A surfactant that carries a positive charge when dissolved or dispersed in water is a cationic surfactant. Examples include quaternary ammonium salts and ethoxylated amines.

A surfactant that has the ability to carry either a positive or negative charge is an amphoteric surfactant. Examples include acrylic acid derivatives, substituted alkylamides, N-alkylbetaines and phosphatides.

Micelles and Other Membranous Formulations

"Micelles" are defined herein as a particular type of molecular assembly in which amphipathic molecules are arranged in a spherical structure such that all the hydrophobic portions of the molecules are directed inward, leaving the hydrophilic portions in contact with the surrounding aqueous phase. The converse arrangement exists if the environment is hydrophobic. A micelle may be formed by mixing an aqueous solution of the nucleic acid, an alkali metal alkyl sulphate, and at least one micelle forming compound.

Exemplary micelle forming compounds include lecithin, hyaluronic acid, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, chamomile extract, cucumber extract, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, monoolein, monooleates, monolaurates, borage oil, evening of primrose oil, menthol, trihydroxy oxo cholanyl glycine and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, glycerin, polyglycerin, lysine, polylysine, triolein, polyoxy ethylene ethers and analogues thereof, polidocanol alkyl ethers and analogues thereof, chenodeoxycholate, deoxycholate, and mixtures thereof. Phenol and/or m-cresol may be added to the mixed micellar composition to act as a stabiliser and preservative. An isotonic agent such as glycerine may as be added.

Particles

A composition comprising conjugate of the invention (such as siRNAs) may be incorporated into a particle such as a microparticle. Microparticles can be produced by spray-drying, lyophilisation, evaporation, fluid bed drying, vacuum drying, or a combination of these methods.

Dosage

Dosage levels for the medicament and pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can be determined by those skilled in the art by routine experimentation. In one embodiment, a unit dose may contain between about 0.01 mg/kg and about 100 mg/kg body weight of siRNA. Alternatively, the dose can be from 10 mg/kg to 25 mg/kg body weight, or 1 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg body weight, or 0.05 mg/kg to 5 mg/kg body weight, or 0.1 mg/kg to 5 mg/kg body weight, or 0.1 mg/kg tol mg/kg body weight, or 0.1 mg/kg to 0.5 mg/kg body weight, or 0.5 mg/kg to 1 mg/kg body weight.

The pharmaceutical composition may be a sterile injectable aqueous suspension or solution, or in a lyophilized form. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition may comprise lyophilized lipoplexes or an aqueous suspension of lipoplexes. The lipoplexes preferably comprises a siRNA of the present invention. Such lipoplexes may be used to deliver the siRNA of the invention to a target cell either in vitro or in vivo.

The pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments of the present invention may be administered to a mammalian subject in a pharmaceutically effective dose. The mammal may be selected from humans, dogs, cats, horses, cattle, pig, goat, sheep, mouse, rat, hamster and guinea pig. In one embodiment, a subject is administered an initial dose and one or more maintenance doses of a conjugate of the invention (such as siRNAs). The maintenance dose or doses can be the same or lower than the initial dose, e.g., one-half less of the initial dose. The maintenance doses are, for example, administered no more than once every 2, 5, 10, or 30 days. The treatment regimen may last for a period of time which will vary depending upon the nature of the particular disease, its severity and the overall condition of the patient.

Routes of Delivery

A conjugated composition that includes a double stranded siRNA can be delivered to a subject by a variety of routes. Exemplary routes include: sub cuteanous, intravenous, topical, rectal, anal, vaginal, nasal, pulmonary, ocular. The conjugated composition can be incorporated into pharmaceutical compositions suitable for administration with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. As used herein the language "pharmaceutically acceptable carrier" is intended to include any and ail solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and ant ifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like, compatible with pharmaceutical administration. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art. Except insofar as any convent ional media or agent is incompat ible with the active compound, use thereof in the compositions is contemplated. Supplementary active compounds can also be incorporated into the compositions. The composit ions of the present invent ion may be administered in a number of ways depending upon whether local or systemic treatment is desired and upon the area to be treated. Administration may be topical ( including ophthalmic, vaginal, rectal, intranasal, transdermal), oral or parenteral. Parenteral administration includes intrav enous drip, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection, or intrathecal or intraventricular administration.

The pharmaceutical composit ion may be specially formulated for administration in solid or liquid form. The composition may be formulated for oral administration, parenteral administration ( including, for example, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, or epidural inject ion ), topical applicat ion, intrav aginal or intrarectal admin istration, sublingual administration, ocular administration, transdermal administration, or nasal administration.

Delivery using subcutaneous or intravenous methods are preferred.

The route and site of administration may be chosen to enhance targeting. For example, to target muscle cells, intramuscular injection into the muscles of interest would be a logical choice. Lung cel ls might be targeted by administering the RNAi in aerosol form. The vascular endothel ial cells could be targeted by coating a balloon catheter with the RNAi and mechanical ly introducing the iRNA

Target gene

The target gene may be Factor VII, Eg5, PCSK9, TPX2, apoB, SAA, TTR, RSV, PDGF beta gene, Erb-B gene, Src gene, CRK gene, GRB2 gene, RAS gene, MEKK gene, TNK gene, RAF gene, Erkl/2 gene, PCNA(p21) gene, MYB gene, JU gene, FOS gene, BCL-2 gene, hepcidin, Activated Protein C, Cyclin D gene, VEGF gene, EGFR gene, Cyclin A gene, Cyclin E gene, WNT-1 gene, beta-catenin gene, c-MET gene, PKC gene, NFKB gene, STAT3 gene, survivin gene, Her2/Neu gene, topoisomerase I gene, topoisomerase II alpha gene, mutations in the p73 gene, mutations in the p21(WAF 1/CIPl) gene, mutations in the p27(KIPl) gene, mutations in the PPM ID gene, mutations in the RAS gene, mutations in the caveolin I gene, mutations in the MIB I gene, mutations in the MTAI gene, mutations in the M68 gene, mutations in tumor suppressor genes, and mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene.

It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the modification, modifications of the sugar moiety, pattern, 5' and 3' end modifications, overhangs, formulations, delivery, dosage and routes of delivery as described above may equally be applied to any type of RNAi molecule and is not limited to siRNAs.

GalNAc conjugates according to the invention may be used for the treatment of liver diseases, chronic diseases, Thalassemia, drug induced liver injury, hemochromatosis and anemia or anemia of chronic disease. In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of delivery of nucleic acids to hepatocytes using the conjugates according to the present invention. The method comprises the steps of contacting the hepatocyte with the compound of the present invention. The method may be used in vitro or in vivo, for diagnostic purposes, therapy or research purposes.

The conjugates of the invention, in at least some embodiments, are expected to have one or more of the following advantageous properties:

• good gene knock-down potency in an RNAi setting;

• good duration of action;

• good stability;

• good targeting of cells by the conjugated ligand; · resistance to various nucleases;

• alleviation of immune response induction;

• improved circulation and tissue uptake;

• targeting cells by the conjugated ligand;

• uptake by cells without additional delivery means; · activation of RNAi-mediated target gene down-regulation; and

• ease of manufacture.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET RULE 26

General information

Example compounds were synthesised according to methods described below and methods known to the person skilled in the art. Assembly of the oligonucleotide chain and linker building blocks was performed by solid phase synthesis applying phosphoramidite methodology. GalNAc conjugation was achieved by peptide bond formation of a GalNAc- carboxylic acid building block to the prior assembled and purified oligonucleotide having the necessary number of amino modified linker building blocks attached.

Oligonucleotide synthesis, deprotection and purification followed standard procedures that are known in the art.

All Oligonucleotides were synthesized on an AKTA oligopilot synthesizer using standard phosphoramidite chemistry. Commercially available solid support and 2O-Methyl RNA phosphoramidites, 2^'Fluoro, 2^'Deoxy RNA phosphoramidites (all standard protection, ChemGenes, LinkTech) and commercially available 3 '-Amino Modifier TFA Amino C-6 lcaa CPG 500 A (Chemgenes) were used. Per-acetylated galactose amine 8 is commercially available.

Ancillary reagents were purchased from EMP Biotech. Synthesis was performed using a 0.1 M solution of the phosphoramidite in dry acetonitrile and benzylthiotetrazole (BTT) was used as activator (0.3M in acetonitrile). Coupling time was 15 min. A Cap/OX/Cap or Cap/Thio/Cap cycle was applied (Cap: Ac20/NMI/Lutidine/ Acetonitrile, Oxidizer: 0.1M I₂ in pyridine/lHbO). Phosphorothioates were introduced using standard commercially available thiolation reagent (EDITH, Link technologies). DMT cleavage was achieved by treatment with 3% dichloroacetic acid in toluene. Upon completion of the programmed synthesis cycles a diethylamine (DEA) wash was performed. All oligonucleotides were synthesized in DMT-off mode.

Attachment of the serinol-derived linker moiety was achieved by use of either base-loaded (S)- DMT-Serinol(TFA)-succinate-lcaa-CPG 10 or a (S)-DMT-Serinol(TFA) phosphoramidite 7 (synthesis was performed as described in literature Hoevelmann et al. Chem. Sci., 2016,7, 128- 135). Tri-antennary GalNAc clusters (ST23 or C4XLT/ST41) were introduced by successive coupling of the respective trebler amidite derivatives (C4XLT/ST41) followed by the GalNAc amidite (ST23).

The single strands were cleaved off the CPG by 40% aq. methylamine treatment. The resulting crude oligonucleotide was purified by ion exchange chromatography (Resource Q, 6mL, GE Healthcare) on a AKTA Pure HPLC System using a sodium chloride gradient. Product containing fractions were pooled, desalted on a size exclusion column (Zetadex, EMP Biotech) and lyophilised.

Trivalent GalNAc ST13 and monomeric GalNAc synthon (ST32) were coupled by peptide bond formation between ST13 or ST32 to the appropriate amino -modified precursor molecule using the peptide coupling reagent HBTU in presence of DIPEA. After this conjugation step the conjugate again was purified by IEX-HPLC and SEC.

Individual single strands were dissolved in a concentration of 60 OD/mL in H₂0. Both individual oligonucleotide solutions were added together in a reaction vessel. For easier reaction monitoring a titration was performed. The first strand was added in 25% excess over the second strand as determined by UV-absorption at 260nm. The reaction mixture was heated to 80°C for 5min and then slowly cooled to RT. Double strand formation was monitored by ion pairing reverse phase HPLC. From the UV-area of the residual single strand the needed amount of the second strand was calculated and added to the reaction mixture. The reaction was heated to 80°C again and slowly cooled to RT. This procedure was repeated until less than 10% of residual single strand was detected. All reactions were carried out under a nitrogen atmosphere, unless stated otherwise. NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker 400 MHz UltrashieldTM and all chemical shifts (δ) were determined relative to TMS.

The synthesis of compounds ST23 and ST41 is described in WO 2017/174657 (Silence Therapeutics GMBH). The structures of these compounds are shown in the table below. When referred to in the context of being conjugated to the oligonucleotide, the respective compounds have the structure shows in the column labelled "Moiety" in the table below wherein the terminal O- indicates the position of attachment to the oligonucleotide):

wherein DMTr = 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl (DMTr).

GlyC3Am(GalNAc) may refer to a compound of the following formula:

a moiety of the following formula:

wherein the dashed lines indicate positions of terminal hydroxyl group or connection to the oligonucleotide via a phosphorothioate or phosphoroate linkage. Example 1 - Synthesis of building blocks for conjugates

Scheme 10: Synthesis of 10 and 7

Compounds 2 to 5 and (S)-DMT-Serinol(TFA)-phosphoramidite 7 were synthesised according to literature published methods (Hoevelmann et al. Chem. Sci., 2016,7, 128-135). (S)-4-(3-(bis(4-methoxyphenyl)(phenyl)methoxy)-2-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetamido)propoxy)- 4-oxobutanoic acid (6).

To a solution of 5 in pyridine was added succinic anhydride, followed by DMAP. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. All starting material was consumed, as judged by TLC. The reaction was concentrated. The crude material was chromatographed in silica gel using a gradient 0% to 5% methanol in DCM (+ 1% triethylamine) to afford 1.33 g of 6 (yield = 38%). m/z (ESI-): 588.2 (100%), (calcd. for C30H29F3NO8- [M-H]- 588.6). Ή- NMR: (400 MHz, CDC13) δ [ppm] = 7.94 (d, 1H, NH), 7.39 - 7.36 (m, 2H, CHaryl), 7.29 - 7.25 (m, 7H, CHaryl), 6.82-6.79 (m, 4H, CHaryl), 4.51 - 4.47 (m, 1H), 4.31 - 4.24 (m, 2H), 3.77 (s, 6H, 2xDMTr-OMe), 3.66 - 3.60 (m, 16H, HNEt₃ ⁺), 3.26 - 3.25 (m, 2H), 2.97 - 2.81 (m, 20H, NEt₃), 2.50-2.41 (4H, m), 1.48 - 1.45 (m, 26H, HNEt₃ ⁺), 1.24 - 1.18 (m, 29H, NEt₃).

(S)-DMT-Serinol(TFA)-succinate-lcaa-CPG (10).

The (S)-DMT-Serinol(TFA)-succinate (159 mg, 270 umol) and HBTU (113 mg, 299 umol) were dissolved in CH₃CN (10 mL). Diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA, 94 μΕ, 540 umol) was added to the solution, and the mixture was swirled for 2 min followed by addition native amino- lcaa-CPG (500 A, 3 g, amine content: 136 umol/g). The suspension was gently shaken at room temperature on a wrist-action shaker for 16h then filtered, and washed with DCM and EtOH. The solid support was dried under vacuum for 2 h. The unreacted amines on the support were capped by stirring with acetic anhydride/lutidine/N-methylimidazole at room temperature. The washing of the support was repeated as above. The solid was dried under vacuum to yield solid support 10 (3 g, 26 umol/g loading).

Trimeric GalNAc Synthon (ST13).

ST13(Ac)9 (3150 mg, 1.570 mmol) was dissolved in Methanol (100 ml) and sodium methoxide (5.4M, 227 mg, 1.512 mmol, 280 μί) was added (via syringe) at room temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred at for lh. Acetonitrile was added (75 ml) and the reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, m/z (ESI+): 814.5 (100%), (calcd. for C73H131N10O30²⁺ [M+2H]²⁺ 814.5). Ή NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ [ppm] = 7.91-7.72 (m, 9H, NH), 7.08 (s, 1H, NH), 4.90 (d, 3H), 4.77 (m, 3H), 4.20 (d; 3H), 3.70-3.64 (m, 9H), 3.57-3.40 (br, 30H, incl. res. H₂0), 3.26 (m, 6H), 3.03-3.01 (m, 12H), 2.27-2.25 (m, 6H), 2.07- 2.03 (m, 10H), 1.89-1.85 (t, 2H), 1.78 (s, 9H), 1.52-1.41 (m, 22H); 1.21 (m, 12H).

Scheme 11 : Synthesis of ST32

Gal Ac synthon ST32 was performed as described in Nair et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc, 2014, 136 (49), pp 16958-16961.

Example 2 - Synthesis of conjugates Conjugation of the GalNAc synthon (ST23) or trebler synthon (ST41) was achieved by coupling of the respective phosphoramidite to the 5 ^'end of the oligochain under standard phosphoramidite coupling conditions. Phosphorothioates were introduced using standard commercially available thiolation reagents.

The synthesis of the sense strand in STS23001V3L35 is shown in Figure 6 and is described below.

Scheme 12: Synthesis of 11

Synthesis was commenced using (S)-DMT-Serinol(TFA)-succinate-lcaa-CPG (10).

Additional serinol building blocks were introduced using (S)-DMT-serinol(TFA) amidite (7) in the appropriate solid phase synthesis cycle. The oligonucleotide chain was assembled according to its sequence and (S)-DMT-serinol(TFA)-amidite (7) was used as appropriate.

Upon completion of chain elongation, the protective DMT group of the last coupled amidite building block was removed. Finally, the respective oligonucleotides were cleaved from the solid support and remaining protecting groups were removed under methylamine treatment. This treatment also liberated the amino function in the Serinol(TFA) building block 10. The crude products 11 were then purified each by AEX-HPLC and SEC to yield the precursor oligonucleotide for further GalNAc conjugation.

Scheme 13: Synthesis of oligonucleotide serinol-derived GalNAc conjugates

Post solid phase synthesis GalNAc-conjugation was achieved by pre-activation of the Gal (Ac4)-C₄ -acid (9) by a peptide coupling reagent such as HBTU. The pre-activated acid 9 was then reacted with the amino-groups in 11 to form the intermediate Gal (Ac4)-conjugates. The acetyl groups protecting the hydro xyl groups in the GalNAc-moities were cleaved off by methylamine treatment to yield the desired example compounds, which were further purified by AEX-HPLC and SEC.

All single stranded oligonucleotides were synthesised according to the reaction conditions described above and in Figures 4 to 6 and are detailed in Table 2.

All final single stranded products were analysed by AEX-HPLC to prove their purity. Purity is given in %FLP (% full length product) which is the percentage of the UV-area under the assigned product signal in the UV-trace of the AEX-HPLC analysis of the final product. Identity of the respective single stranded products (non-modified, amino -modified precursors or GalNAc conjugated oligonucleotides) was proved by LC-MS analysis.

3 Ί x NH2 refers to the position (3 ' end) and number (1 x NH₂ or 3 x NH₂) of free amino groups which are available for conjugation. For example, 3 x 3 'NH₂ on A0256 means there are three free amino group which can be reacted with GalNAc synthon ST32 at the 3 ' end of the strand A0256.

Conjugation to single stranded oligonucleotides

Conjugated singles strand for conjugate STS23001V2L11 Conjugation of the GalNac synthon (ST13) was achieved by coupling to the 3 '-amino function of the respective oligonucleotide strand A0254 using a peptide coupling reagent. Therefore, the respective amino -modified precursor molecule was dissolved in H₂0 (500 OD/mL) and DMSO (DMSO/H₂0, 2/1, v/v) was added, followed by DIPEA (2.5% of total volume). In a separate reaction vessel pre-activation of the trimeric-GalNAc-synthon (ST13) was performed by reacting 2 eq. of the carboxylic acid component with 2 eq. of HBTU in presence of 8 eq. DIPEA in DMSO. After 2 min the pre-activated compound ST13 was added to the solution of the respective amino-modified precursor molecule A0254. After 30 min the reaction progress was monitored by LCMS or AEX-HPLC. Upon completion of the conjugation reaction the crude product was precipitated by addition of lOx z^'PrOH and 0. lx 2M NaCl and harvested by centrifugation and decantation. The resulting pellet was dissolved in H₂0 and finally purified again by anion exchange and size exclusion chromatography and lyophilised.

Conjugated singles strand for conjugate STS23001V3L35 Conjugation of the GalNac synthon (ST32) was achieved by coupling to the serinol-amino function of the respective oligonucleotide strand 11 using a peptide coupling reagent. Therefore, the respective amino-modified precursor molecule 11 was dissolved in H₂0 (500 OD/mL) and DMSO (DMSO/H₂0, 2/1, v/v) was added, followed by DIPEA (2.5% of total volume). In a separate reaction vessel pre-activation of the GalN(Ac4)-C₄ -acid (ST32) was performed by reacting 2 eq. (per amino function in the amino-modified precursor oligonucleotide 11) of the carboxylic acid component with 2 eq. of HBTU in presence of 8 eq. DIPEA in DMSO. After 2 min the pre-activated compound ST32 was added to the solution of the respective amino -modified precursor molecule. After 30 min the reaction progress was monitored by LCMS or AEX-HPLC. Upon completion of the conjugation reaction the crude product was precipitated by addition of lOx z^'PrOH and O.lx 2M NaCl and harvested by centrifugation and decantation. To the acetylated hydroxyl groups in the Gal Ac moieties were deprotected by dissolving the resulting pellet in 40% MeNH₂ (lmL per 500 OD) and after 15 min at RT diluted in H₂0 ( 1 : 10) and finally purified again by anion exchange and size exclusion chromatography and lyophilised to yield the final product 12 (A0257).

Individual single strands were dissolved in a concentration of 60 OD/mL in H₂0. Both individual oligonucleotide solutions were added together in a reaction vessel. For easier reaction monitoring a titration was performed. The first strand was added in 25% excess over the second strand as determined by UV-absorption at 260nm. The reaction mixture was heated to 80°C for 5min and then slowly cooled to RT. Double strand formation was monitored by ion pairing reverse phase HPLC. From the UV-area of the residual single strand the needed amount of the second strand was calculated and added to the reaction mixture. The reaction was heated to 80°C again and slowly cooled to RT. This procedure was repeated until less than 10%) of residual single strand was detected.

Antisense strand:

Sense strand: fG(ps)mC(ps)fAmCfCmUfUmUfCmUfAmGfA(ps)Ser(GN)(ps)Ser(GN)(ps)Ser(GN)

Example 3 - in vitro targeting of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF)

An siR A agent targeting CTGF and containing a 5 '-shortened second strand was tested in vitro. STS23001V4L4 comprises a 19-mer first strand and a 13-mer second strand. The second strand is shortened at its 5 '-end and the respective single-stranded region in the first strand and all non-conjugated ends are stabilized by phosphorothioates. The siRNA agent is modified by alternating 2'-OMe/2'-F and a GalNAc moiety is conjugated to the second strand 5 '-end.

"ut" indicates the untreated control target gene levels were normalized to. "GN-Luc" is a non-targeting control siRNA.

The experiment was conducted in Huh7 cells. Cells were seeded at a density of 80,000 cells per 6-well 24 h before transfection, transfected with 5 to 0.0016 nM siRNA and 1 μg/ml Atufect and lysed after 48 h. Total RNA was extracted and CTGF and PTEN mRNA levels were determined by Taqman qRT-PCR. Each bar represents mean ± SD of three technical replicates.

Data are shown in Figure 8, and show that the conjugate of the invention effectively targets primary hepatocytes and specifically down regulate the target messenger RNA as compared to controls.

Example 4 - in vitro targeting of CTGF

Different GalNAc-conjugated RNAi agents targeting CTGF were tested in mouse primary hepatocytes. STS23001L4 contains a 19-mer first strand and a 19-mer second strand, whereas all other variants contain a 5 '-shortened 13-mer second strand. STS23001V2L11 and -V3L35 contain different GalNAc moieties at the second strand 3 '-end, whereas STS23001V4L4 contains a GalNAc moiety at the second strand 5 '-end. "ut" indicates the untreated control target gene levels were normalized to. "GN-Luc" is a GalNAc-conjugated non-targeting control siRNA. The experiment was conducted in mouse primary hepatocytes. Cells were seeded at a density of 20,000 cells per 96-well and directly treated with 100, 10 and 1 nM siRNA conjugate. Cells were lysed after 24 h, total RNA was extracted and CTGF and Actin mRNA levels were determined by Taqman qRT-PCR. Each bar represents mean ± SD of three technical replicates.

Data are shown in Figure 9, and show that the conjugates of the invention effectively target primary hepatocytes and specifically down regulate the target messenger RNA as compared to controls. The conjugates of the invention (STS23001V2L11, STS23001V3L35,

STS23001V4L4) have similar or improved potency in vitro compared to the reference conjugate (STS23001L4).

Example 5 - in vivo targeting of CTGF

A GalNAc-conjugated siRNA agent targeting CTGF and containing a 5 '-shortened second strand was compared to a GalNAc-siRNA agent with original length second strand.

STS23001L4 is a 19/19-mer, whereas STS23001V4L4 is a 19/13-mer. Both variants are modified by alternating 2'-OMe/2'-F and stabilized by phosphorothioates at terminal positions and in single- stranded regions. A GalNAc moiety is conjugated to the second strand 5 '-end. A GalNAc-conjugated siRNA targeting Luciferase ("GN-Luc") was used as non- targeting control. Target gene levels were normalized to target gene expression in mice treated with 10 mg/kg GN-Luc, a non-targeting control. C57BL/6 male mice were subcutaneously treated with 10 mg/kg GN-Luc or with 3 and 1 mg/kg 19/19-mer GalNAc conjugate. Equimolar amounts of the 19/13-mer GalNAc conjugate were used. Liver sections were prepared 7 days after treatment, RNA was extracted from the tissue and CTGF and Actin mRNA levels were analyzed by Taqman qRT-PCR. Each bar represents mean ± SD of six animals. Data are shown in Figure 10, and show that the conjugate of the invention (STS2301V4L4) which has a shortened second strand (13 nucleotides compared with 19 nucleotides in the first strand) has improved potency in vivo compared to reference conjugate (STS23001L4) which has 19 nucleotides in each strand, and compared to control (GN-Luc). The target gene expression decreases when conjugates of the invention are used. References

1. Fire, A.; Xu, S.; Montgomery, M. K.; Kostas, S. A.; Driver, S. E.; Mello, C. C,

Potent and specific genetic interference by double-stranded RNA in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature 1998, 391 (6669), 806-11. 2. Elbashir, S. M.; Lendeckel, W.; Tuschl, T., RNA interference is mediated by 21- and 22-nucleotide RNAs. Genes & development 2001, 15 (2), 188-200.

3. Dubber, M.; Frechet, J. M., Solid-phase synthesis of multivalent glycoconjugates on a DNA synthesizer. Bioconjugate chemistry 2003, 14 (1), 239-46.

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Claims

Claims

1. A conjugate for inhibiting expression of a target gene in a cell, said conjugate comprising a nucleic acid portion attached to a ligand portion, wherein said nucleic acid portion comprises; a first strand and a shorter second strand, wherein said first strand is (i) at least partially complementary to at least a portion of RNA transcribed from said target gene, and (ii) at least partially complementary to said second strand, wherein said first and second strand together form a molecule comprising a double stranded and a single stranded region, wherein the double stranded region is 8 to 20 nucleotides long, wherein the single stranded region is 1 to 12 nucleotides long and which single stranded region is part of the first strand, present at the 3 ' end of the first strand, wherein at least 40% of the nucleotides in the nucleic acid portion are modified and wherein the ligand portion comprises one or more carbohydrate moieties.

2. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ligand portion is conjugated exclusively at the 3' end or 5' end of a strand of the nucleic acid portion.

3. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ligand portion is conjugated exclusively at the 3 ' end of the second strand,

4. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ligand portion is conjugated exclusively at the 5 ' end of the second strand,

5. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1-4 wherein the 3' and 5' ends of the first strand are not conjugated.

6. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1-5 wherein at least six nucleotides in the single stranded region are linked by a phosphorothioate linkage.

7. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the single stranded region has at least 3 phosphorothioate modifications e.g. 3 to 6 phosphorothioate modifications.

8. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the terminal six nucleotides at the 3' end of the antisense strand are linked by a phosphorothioate linkage.

9. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1-5 wherein the terminal two nucleotides in a strand of the nucleic acid portion may be linked by a phosphorothioate linkage.

10. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 9 wherein the terminal two nucleotides at the 5' end of the antisense strand are linked by a phosphorothioate linkage.

11. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the terminal two nucleotides at the 5' end of the sense strand are linked by a phosphorothioate linkage.

12. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 9-1 1 wherein the terminal two nucleotides at the 3' end of the sense strand are linked by a phosphorothioate linkage.

13. The conjugate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein no nucleic acid strand forms a hairpin structure.

14. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the double stranded region is from 8 to 20 nucleotides in length, such as 13 to 16 nucleotides in length, e.g. 14 to 16 nucleotides in length.

15. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the double stranded region is 13 nucleotides in length.

16. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the single stranded region is 1 to 12 nucleotides long, such as 4 to 8 nucleotides long.

17. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 16 wherein the single stranded region is 6 nucleotides in length.

18. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 and 16, wherein the double stranded region is 13 nucleotides in length and/or wherein the single stranded region is 6 nucleotides in length.

19. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 and 16, wherein the double stranded region is 15 nucleotides in length and/or wherein the single stranded region is 4 nucleotides in length.

20. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein the first strand is from 9 to 32 nucleotides in length, e.g. 19 nucleotides in length.

21. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein the second strand is 8 to 20 nucleotides in length, e.g. 13 nucleotides in length.

22. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the double stranded region has a blunt end or has a one or two nucleotide overhang.

23. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein each nucleic acid portion in the single strand has a phosphorothioate modification.

24. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the first strand is fully complementary to a portion of RNA transcribed from said target gene.

25. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the nucleic acid portion is attached to the ligand by a cleavable bond.

26. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein position 1 of the first strand is 5' phosphorylated and optionally 2' O-methyl modified.

27. A conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein at least 40% of C and U nucleotides in the double stranded region have one 2' O-methyl modification or a 2' fluoro modification.

28. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27 wherein the nucleic acid RNA.

29. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the carbohydrate moiety comprises an N-acetyl galactosamine moiety.

30. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein the ligand includes a linker, which linker links the nucleic acid portion to the N-acetyl galactosamine.

31. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 , 2 or 5 to 30 wherein the conjugate comprises monomeric, dimeric, trimeric or tetrameric ligands at one or more ends of a strand of the nucleic acid portion.

32. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 31 wherein conjugate comprises a trimeric ligand at one of the ends of the second strand.

33. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 32 wherein the conjugate comprises a trimeric ligand at the 3 ' end of the second strand.

34. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 32 wherein the conjugate comprises a trimeric ligand at the 5 ' end of the second strand.

35. The conjugate, as claimed in claim any one of claims 1 to 34, wherein the ligand comprises the formula I:

wherein:

S represents a saccharide;

X¹ represents C3-C6 alkylene or (-CH2-CH2-0)_m(-CH2)2- wherein m is 1, 2, or 3;

P is a modified phosphate;

X² is alkylene or an alkylene ether of the formula (-CH2)_n-0-CH2- where n = 1- 6;

A is a branching unit;

X³ represents a bridging unit; Z is the point of attachment to the nucleic acid portion; and where the linkage between X³ and Z is a phosphate or thiophosphate.

36. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 34, wherein the ligand

wherein O- indicates the point of attachment to a strand of the nucleic acid portion.

37. A conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 34, wherein the ligand comprises any one of:

wherein O- indicates the point of attachment to the 3' end or 5' end of the second strand, such at the 5 ' end of the second strand.

38. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 37 wherein the ligand is:

wherein O- indicates the point of attachment at the 5' end of the second strand.

39. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 34 wherein the ligand is or comprises:

wherein Y is O or S, O- indicates the point of attachment to a strand of the nucleic acid portion, and particularly the point of attachment is the 3 ' end or 5 ' end of the second strand, such as at the 3 ' end of the second strand.

40. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 34, wherein the nucleic acid portion or the nucleic acid portion of a strand is attached to a targeting ligand via a serinol- derived moiety.

41. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 40 wherein the second strand is of formula (IV):

wherein c and d are independently 0 or 1 ; wherein:

Z₂ is the RNA portion of the second R A strand;

Y is O or S;

Ri is H or methyl; n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and

L is:

-(CH₂)_r-C(0)-, wherein r = 2-12; -(CH₂-CH₂-0)s-CH₂-C(0)-, wherein s = 1-5; -(CH2)t-CO-NH-(CH₂)t-NH-C(0)-, wherein t is independently is 1-5; -(CH₂)u-CO-NH-(CH₂)u-C(0)-, wherein u is independently is 1-5; and -(CH₂)v-NH-C(0)-, wherein v is 2-12; and wherein the terminal C(O) is attached to the NH group; wherein c + d is 1.

42. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 41 wherein c is 1 and d is 0.

43. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 41 wherein c is 0 and d is 1.

44. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claim 41 to 43 wherein Y is O.

45. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claim 41 to 43 wherein Y is S.

46. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claim 41 to 45 wherein Ri is H.

47. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claim 41 to 45 wherein Ri is methyl.

48. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claim 41 to 47 wherein n is 2.

49. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claim 41 to 48 wherein L is -(CH₂)_r-C(0)-, wherein r = 2-12.

50. The conjugate, as claimed in claim 49 wherein r is 2-6, e.g. 4.

51. A composition comprising the conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 50, and a suitable carrier or excipient.

52. The conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 50, or the composition, as claimed in claim 51, for use in medicine.

53. The conjugate or composition for use as claimed in claim 52, wherein the use is for treating liver disease, genetic disease, hemophilia and bleeding disorder, liver fibrosis, non-alcoholic steotohepatitis (NASH), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), viral hepatitis, rare diseases (e.g. acromegaly), metabolic diseases (e.g. hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia), cardiovascular diseases, obesity, hemochromatosis, thalassemia, liver injury, alcoholic liver diseases, alcohol dependence and/or anemia of chronic disease.

54. A method of inhibiting (in vitro or in vivo) the expression of a target gene in a mammalian cell, the method comprising contacting the mammalian cell with a conjugate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 50.

55. The method according to claim 54 wherein the expression of a target gene is inhibited in vitro.

56. The method according to claim 54 wherein the expression of a target gene is inhibited in vivo.

57. A method of inducing RNAi in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of the conjugate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 50, or the composition as claimed in claim 51.

58. A method as claimed in any one of claims 54 to 57, for use in the treatment of liver disease, genetic disease, hemophilia and bleeding disorder, liver fibrosis, non-alcoholic steotohepatitis (NASH), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), viral hepatitis, rare diseases (e.g. acromegaly), metabolic diseases (e.g. hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia), cardiovascular diseases, obesity, hemochromatosis, thalassemia, liver injury, alcoholic liver diseases, alcohol dependence and/or anemia of chronic disease in patient in need thereof.

59. A method of making a conjugate, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 50, the method comprising adding together the components of the conjugate to form the conjugate.