WO2013130868A1 - Méthodes de modulation de l'expression des fibrinogènes - Google Patents

Méthodes de modulation de l'expression des fibrinogènes Download PDF

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WO2013130868A1
WO2013130868A1 PCT/US2013/028400 US2013028400W WO2013130868A1 WO 2013130868 A1 WO2013130868 A1 WO 2013130868A1 US 2013028400 W US2013028400 W US 2013028400W WO 2013130868 A1 WO2013130868 A1 WO 2013130868A1
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fibrinogen
certain embodiments
modified
nucleic acid
compound
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PCT/US2013/028400
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English (en)
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Chenguang Zhao
Jeffrey R. Crosby
Robert A. Macleod
Michael Mccaleb
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Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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Publication of WO2013130868A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013130868A1/fr

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
    • A61K31/70—Carbohydrates; Sugars; Derivatives thereof
    • A61K31/7088—Compounds having three or more nucleosides or nucleotides
    • A61K31/713—Double-stranded nucleic acids or oligonucleotides
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    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/11—DNA or RNA fragments; Modified forms thereof; Non-coding nucleic acids having a biological activity
    • C12N15/113—Non-coding nucleic acids modulating the expression of genes, e.g. antisense oligonucleotides; Antisense DNA or RNA; Triplex- forming oligonucleotides; Catalytic nucleic acids, e.g. ribozymes; Nucleic acids used in co-suppression or gene silencing
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
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    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/10—Type of nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/11—Antisense
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
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    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/31—Chemical structure of the backbone
    • C12N2310/315—Phosphorothioates
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
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    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/32—Chemical structure of the sugar
    • C12N2310/322—2'-R Modification
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
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    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/32—Chemical structure of the sugar
    • C12N2310/323—Chemical structure of the sugar modified ring structure
    • C12N2310/3231—Chemical structure of the sugar modified ring structure having an additional ring, e.g. LNA, ENA
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
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    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/34—Spatial arrangement of the modifications
    • C12N2310/341—Gapmers, i.e. of the type ===---===
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
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    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/34—Spatial arrangement of the modifications
    • C12N2310/346—Spatial arrangement of the modifications having a combination of backbone and sugar modifications

Definitions

  • compositions and methods for reducing expression of fibrinogen mRNA and protein in an animal are also provided. Also, provided are compounds, compositions comprising a fibrinogen inhibitor for reducing fibrinogen related diseases or conditions, or symptoms thereof, in an animal. Such methods are useful to treat, prevent, delay or ameliorate Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
  • DMD Duchenne muscular dystrophy
  • DMD Duchenne' s muscular dystrophy
  • DMD is a common and lethal form of muscular dystrophy in which fibrosis is a prominent pathological feature.
  • Previous effort has been made to explore mechanisms, such as TGF-beta singalling, underlying muscle fibrogenesis in DMD (Zhou and Li, 2010, J Neuropathol Exp Neurol, 69(8): 771-776) and several pharmacological agents targeting muscle fibrogenesis have been tested (Andreetta et al, J Neuroimmunol 2006; 175:77-86; Cohn et al, Nat Med 2007; 13 :204-10; Vidal et al, Genes Dev 2008; 22: 1747-52) in the mdx mouse.
  • no successful treatment for DMD has been idenitfied so far.
  • the mdx mouse is a DMD model that has a nonsense mutation in exon 23 eliminating dystrophin expression.
  • Fibrinogen (Fib) deposition which precedes that of collagen, is increased in fibrotic areas in the mdx mouse model.
  • the fibrinogen molecule is a hexamer containing two sets of three different chains ( ⁇ , ⁇ , and ⁇ ), which are synthesized and assembled in liver.
  • the fibrinogen molecule is a soluble acute phase plasma glycoprotein, synthesized in liver and plays an important role during blood coagulation. Fibrinogen also extravasates at sites of inflammation where it is immobilized and/or converted to fibrin (Rybarczyk et al, 2003, Blood 102: 4035-4043). Fibrinogen null mice (Fib-/-) are born normal in appearance but a percentage exhibit spontaneous bleeding and survival is variable (Suh et al, 1995, Genes & Dev, 9: 2020-2033).
  • Antisense technology is uniquely suited to target fibrinogen expression and function. Antisense compounds preferentially accumulate and knockdown expression in specific tissues such as the liver (Antisense Drug Technology 2 nd Edition, ST Crooke, Ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL) where fibrinogen is synthesized. Unlike the fibrinogen null mouse, antisense compounds would not completely knockout fibrinogen levels or knockout expression in every cell in an organism. Accordingly, antisense technology may be uniquely useful in a number of therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications for the modulation of fibrinogen expression. It is therefore an object herein to provide compounds and methods for the treatment of diseases and disorders such as DMD by inhibiting fibrinogen.
  • ASOs Antisense Oligonucleotides
  • fibrinogen inhibitors to determine the potential of fibrinogen as an anti-fibrotic target.
  • Fibrinogen depletion is shown herein to reduce fibrosis and dystrophy progression in a model of DMD. Fibrinogen depletion ameliorates muscle degeneration and protects against muscle function loss. Therefore, provided herein are methods and compositions for reducing expression of fibrinogen mRNA and protein in an animal. Such methods and compositions are useful for treating, ameliorating, preventing, slowing progression, or stopping progression of fibrosis and dystrophy.
  • Certain embodiments provide a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 linked nucleosides, wherein the modified oligonucleotide is at least 90% complementary, at least 95% complementary, 100%) complementary to a fibrinogen nucleic acid, for use in: reducing fibrinogen RNA; reducing fibrinogen accumulation in muscles; reducing collagen accumulation in muscles; reducing circulating fibrinogen levels; ameliorating muscle degeneration; and/or protecting against muscle function loss.
  • Certain embodiments provide a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 linked nucleosides, wherein the modified oligonucleotide specifically hybridizes to a fibrinogen nucleic acid, for use in: reducing fibrinogen RNA; reducing fibrinogen accumulation in muscles; reducing collagen accumulation in muscles; reducing circulating fibrinogen levels; ameliorating muscle degeneration; and/or protecting against muscle function loss.
  • methods of treatment include administering a fibrinogen specific inhibitor to an individual in need thereof.
  • the fibrinogen specific inhibitor is a nucleic acid.
  • the nucleic acid is an antisense compound.
  • the antisense compound is a modified oligonucleotide.
  • the modified oligonucleotide reduces fibrinogen protein levels.
  • the modified oligonucleotide reduces fibrinogen protein in the liver.
  • the modified oligonucleotide reduces fibrinogen protein in the muscle.
  • the modified oligonucleotide reduces fibrinogen protein levels, which prevents, ameliorates or slows progression of muscle degeneration, muscle function loss, fibroses or dystrophy.
  • fibrinogen specific inhibitors modulate expression of fibrinogen mRNA and protein.
  • fibrinogen specific inhibitors are nucleic acids, proteins, or small molecules.
  • modulation can occur in a cell or tissue.
  • the cell or tissue is in an animal.
  • the animal is a human.
  • fibrinogen mRNA levels are reduced.
  • fibrinogen protein levels are reduced.
  • fibrinogen mRNA and protein levels are reduced. Such reduction can occur in a time-dependent manner or in a dose-dependent manner.
  • diseases, disorders, and conditions include DMD.
  • diseases, disorders, and conditions can have one or more risk factors, causes, or outcomes in common.
  • Certain risk factors and causes for development of DMD include genetics and family history.
  • methods of treatment include administering a fibrinogen specific inhibitor to an individual in need thereof.
  • the fibrinogen specific inhibitor is a nucleic acid.
  • the nucleic acid is an antisense compound.
  • the antisense compound is a modified oligonucleotide.
  • methods for reducing fibrinogen expression in an animal comprising administering to the animal a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide 12 to 30 linked nucleosides in length targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • methods for reducing a fibrinogen related disease or condition, or symptom thereof, in an animal in an animal comprising administering to the animal a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide 12 to 30 linked nucleosides in length targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • the fibrinogen related disease or condition, or symptom thereof is fibrosis and/or DMD.
  • Certain embodiments provide a method comprising: identifying an animal at risk for developing DMD; and administering to the at risk animal a therapeutically effective amount of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 linked nucleosides, wherein the modified oligonucleotide is at least 90% complementary, at least 95% complementary, 100% complementary to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • Certain embodiments provide a method comprising: identifying an animal at risk for developing DMD; and administering to the at risk animal a therapeutically effective amount of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 linked nucleosides, wherein the modified oligonucleotide specifically hybridizes to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • the fibrinogen nucleic acid is any of SEQ ID NO: 1-3.
  • 2'-0-methoxyethyl refers to an O-methoxy-ethyl modification of the 2' position of a furanosyl ring.
  • a 2'-0-methoxyethyl modified sugar is a modified sugar.
  • 2'-MOE nucleoside (also 2'-0-methoxyethyl nucleoside) means a nucleoside comprising a 2'-MOE modified sugar moiety.
  • 5-methylcytosine means a cytosine modified with a methyl group attached to the 5' position.
  • a 5-methylcytosine is a modified nucleobase.
  • “About” means within ⁇ 7% of a value. For example, if it is stated, “the compounds affected at least about 70% inhibition of fibrinogen”, it is implied that the fibrinogen levels are inhibited within a range of 63% and 77%.
  • “Active pharmaceutical agent” means the substance or substances in a pharmaceutical composition that provide a therapeutic benefit when administered to an individual. For example, in certain embodiments an antisense oligonucleotide targeted to fibrinogen is an active pharmaceutical agent.
  • Active target region or “target region” means a region to which one or more active antisense compounds is targeted.
  • Active antisense compounds means antisense compounds that reduce target nucleic acid levels or protein levels.
  • administering refers to the co-administration of two agents in any manner in which the pharmacological effects of both are manifest in the patient at the same time. Concomitant administration does not require that both agents be administered in a single pharmaceutical composition, in the same dosage form, or by the same route of administration. The effects of both agents need not manifest themselves at the same time. The effects need only be overlapping for a period of time and need not be coextensive.
  • administering means providing a pharmaceutical agent to an individual, and includes, but is not limited to administering by a medical professional and self-administering.
  • “Amelioration” or “ameliorate” or “amerliorating” refers to a lessening of at least one indicator, sign, or symptom of an associated disease, disorder, or condition.
  • the severity of indicators may be determined by subjective or objective measures, which are known to those skilled in the art.
  • Animal refers to a human or non-human animal, including, but not limited to, mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, cats, pigs, and non-human primates, including, but not limited to, monkeys and chimpanzees.
  • Antibody refers to a molecule characterized by reacting specifically with an antigen in some way, where the antibody and the antigen are each defined in terms of the other. Antibody may refer to a complete antibody molecule or any fragment or region thereof, such as the heavy chain, the light chain, Fab region, and Fc region.
  • Antisense activity means any detectable or measurable activity attributable to the hybridization of an antisense compound to its target nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, antisense activity is a decrease in the amount or expression of a target nucleic acid or protein encoded by such target nucleic acid.
  • Antisense compound means an oligomeric compound that is capable of undergoing hybridization to a target nucleic acid through hydrogen bonding. Examples of antisense compounds include single-stranded and double-stranded compounds, such as, antisense oligonucleotides, siRNAs, shRNAs, snoRNAs, miRNAs, and satellite repeats.
  • Antisense inhibition means reduction of target nucleic acid levels or target protein levels in the presence of an antisense compound complementary to a target nucleic acid compared to target nucleic acid levels or target protein levels in the absence of the antisense compound.
  • Antisense oligonucleotide means a single-stranded oligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence that permits hybridization to a corresponding region or segment of a target nucleic acid.
  • Bicyclic sugar means a furanosyl ring modified by the bridging of two atoms.
  • a bicyclic sugar is a modified sugar.
  • BNA Bicyclic nucleoside
  • Cap structure or "terminal cap moiety” means chemical modifications, which have been incorporated at either terminus of an antisense compound.
  • cEt or “constrained ethyl” means a bicyclic nucleoside having a sugar moiety comprising a bridge connecting the 4'-carbon and the 2'-carbon, wherein the bridge has the formula: 4'-CH(CH 3 )-0-2' .
  • Consstrained ethyl nucleoside (also cEt nucleoside) means a nucleoside comprising a bicyclic sugar moiety comprising a 4'- ⁇ ( ⁇ 3 ⁇ 4)-0-2' bridge.
  • “Chemically distinct region” refers to a region of an antisense compound that is in some way chemically different than another region of the same antisense compound. For example, a region having 2'-0-methoxyethyl nucleotides is chemically distinct from a region having nucleotides without 2'-0-methoxyethyl modifications.
  • Chimeric antisense compound means an antisense compound that has at least two chemically distinct regions.
  • Co-administration means administration of two or more pharmaceutical agents to an individual.
  • the two or more pharmaceutical agents may be in a single pharmaceutical composition, or may be in separate pharmaceutical compositions.
  • Each of the two or more pharmaceutical agents may be administered through the same or different routes of administration.
  • Co-administration encompasses parallel or sequential administration.
  • “Complementarity” means the capacity for pairing between nucleobases of a first nucleic acid and a second nucleic acid.
  • Contiguous nucleobases means nucleobases immediately adjacent to each other.
  • “Diluent” means an ingredient in a composition that lacks pharmacological activity, but is pharmaceutically necessary or desirable.
  • the diluent in an injected composition may be a liquid, e.g. saline solution.
  • Dose means a specified quantity of a pharmaceutical agent provided in a single administration, or in a specified time period.
  • a dose may be administered in one, two, or more boluses, tablets, or injections.
  • the desired dose requires a volume not easily accommodated by a single injection, therefore, two or more injections may be used to achieve the desired dose.
  • the pharmaceutical agent is administered by infusion over an extended period of time or continuously. Doses may be stated as the amount of pharmaceutical agent per hour, day, week, or month.
  • Effective amount means the amount of active pharmaceutical agent sufficient to effectuate a desired physiological outcome in an individual in need of the agent.
  • the effective amount may vary among individuals depending on the health and physical condition of the individual to be treated, the taxonomic group of the individuals to be treated, the formulation of the composition, assessment of the individual's medical condition, and other relevant factors.
  • Fibrosis refers to the formation of excess fibrous tissue in an organ, tissue or muscle. Fibrosis can occur in any organ (e.g., pulmonary fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, renal fibrosis), tissue or muscle (e.g., endomysial fibrosis, diaphragm fibrosis) of an organism. Fibrosis is a component in diseases such as DMD.
  • “Fully complementary” or “100% complementary” means each nucleobase of a first nucleic acid has a complementary nucleobase in a second nucleic acid.
  • a first nucleic acid is an antisense compound and a target nucleic acid is a second nucleic acid.
  • Gapmer means a chimeric antisense compound in which an internal region having a plurality of nucleosides that support RNase H cleavage is positioned between external regions having one or more nucleosides, wherein the nucleosides comprising the internal region are chemically distinct from the nucleoside or nucleosides comprising the external regions.
  • the internal region may be referred to as a "gap” and the external regions may be referred to as the "wings.”
  • Gap-widened means a chimeric antisense compound having a gap segment of 12 or more contiguous 2'-deoxyribonucleosides positioned between and immediately adjacent to 5' and 3' wing segments having from one to six nucleosides.
  • Hybridization means the annealing of complementary nucleic acid molecules.
  • complementary nucleic acid molecules include an antisense compound and a target nucleic acid.
  • Identifying an animal at risk for developing a DMD means identifying an animal having been diagnosed with DMD or identifying an animal predisposed to develop DMD.
  • Individuals predisposed to develop DMD include those having one or more risk factors for DMD, including, having a personal or family history of DMD. Such identification may be accomplished by any method including evaluating an individual's medical history and standard clinical tests or assessments. Genetic predisposition and family history are risk factors for developing DMD.
  • “Individual” means a human or non-human animal selected for treatment or therapy.
  • “Inhibiting fibrinogen” means reducing expression of fibrinogen mRNA and/or protein levels in the presence of a fibrinogen specific inhibitor, including a fibrinogen antisense oligonucleotide, as compared to expression of fibrinogen mRNA and/or protein levels in the absence of a fibrinogen specific inhibitor, such as a fibrinogen antisense oligonucleotide.
  • Internucleoside linkage refers to the chemical bond between nucleosides.
  • Fibrinogen nucleic acid means any nucleic acid encoding fibrinogen.
  • a fibrinogen nucleic acid includes a DNA sequence encoding fibrinogen, an RNA sequence transcribed from DNA encoding fibrinogen (including genomic DNA comprising introns and exons), and an mRNA sequence encoding fibrinogen.
  • Fibrinogen mRNA means an mRNA encoding a fibrinogen protein
  • Fibrinogen specific inhibitor refers to any agent capable of specifically inhibiting the expression of fibrinogen mRNA and/or fibrinogen protein at the molecular level.
  • fibrinogen specific inhibitors include nucleic acids (including antisense compounds), peptides, antibodies, small molecules, and other agents capable of inhibiting the expression of fibrinogen mRNA and/or fibrinogen protein.
  • nucleic acids including antisense compounds
  • peptides include amino acids (including antisense compounds), amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, amino acids, and fragments, and fragments, and fragments, and fragments, and fragments, and fragments, and fragments thereof.
  • fibrinogen specific inhibitors may affect other components of the coagulation cascade including downstream components.
  • fibrinogen specific inhibitors may affect other molecular processes in an animal.
  • Linked nucleosides means adjacent nucleosides which are bonded together.
  • mismatch or “non-complementary nucleobase” refers to the case when a nucleobase of a first nucleic acid is not capable of pairing with the corresponding nucleobase of a second or target nucleic acid.
  • Modified internucleoside linkage refers to a substitution or any change from a naturally occurring internucleoside bond (i.e., a phosphodiester internucleoside bond).
  • Modified nucleobase refers to any nucleobase other than adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymidine, or uracil.
  • An "unmodified nucleobase” means the purine bases adenine (A) and guanine (G), and the pyrimidine bases thymine (T), cytosine (C), and uracil (U).
  • Modified nucleotide means a nucleotide having, independently, a modified sugar moiety, modified internucleoside linkage, or modified nucleobase.
  • a “modified nucleoside” means a nucleoside having, independently, a modified sugar moiety or modified nucleobase.
  • Modified oligonucleotide means an oligonucleotide comprising a modified internucleoside linkage, a modified sugar, or a modified nucleobase.
  • Modified sugar refers to a substitution or change from a natural sugar.
  • Microtif means the pattern of chemically distinct regions in an antisense compound.
  • Muscle refers to any muscle in an organism, including any skeletal, smooth or cardiac muscle.
  • the diaphragm is an example of a muscle.
  • Natural sugar moiety means a sugar found in DNA (2'-H) or RNA (2' -OH).
  • Nucleic acid refers to molecules composed of monomeric nucleotides.
  • a nucleic acid includes ribonucleic acids (RNA), deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA), single- stranded nucleic acids, double-stranded nucleic acids, small interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNA), and microRNAs (miRNA).
  • RNA ribonucleic acids
  • DNA deoxyribonucleic acids
  • siRNA small interfering ribonucleic acids
  • miRNA microRNAs
  • Nucleobase means a heterocyclic moiety capable of pairing with a base of another nucleic acid.
  • Nucleobase sequence means the order of contiguous nucleobases independent of any sugar, linkage, or nucleobase modification.
  • Nucleoside means a nucleobase linked to a sugar.
  • Nucleoside mimetic includes those structures used to replace the sugar or the sugar and the base and not necessarily the linkage at one or more positions of an oligomeric compound such as for example nucleoside mimetics having morpholino, cyclohexenyl, cyclohexyl, tetrahydropyranyl, bicyclo, or tricyclo sugar mimetics, e.g., non furanose sugar units.
  • Sugar surrogate overlaps with the slightly broader term nucleoside mimetic but is intended to indicate replacement of the sugar unit (furanose ring) only.
  • the tetrahydropyranyl rings provided herein are illustrative of an example of a sugar surrogate wherein the furanose sugar group has been replaced with a tetrahydropyranyl ring system.
  • Nucleotide means a nucleoside having a phosphate group covalently linked to the sugar portion of the nucleoside.
  • Oligomer means a polymer of linked monomeric subunits which is capable of hybridizing to at least a region of a nucleic acid molecule.
  • Oligonucleotide means a polymer of linked nucleosides each of which can be modified or unmodified, independent one from another.
  • Parental administration means administration through injection or infusion.
  • Parenteral administration includes subcutaneous administration, intravenous administration, intramuscular administration, intraarterial administration, intraperitoneal administration, or intracranial administration, e.g., intrathecal or intracerebroventricular administration.
  • Peptide means a molecule formed by linking at least two amino acids by amide bonds. Peptide refers to polypeptides and proteins.
  • “Pharmaceutical composition” means a mixture of substances suitable for administering to an individual.
  • a pharmaceutical composition may comprise one or more active pharmaceutical agents and a sterile aqueous solution.
  • “Pharmaceutically acceptable derivative” encompasses pharmaceutically acceptable salts, conjugates, prodrugs or isomers of the compounds described herein.
  • “Pharmaceutically acceptable salts” means physiologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of antisense compounds, i.e., salts that retain the desired biological activity of the parent oligonucleotide and do not impart undesired toxicological effects thereto.
  • Phosphorothioate linkage means a linkage between nucleosides where the phosphodiester bond is modified by replacing one of the non-bridging oxygen atoms with a sulfur atom.
  • Portion means a defined number of contiguous ⁇ i.e., linked) nucleobases of a nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, a portion is a defined number of contiguous nucleobases of a target nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, a portion is a defined number of contiguous nucleobases of an antisense compound.
  • Prevent refers to delaying or forestalling the onset or development of a disease, disorder, or condition, or symptom thereof, for a period of time from minutes to indefinitely. Prevent also means reducing risk of developing a disease, disorder, or condition, or symptom thereof.
  • Prodrug means a therapeutic agent that is prepared in an inactive form that is converted to an active form within the body or cells thereof by the action of endogenous enzymes or other chemicals or conditions.
  • Side effects means physiological responses attributable to a treatment other than the desired effects.
  • side effects include injection site reactions, liver function test abnormalities, renal function abnormalities, liver toxicity, renal toxicity, central nervous system abnormalities, myopathies, and malaise.
  • increased aminotransferase levels in serum may indicate liver toxicity or liver function abnormality.
  • increased bilirubin may indicate liver toxicity or liver function abnormality.
  • Single-stranded oligonucleotide means an oligonucleotide which is not hybridized to a complementary strand.
  • “Specifically hybridizable” refers to an antisense compound having a sufficient degree of complementarity between an antisense oligonucleotide and a target nucleic acid to induce a desired effect, while exhibiting minimal or no effects on non-target nucleic acids under conditions in which specific binding is desired, i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays and therapeutic treatments.
  • Targeting or “targeted” means the process of design and selection of an antisense compound that will specifically hybridize to a target nucleic acid and induce a desired effect.
  • Target nucleic acid “Target nucleic acid,” “target RNA,” and “target RNA transcript” all refer to a nucleic acid capable of being targeted by antisense compounds.
  • Target segment means the sequence of nucleotides of a target nucleic acid to which an antisense compound is targeted.
  • 5' target site refers to the 5 '-most nucleotide of a target segment.
  • 3' target site refers to the 3 '-most nucleotide of a target segment.
  • “Therapeutically effective amount” means an amount of a pharmaceutical agent that provides a therapeutic benefit to an individual.
  • Treat” or “treating” refers to administering a pharmaceutical composition to effect an alteration or improvement of a disease, disorder, or condition, or symptom thereof.
  • Unmodified nucleotide means a nucleotide composed of naturally occuring nucleobases, sugar moieties, and internucleoside linkages.
  • an unmodified nucleotide is an RNA nucleotide ⁇ i.e. ⁇ -D-ribonucleosides) or a DNA nucleotide ⁇ i.e. ⁇ -D-deoxyribonucleoside).
  • Certain embodiments provide compounds, compositions and methods for decreasing fibrinogen mRNA and protein expression.
  • the compounds or compositions described herein comprise a modified oligonucleotide 12 to 30 linked nucleosides in length targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • the fibrinogen nucleic acid is any of SEQ ID NO: 1-3.
  • the compounds or compositions described herein comprise a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 nucleosides having a nucleobase sequence complementary to any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3.
  • the nucleobase sequence of the modified oligonucleotide is at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 100% complementary to any one of SEQ ID NO: 1-3 as measured over the entirety of the modified oligonucleotide.
  • the compounds or compositions described herein comprise a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 linked nucleosides and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 contiguous nucleobases.
  • the compounds or compositions described herein comprise a modified oligonucleotide 12 to 30 linked nucleosides in length targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • the fibrinogen nucleic acid is any of SEQ ID NO: 1-3.
  • the compounds or compositions described herein comprise a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 nucleosides having a nucleobase sequence complementary to any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3.
  • the nucleobase sequence of the modified oligonucleotide is at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 100% complementary to a fibrinogen nucleic acid as measured over the entirety of the modified oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, the nucleobase sequence of the modified oligonucleotide is at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%), 98%) or 100% complementary to any one of SEQ ID NO: 1-3 as measured over the entirety of the modified oligonucleotide.
  • the compounds or compositions described herein comprise a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 linked nucleosides and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30 contiguous nucleobases.
  • the modified oligonucleotide consists of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30 linked nucleosides.
  • the modified oligonucleotide consists of 20 linked nucleosides.
  • Certain embodiments provide a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 linked nucleosides for use in: reducing fibrinogen RNA; reducing fibrinogen accumulation in muscles; reducing collagen accumulation in muscles; reducing circulating fibrinogen levels; ameliorating muscle degeneration; and/or protecting against muscle function loss.
  • the modified oligonucleotide is at least 90% complementary, at least 95% complementary or 100% complementary to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • Certain embodiments provide a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 linked nucleosides, wherein the modified oligonucleotide is at least 90% complementary, at least 95% complementary, 100%) complementary to a fibrinogen nucleic acid, for use in: reducing fibrinogen RNA; reducing fibrinogen accumulation in muscles; reducing collagen accumulation in muscles; reducing circulating fibrinogen levels; ameliorating muscle degeneration; and/or protecting against muscle function loss.
  • Certain embodiments provide a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 linked nucleosides, wherein the modified oligonucleotide specifically hybridizes to a fibrinogen nucleic acid, for use in: reducing fibrinogen RNA; reducing fibrinogen accumulation in muscles; reducing collagen accumulation in muscles; reducing circulating fibrinogen levels; ameliorating muscle degeneration; and/or protecting against muscle function loss.
  • the compounds or compositions described herein comprise a salt of the modified oligonucleotide.
  • the compounds or compositions described herein further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
  • the compound described herein consists of a single- stranded modified oligonucleotide.
  • At least one internucleoside linkage of said modified oligonucleotide is a modified internucleoside linkage.
  • the internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage.
  • each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage.
  • At least one nucleoside of the modified oligonucleotide comprises a modified sugar.
  • the modified sugar is a bicyclic sugar.
  • the bicyclic sugar comprises a 4'- ⁇ ( ⁇ 3 ⁇ 4)-0-2' bridge.
  • the modified sugar comprises a 2'-0-methoxyethyl group.
  • at least one nucleoside of said modified oligonucleotide comprises a modified nucleobase.
  • the modified nucleobase is a 5- methylcytosine.
  • each modified nucleobase is a 5-methylcytosine.
  • the modified oligonucleotide comprises: a) a gap segment consisting of linked deoxynucleosides; b) a 5' wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides; and c) a 3 ' wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides.
  • the gap segment is positioned between the 5' wing segment and the 3 ' wing segment and each nucleoside of each wing segment comprises a modified sugar.
  • the modified oligonucleotide consists of 20 linked nucleosides, the gap segment consisting of eight to fourteen linked deoxynucleosides, the 5' wing segment consisting of three to six linked nucleosides, the 3' wing segment consisting of three to six linked nucleosides, each nucleoside of each wing segment comprises a 2'-0-methoxyethyl sugar and each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage.
  • the modified oligonucleotide consists of 20 linked nucleosides, the gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides, the 5' wing segment consisting of five linked nucleosides, the 3' wing segment consisting of five linked nucleosides, each nucleoside of each wing segment comprises a 2'-0-methoxyethyl sugar and each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage.
  • Certain embodiments provide methods for the treatment, prevention, or amelioration of diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with fibrinogen in an individual in need thereof. Also contemplated are methods for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment, prevention, or amelioration of a disease, disorder, or condition associated with fibrinogen. Fibrinogen associated diseases, disorders, and conditions include DMD.
  • methods for reducing fibrinogen expression in an animal comprising administering to the animal a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide 12 to 30 linked nucleosides in length targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • methods for reducing a fibrinogen related disease or condition, or symptom thereof, in an animal comprising administering to the animal a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide 12 to 30 linked nucleosides in length targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • the fibrinogen related disease or condition, or symptom thereof is fibrosis.
  • the fibrosis is present in an organ (e.g., liver, kidney, lung), tissue or muscle (e.g., skeletal, cardiac, smooth muscle) in an organism.
  • the fibrosis is lung fibrosis, liver fibrosis, kidney fibrosis or muscle fibrosis (e.g., diaphragm, endomysial). In certain embodiments, the fibrosis is associated with a disease such as DMD.
  • Certain embodiments provide a method comprising: identifying an animal at risk for developing DMD; and administering to the at risk animal a therapeutically effective amount of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 linked nucleosides, wherein the modified oligonucleotide is at least 90% complementary, at least 95% complementary, 100% complementary to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • Certain embodiments provide a method comprising: identifying an animal at risk for developing DMD; and administering to the at risk animal a therapeutically effective amount of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 linked nucleosides, wherein the modified oligonucleotide specifically hybridizes to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • the methods provided herein reduce expression of fibrinogen mRNA.
  • the methods provided herein reduce expression of fibrinogen fibrinogen protein.
  • the methods provided herein reduce fibrinogen accumulation in muscles.
  • the methods provided herein reduce circulating fibrinogen levels.
  • the methods provided herein ameliorate muscle degeneration. In certain embodiments, the methods provided herein protect against muscle function loss.
  • the methods provided herein reduce collagen accumulation in muscles.
  • the muscle is any muscle in an organism.
  • the muscle is a diaphragm muscle.
  • administration comprises parenteral administration.
  • parenteral administration is any of subcutaneous (s.c.) or intravenous (i.v.) administration.
  • a fibrinogen related disease or condition, or symptom thereof is fibrosis and/or DMD.
  • fibrinogen specific inhibitors are nucleic acids (including antisense compounds), peptides, antibodies, small molecules, and other agents capable of inhibiting the expression of fibrinogen mRNA and/or fibrinogen protein.
  • Certain embodiments provide the use of a compound or composition as described herein in the manufacture of a medicament for treating, ameliorating, delaying or preventing one or more of a fibrinogen related disease or condition, or symptom thereof.
  • compositions disclosed herein for reducing fibrinogen expression in an animal comprising administering to the animal a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide 12 to 30 linked nucleosides in length targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • compositions disclosed herein for reducing a fibrinogen related disease or condition, or symptom thereof, in an animal comprising administering to the animal a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide 12 to 30 linked nucleosides in length targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • the fibrinogen related disease or condition, or symptom thereof is fibrosis and/or DMD.
  • compositions disclosed herein for treating an animal comprising: identifying an animal at risk for developing DMD; and administering to the at risk animal a therapeutically effective amount of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 linked nucleosides, wherein the modified oligonucleotide is at least 90% complementary, at least 95% complementary, 100% complementary to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • compositions disclosed herein for treating an animal comprising: identifying an animal at risk for developing DMD; and administering to the at risk animal a therapeutically effective amount of a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 12 to 30 linked nucleosides, wherein the modified oligonucleotide specifically hybridizes to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • compositions disclosed herein to reduce expression of fibrinogen mRNA. Certain embodiments provide use of the compositions disclosed herein to reduce expression of fibrinogen fibrinogen protein.
  • compositions disclosed herein to reduce fibrinogen accumulation in muscles.
  • compositions disclosed herein to reduce circulating fibrinogen levels.
  • compositions disclosed herein to ameliorate muscle degeneration.
  • compositions disclosed herein to protect against muscle function loss.
  • compositions disclosed herein to reduce collagen accumulation in muscles.
  • kits for treating, preventing, or ameliorating one or more of a fibrinogen related disease or condition, or symptom thereof, as described herein wherein the kit comprises: a) a compound as described herein; and optionally b) an additional agent or therapy as described herein.
  • the kit can further include instructions or a label for using the kit to treat, prevent, or ameliorate one or more of a fibrinogen related disease or condition, or symptom thereof.
  • Oligomeric compounds include, but are not limited to, oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides, oligonucleotide analogs, oligonucleotide mimetics, antisense compounds, antisense oligonucleotides, and siRNAs.
  • An oligomeric compound may be "antisense" to a target nucleic acid, meaning that is is capable of undergoing hybridization to a target nucleic acid through hydrogen bonding.
  • an antisense compound has a nucleobase sequence that, when written in the 5' to 3' direction, comprises the reverse complement of the target segment of a target nucleic acid to which it is targeted.
  • an antisense oligonucleotide has a nucleobase sequence that, when written in the 5' to 3' direction, comprises the reverse complement of the target segment of a target nucleic acid to which it is targeted.
  • an antisense compound targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid is 12 to 30 subunits in length. In other words, such antisense compounds are from 12 to 30 linked subunits.
  • the antisense compound is 8 to 80, 12 to 50, 15 to 30, 18 to 24, 19 to 22, or 20 linked subunits.
  • the antisense compounds are 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, or 80 linked subunits in length, or a range defined by any two of the above values.
  • the antisense compound is an antisense oligonucleotide, and the linked subunits are nucleosides.
  • antisense oligonucleotides targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid may be shortened or truncated.
  • a single subunit may be deleted from the 5' end (5' truncation), or alternatively from the 3 ' end (3' truncation).
  • a shortened or truncated antisense compound targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid may have two subunits deleted from the 5 ' end, or alternatively may have two subunits deleted from the 3 ' end, of the antisense compound.
  • the deleted nucleosides may be dispersed throughout the antisense compound, for example, in an antisense compound having one nucleoside deleted from the 5' end and one nucleoside deleted from the 3' end.
  • the additional subunit may be located at the 5' or 3' end of the antisense compound.
  • the added subunits may be adjacent to each other, for example, in an antisense compound having two subunits added to the 5' end (5' addition), or alternatively to the 3' end (3' addition), of the antisense compound.
  • the added subunits may be dispersed throughout the antisense compound, for example, in an antisense compound having one subunit added to the 5' end and one subunit added to the 3' end.
  • an antisense compound such as an antisense oligonucleotide
  • an antisense oligonucleotide it is possible to increase or decrease the length of an antisense compound, such as an antisense oligonucleotide, and/or introduce mismatch bases without eliminating activity.
  • an antisense compound such as an antisense oligonucleotide
  • a series of antisense oligonucleotides 13-25 nucleobases in length were tested for their ability to induce cleavage of a target RNA in an oocyte injection model.
  • Antisense oligonucleotides 25 nucleobases in length with 8 or 11 mismatch bases near the ends of the antisense oligonucleotides were able to direct specific cleavage of the target mRNA, albeit to a lesser extent than the antisense oligonucleotides that contained no mismatches. Similarly, target specific cleavage was achieved using 13 nucleobase antisense oligonucleotides, including those with 1 or 3 mismatches.
  • Gautschi et al J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 93 :463-471, March 2001
  • this oligonucleotide demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity in vivo.
  • antisense compounds have chemically modified subunits arranged in patterns, or motifs, to confer to the antisense compounds properties such as enhanced inhibitory activity, increased binding affinity for a target nucleic acid, or resistance to degradation by in vivo nucleases.
  • Chimeric antisense compounds typically contain at least one region modified so as to confer increased resistance to nuclease degradation, increased cellular uptake, increased binding affinity for the target nucleic acid, and/or increased inhibitory activity.
  • a second region of a chimeric antisense compound may confer another desired property e.g., serve as a substrate for the cellular endonuclease RNase H, which cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex.
  • Antisense activity may result from any mechanism involving the hybridization of the antisense compound (e.g., oligonucleotide) with a target nucleic acid, wherein the hybridization ultimately results in a biological effect.
  • the amount and/or activity of the target nucleic acid is modulated.
  • the amount and/or activity of the target nucleic acid is reduced.
  • hybridization of the antisense compound to the target nucleic acid ultimately results in target nucleic acid degradation.
  • hybridization of the antisense compound to the target nucleic acid does not result in target nucleic acid degradation.
  • the presence of the antisense compound hybridized with the target nucleic acid results in a modulation of antisense activity.
  • antisense compounds having a particular chemical motif or pattern of chemical modifications are particularly suited to exploit one or more mechanisms.
  • antisense compounds function through more than one mechanism and/or through mechanisms that have not been elucidated. Accordingly, the antisense compounds described herein are not limited by particular mechanism.
  • Antisense mechanisms include, without limitation, RNase H mediated antisense; RNAi mechanisms, which utilize the RISC pathway and include, without limitation, siRNA, ssRNA and microRNA mechanisms; and occupancy based mechanisms. Certain antisense compounds may act through more than one such mechanism and/or through additional mechanisms.
  • antisense activity results at least in part from degradation of target RNA by RNase H.
  • RNase H is a cellular endonuclease that cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. It is known in the art that single-stranded antisense compounds which are "DNA-like" elicit RNase H activity in mammalian cells. Accordingly, antisense compounds comprising at least a portion of DNA or DNA-like nucleosides may activate RNase H, resulting in cleavage of the target nucleic acid.
  • antisense compounds that utilize RNase H comprise one or more modified nucleosides. In certain embodiments, such antisense compounds comprise at least one block of 1-8 modified nucleosides.
  • the modified nucleosides do not support RNase H activity.
  • such antisense compounds are gapmers, as described herein.
  • the gap of the gapmer comprises DNA nucleosides.
  • the gap of the gapmer comprises DNA-like nucleosides.
  • the gap of the gapmer comprises DNA nucleosides and DNA-like nucleosides.
  • Certain antisense compounds having a gapmer motif are considered chimeric antisense compounds.
  • a gapmer an internal region having a plurality of nucleotides that supports RNaseH cleavage is positioned between external regions having a plurality of nucleotides that are chemically distinct from the nucleosides of the internal region.
  • the gap segment In the case of an antisense oligonucleotide having a gapmer motif, the gap segment generally serves as the substrate for endonuclease cleavage, while the wing segments comprise modified nucleosides.
  • the regions of a gapmer are differentiated by the types of sugar moieties comprising each distinct region.
  • sugar moieties that are used to differentiate the regions of a gapmer may in some embodiments include ⁇ -D-ribonucleosides, ⁇ -D- deoxyribonucleosides, 2'-modified nucleosides (such 2'-modified nucleosides may include 2'- MOE and 2'-0-CH 3 , among others), and bicyclic sugar modified nucleosides (such bicyclic sugar modified nucleosides may include those having a constrained ethyl).
  • nucleosides in the wings may include several modified sugar moieties, including, for example 2' -MOE and bicyclic sugar moieties such as constrained ethyl or LNA.
  • wings may include several modified and unmodified sugar moieties.
  • wings may include various combinations of 2'-MOE nucleosides, bicyclic sugar moieties such as constrained ethyl nucleosides or LNA nucleosides, and 2'-deoxynucleosides.
  • Each distinct region may comprise uniform sugar moieties, variant, or alternating sugar moieties.
  • the wing-gap-wing motif is frequently described as "X-Y-Z", where "X” represents the length of the 5 '-wing, "Y” represents the length of the gap, and “Z” represents the length of the 3 '-wing.
  • "X” and “Z” may comprise uniform, variant, or alternating sugar moieties.
  • "X" and "Y” may include one or more 2'-deoxynucleosides.”
  • Y may comprise 2'-deoxynucleosides.
  • a gapmer described as "X-Y-Z” has a configuration such that the gap is positioned immediately adjacent to each of the 5 '-wing and the 3' wing. Thus, no intervening nucleotides exist between the 5 '-wing and gap, or the gap and the 3 '-wing.
  • Any of the antisense compounds described herein can have a gapmer motif.
  • "X” and “Z” are the same; in other embodiments they are different.
  • "Y” is between 8 and 15 nucleosides.
  • X, Y, or Z can be any of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30 or more nucleosides.
  • the antisense compound targeted to a target nucleic acid has a gapmer motif in which the gap consists of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 linked nucleosides.
  • the antisense oligonucleotide has a sugar motif described by Formula A as follows: (J) m -(B) n -(J) p -(B) r -(A) t -(D) g -(A) v -(B) w -(J) x -(B) y -(J) z
  • each J is independently either a 2 '-substituted nucleoside or a 2'-deoxynucleoside;
  • each D is a 2'-deoxynucleoside
  • m is 0-4; n is 0-2; p is 0-2; r is 0-2; t is 0-2; v is 0-2; w is 0-4; x is 0-2; y is 0-2; z is 0- is 6-14;
  • At least one of m, n, and r is other than 0;
  • At least one of w and y is other than 0;
  • antisense compounds are interfering RNA compounds (RNAi), which include double-stranded RNA compounds (also referred to as short-interfering RNA or siRNA) and single-stranded RNAi compounds (or ssRNA). Such compounds work at least in part through the RISC pathway to degrade and/or sequester a target nucleic acid (thus, include microRNA/microRNA-mimic compounds). In certain embodiments, antisense compounds comprise modifications that make them particularly suited for such mechanisms.
  • RNAi interfering RNA compounds
  • siRNA double-stranded RNA compounds
  • ssRNAi compounds single-stranded RNAi compounds
  • antisense compounds including those particularly suited for use as single-stranded RNAi compounds (ssRNA) comprise a modified 5 '-terminal end.
  • the 5 '-terminal end comprises a modified phosphate moiety.
  • such modified phosphate is stabilized (e.g., resistant to degradation/cleavage compared to unmodified 5'-phosphate).
  • such 5'-terminal nucleosides stabilize the 5 '-phosphorous moiety.
  • Certain modified 5 '-terminal nucleosides may be found in the art, for example in WO/2011/139702.
  • the 5'-nucleoside of an ssRNA compound has Formula lie:
  • Ti is an optionally protected phosphorus moiety
  • T 2 is an internucleoside linking group linking the compound of Formula lie to the oligomeric compound
  • A has one of the formulas:
  • Qi and Q 2 are each, independently, H, halogen, Ci-C 6 alkyl, substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl, Ci- C 6 alkoxy, substituted Ci-C 6 alkoxy, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkynyl or N(R 3 )(R 4 );
  • Q 3 is O, S, N(R 5 ) or C(R6)(R 7 );
  • each R 3 , R 4 R 5 , R 6 and R 7 is, independently, H, Ci-C 6 alkyl, substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl or Ci- C 6 alkoxy;
  • M 3 is O, S, R14, C(Ri 5 )(Ri 6 ), C(Ri 5 )(Ri 6 )C(Ri 7 )(Ri 8 ), OC(Ri 5 )(Ri 6 ) or
  • Ri 4 is H, Ci-C 6 alkyl, substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl, Ci-C 6 alkoxy, substituted Ci-C 6 alkoxy, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl or substituted C 2 -C 6 alkynyl;
  • Ri 5 , Ri 6 , Ri 7 and Ri 8 are each, independently, H, halogen, Ci-C 6 alkyl, substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl, Ci-C 6 alkoxy, substituted Ci-C 6 alkoxy, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl or substituted C 2 -C 6 alkynyl;
  • Bxi is a heterocyclic base moiety
  • Bx 2 is a heterocyclic base moiety and Bxi is H, halogen, Ci-C 6 alkyl, substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl, Ci-C 6 alkoxy, substituted Ci-C 6 alkoxy, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl or substituted C 2 -C 6 alkynyl;
  • J 4 , J 5 , J 6 and J 7 are each, independently, H, halogen, Ci-C 6 alkyl, substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl,
  • Ci-C 6 alkoxy substituted Ci-C 6 alkoxy, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl or substituted C 2 -C 6 alkynyl;
  • each Rig, R 20 and R 2 i is, independently, H, Ci-C 6 alkyl, substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl, Ci-C 6 alkoxy, substituted Ci-C 6 alkoxy, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl or substituted C 2 -C 6 alkynyl;
  • each R 8 and R 9 is, independently, H, halogen, Ci-C 6 alkyl or substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl;
  • Z is H, halogen, Ci-C 6 alkyl, substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkynyl or N(E 2 )(E 3 );
  • Ei, E 2 and E 3 are each, independently, H, Ci-C 6 alkyl or substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl;
  • n is from 1 to about 6;
  • n 0 or 1
  • j 0 or 1
  • X 2 is O, S or NJ 3 ;
  • each Ji, J 2 and J 3 is, independently, H or Ci-C 6 alkyl
  • said oligomeric compound comprises from 8 to 40 monomeric subunits and is hybridizable to at least a portion of a target nucleic acid.
  • J 4 , J5, h and J 7 are each H. In certain embodiments, J 4 forms a bridge with one of J5 or J 7 .
  • Qi and Q 2 are each, independently, H, halogen, Ci-C 6 alkyl, substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl, Ci- C 6 alkoxy or substituted Ci-C 6 alkoxy.
  • Qi and Q 2 are each H.
  • Qi and Q 2 are each, independently, H or halogen.
  • Qi and Q 2 is H and the other of Qi and Q 2 is F, CH 3 or OCH 3 .
  • Ti has the formula:
  • R a and R c are each, independently, protected hydroxyl, protected thiol, Ci-C 6 alkyl, substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl, Ci-C 6 alkoxy, substituted Ci-C 6 alkoxy, protected amino or substituted amino; and
  • Rb is O or S.
  • R is O and R a and Rc are each, independently, OCH 3 , OCH 2 CH 3 or CH(CH 3 ) 2 .
  • G is F, OCH 3 or 0(CH 2 ) 2 - OCH 3 .
  • G is 0(CH 2 ) 2 -OCH 3 .
  • the 5'-terminal nucleoside has Formula He:
  • antisense compounds including those particularly suitable for ssRNA comprise one or more type of modified sugar moieties and/or naturally occurring sugar moieties arranged along an oligonucleotide or region thereof in a defined pattern or sugar modification motif.
  • Such motifs may include any of the sugar modifications discussed herein and/or other known sugar modifications.
  • the oligonucleotides comprise or consist of a region having uniform sugar modifications.
  • each nucleoside of the region comprises the same RNA-like sugar modification.
  • each nucleoside of the region is a 2'-F nucleoside.
  • each nucleoside of the region is a 2'- OMe nucleoside.
  • each nucleoside of the region is a 2'-MOE nucleoside.
  • each nucleoside of the region is a cEt nucleoside.
  • each nucleoside of the region is an LNA nucleoside.
  • the uniform region constitutes all or essentially all of the oligonucleotide.
  • the region constitutes the entire oligonucleotide except for 1-4 terminal nucleosides.
  • oligonucleotides comprise one or more regions of alternating sugar modifications, wherein the nucleosides alternate between nucleotides having a sugar modification of a first type and nucleotides having a sugar modification of a second type.
  • nucleosides of both types are RNA-like nucleosides.
  • the alternating nucleosides are selected from: 2'-OMe, 2'-F, 2'-MOE, LNA, and cEt.
  • the alternating modificatios are 2'-F and 2'-OMe. Such regions may be contiguous or may be interupted by differently modified nucleosides or conjugated nucleosides.
  • the alternating region of alternating modifications each consist of a single nucleoside (i.e., the patern is (AB) x A y wheren A is a nucleoside having a sugar modification of a first type and B is a nucleoside having a sugar modification of a second type; x is 1-20 and y is 0 or 1).
  • one or more alternating regions in an alternating motif includes more than a single nucleoside of a type.
  • oligonucleotides may include one or more regions of any of the following nucleoside motifs:
  • A is a nucleoside of a first type and B is a nucleoside of a second type.
  • a and B are each selected from 2'-F, 2'-OMe, BNA, and MOE.
  • oligonucleotides having such an alternating motif also comprise a modified 5' terminal nucleoside, such as those of formula lie or He.
  • oligonucleotides comprise a region having a 2-2-3 motif. Such regions comprises the following motif:
  • A is a first type of modifed nucleosde
  • B and C are nucleosides that are differently modified than A, however, B and C may have the same or different modifications as one another;
  • x and y are from 1 to 15.
  • A is a 2'-OMe modified nucleoside.
  • B and C are both 2'-F modified nucleosides.
  • A is a 2'-OMe modified nucleoside and B and C are both 2'-F modified nucleosides.
  • oligonucleosides have the following sugar motif:
  • Q is a nucleoside comprising a stabilized phosphate moiety.
  • Q is a nucleoside having Formula lie or He;
  • A is a first type of modifed nucleoside
  • B is a second type of modified nucleoside
  • D is a modified nucleoside comprising a modification different from the nucleoside adjacent to it. Thus, if y is 0, then D must be differently modified than B and if y is 1, then D must be differently modified than A. In certain embodiments, D differs from both A and B.
  • X is 5-15;
  • oligonucleosides have the following sugar motif:
  • Q is a nucleoside comprising a stabilized phosphate moiety.
  • Q is a nucleoside having Formula lie or He;
  • A is a first type of modifed nucleoside
  • D is a modified nucleoside comprising a modification different from A.
  • X is 11-30;
  • Z is 0-4.
  • A, B, C, and D in the above motifs are selected from: 2'-OMe, 2'-F, - MOE, LNA, and cEt.
  • D represents terminal nucleosides. In certain embodiments, such terminal nucleosides are not designed to hybridize to the target nucleic acid (though one or more might hybridize by chance).
  • the nucleobase of each D nucleoside is adenine, regardless of the identity of the nucleobase at the corresponding position of the target nucleic acid. In certain embodiments the nucleobase of each D nucleoside is thymine.
  • antisense compounds comprising those particularly suited for use as ssRNA comprise modified internucleoside linkages arranged along the oligonucleotide or region thereof in a defined pattern or modified internucleoside linkage motif.
  • oligonucleotides comprise a region having an alternating internucleoside linkage motif.
  • oligonucleotides comprise a region of uniformly modified internucleoside linkages.
  • the oligonucleotide comprises a region that is uniformly linked by phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.
  • the oligonucleotide is uniformly linked by phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.
  • each internucleoside linkage of the oligonucleotide is selected from phosphodiester and phosphorothioate.
  • each internucleoside linkage of the oligonucleotide is selected from phosphodiester and phosphorothioate and at least one internucleoside linkage is phosphorothioate.
  • the oligonucleotide comprises at least 6 phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least 8 phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least 10 phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least one block of at least 6 consecutive phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least one block of at least 8 consecutive phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.
  • the oligonucleotide comprises at least one block of at least 10 consecutive phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least one block of at least one 12 consecutive phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain such embodiments, at least one such block is located at the 3' end of the oligonucleotide. In certain such embodiments, at least one such block is located within 3 nucleosides of the 3' end of the oligonucleotide.
  • Oligonucleotides having any of the various sugar motifs described herein may have any linkage motif.
  • the oligonucleotides including but not limited to those described above, may have a linkage motif selected from non-limiting the table below:
  • antisense compounds are double-stranded RNAi compounds (siRNA).
  • siRNA double-stranded RNAi compounds
  • one or both strands may comprise any modification motif described above for ssRNA.
  • ssRNA compounds may be unmodified RNA.
  • siRNA compounds may comprise unmodified RNA nucleosides, but modified internucleoside linkages.
  • compositions comprising a first and a second oligomeric compound that are fully or at least partially hybridized to form a duplex region and further comprising a region that is complementary to and hybridizes to a nucleic acid target. It is suitable that such a composition comprise a first oligomeric compound that is an antisense strand having full or partial complementarity to a nucleic acid target and a second oligomeric compound that is a sense strand having one or more regions of complementarity to and forming at least one duplex region with the first oligomeric compound.
  • compositions of several embodiments modulate gene expression by hybridizing to a nucleic acid target resulting in loss of its normal function.
  • the degradation of the target nucleic acid is facilitated by an activated RISC complex that is formed with compositions of the invention.
  • compositions of the present invention are directed to double-stranded compositions wherein one of the strands is useful in, for example, influencing the preferential loading of the opposite strand into the RISC (or cleavage) complex.
  • the compositions are useful for targeting selected nucleic acid molecules and modulating the expression of one or more genes.
  • the compositions of the present invention hybridize to a portion of a target RNA resulting in loss of normal function of the target RNA.
  • compositions of the present invention can be modified to fulfil a particular role in for example the siRNA pathway.
  • Using a different motif in each strand or the same motif with different chemical modifications in each strand permits targeting the antisense strand for the RISC complex while inhibiting the incorporation of the sense strand.
  • each strand can be independently modified such that it is enhanced for its particular role.
  • the antisense strand can be modified at the 5'-end to enhance its role in one region of the RISC while the 3'-end can be modified differentially to enhance its role in a different region of the RISC.
  • the double- stranded oligonucleotide molecules can be a double- stranded polynucleotide molecule comprising self-complementary sense and antisense regions, wherein the antisense region comprises nucleotide sequence that is complementary to nucleotide sequence in a target nucleic acid molecule or a portion thereof and the sense region having nucleotide sequence corresponding to the target nucleic acid sequence or a portion thereof.
  • the double- stranded oligonucleotide molecules can be assembled from two separate oligonucleotides, where one strand is the sense strand and the other is the antisense strand, wherein the antisense and sense strands are self-complementary (i.e.
  • each strand comprises nucleotide sequence that is complementary to nucleotide sequence in the other strand; such as where the antisense strand and sense strand form a duplex or double-stranded structure, for example wherein the double- stranded region is about 15 to about 30, e.g., about 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30 base pairs; the antisense strand comprises nucleotide sequence that is complementary to nucleotide sequence in a target nucleic acid molecule or a portion thereof and the sense strand comprises nucleotide sequence corresponding to the target nucleic acid sequence or a portion thereof (e.g., about 15 to about 25 or more nucleotides of the double-stranded oligonucleotide molecule are complementary to the target nucleic acid or a portion thereof).
  • the double-stranded oligonucleotide is assembled from a single oligonucleotide, where the self-complementary sense and antisense regions of the siRNA are linked by means of a nucleic acid based or non-nucleic acid-based linker(s).
  • the double-stranded oligonucleotide can be a polynucleotide with a duplex, asymmetric duplex, hairpin or asymmetric hairpin secondary structure, having self-complementary sense and antisense regions, wherein the antisense region comprises nucleotide sequence that is complementary to nucleotide sequence in a separate target nucleic acid molecule or a portion thereof and the sense region having nucleotide sequence corresponding to the target nucleic acid sequence or a portion thereof.
  • the double-stranded oligonucleotide can be a circular single- stranded polynucleotide having two or more loop structures and a stem comprising self- complementary sense and antisense regions, wherein the antisense region comprises nucleotide sequence that is complementary to nucleotide sequence in a target nucleic acid molecule or a portion thereof and the sense region having nucleotide sequence corresponding to the target nucleic acid sequence or a portion thereof, and wherein the circular polynucleotide can be processed either in vivo or in vitro to generate an active siRNA molecule capable of mediating RNAi.
  • the double-stranded oligonucleotide comprises separate sense and antisense sequences or regions, wherein the sense and antisense regions are covalently linked by nucleotide or non-nucleotide linkers molecules as is known in the art, or are alternately non- covalently linked by ionic interactions, hydrogen bonding, van der waals interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and/or stacking interactions.
  • the double- stranded oligonucleotide comprises nucleotide sequence that is complementary to nucleotide sequence of a target gene.
  • the double-stranded oligonucleotide interacts with nucleotide sequence of a target gene in a manner that causes inhibition of expression of the target gene.
  • double-stranded oligonucleotides need not be limited to those molecules containing only RNA, but further encompasses chemically modified nucleotides and non- nucleotides.
  • the short interfering nucleic acid molecules lack 2'- hydroxy (2'-OH) containing nucleotides.
  • short interfering nucleic acids optionally do not include any ribonucleotides (e.g., nucleotides having a 2'-OH group).
  • double-stranded oligonucleotides that do not require the presence of ribonucleotides within the molecule to support RNAi can however have an attached linker or linkers or other attached or associated groups, moieties, or chains containing one or more nucleotides with 2'-OH groups.
  • double-stranded oligonucleotides can comprise ribonucleotides at about 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50% of the nucleotide positions.
  • siRNA is meant to be equivalent to other terms used to describe nucleic acid molecules that are capable of mediating sequence specific RNAi, for example short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), short hairpin RNA (shRNA), short interfering oligonucleotide, short interfering nucleic acid, short interfering modified oligonucleotide, chemically modified siRNA, post-transcriptional gene silencing RNA (ptgsRNA), and others.
  • siRNA short interfering RNA
  • dsRNA double-stranded RNA
  • miRNA micro-RNA
  • shRNA short hairpin RNA
  • siRNA short interfering oligonucleotide
  • short interfering nucleic acid short interfering modified oligonucleotide
  • ptgsRNA post-transcriptional gene silencing RNA
  • RNAi is meant to be equivalent to other terms used to describe sequence specific RNA interference, such as post transcriptional gene silencing, translational inhibition, or epigenetics.
  • sequence specific RNA interference such as post transcriptional gene silencing, translational inhibition, or epigenetics.
  • double-stranded oligonucleotides can be used to epigenetically silence genes at both the post-transcriptional level and the pre-transcriptional level.
  • epigenetic regulation of gene expression by siRNA molecules of the invention can result from siRNA mediated modification of chromatin structure or methylation pattern to alter gene expression (see, for example, Verdel et al, 2004, Science, 303, 672-676; Pal-Bhadra et al, 2004, Science, 303, 669-672; Allshire, 2002, Science, 297, 1818-1819; Volpe et al, 2002, Science, 297, 1833-1837; Jenuwein, 2002, Science, 297, 2215-2218; and Hall et al, 2002, Science, 297, 2232-2237).
  • RNAi mechanism including, e.g., "hairpin” or stem-loop double- stranded RNA effector molecules in which a single RNA strand with self-complementary sequences is capable of assuming a double-stranded conformation, or duplex dsRNA effector molecules comprising two separate strands of RNA.
  • the dsRNA consists entirely of ribonucleotides or consists of a mixture of ribonucleotides and deoxynucleotides, such as the RNA/DNA hybrids disclosed, for example, by WO 00/63364, filed Apr. 19, 2000, or U.S. Ser. No. 60/130,377, filed Apr. 21, 1999.
  • the dsRNA or dsRNA effector molecule may be a single molecule with a region of self-complementarity such that nucleotides in one segment of the molecule base pair with nucleotides in another segment of the molecule.
  • a dsRNA that consists of a single molecule consists entirely of ribonucleotides or includes a region of ribonucleotides that is complementary to a region of deoxyribonucleotides.
  • the dsRNA may include two different strands that have a region of complementarity to each other.
  • both strands consist entirely of ribonucleotides, one strand consists entirely of ribonucleotides and one strand consists entirely of deoxyribonucleotides, or one or both strands contain a mixture of ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides.
  • the regions of complementarity are at least 70, 80, 90, 95, 98, or 100% complementary to each other and to a target nucleic acid sequence.
  • the region of the dsRNA that is present in a double-stranded conformation includes at least 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 50, 75, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 or 5000 nucleotides or includes all of the nucleotides in a cDNA or other target nucleic acid sequence being represented in the dsRNA.
  • the dsRNA does not contain any single stranded regions, such as single stranded ends, or the dsRNA is a hairpin.
  • the dsRNA has one or more single stranded regions or overhangs.
  • RNA/DNA hybrids include a DNA strand or region that is an antisense strand or region (e.g, has at least 70, 80, 90, 95, 98, or 100% complementarity to a target nucleic acid) and an RNA strand or region that is a sense strand or region (e.g, has at least 70, 80, 90, 95, 98, or 100% identity to a target nucleic acid), and vice versa.
  • an antisense strand or region e.g, has at least 70, 80, 90, 95, 98, or 100% complementarity to a target nucleic acid
  • RNA strand or region that is a sense strand or region e.g, has at least 70, 80, 90, 95, 98, or 100% identity to a target nucleic acid
  • the RNA/DNA hybrid is made in vitro using enzymatic or chemical synthetic methods such as those described herein or those described in WO 00/63364, filed Apr. 19, 2000, or U.S. Ser. No. 60/130,377, filed Apr. 21, 1999.
  • a DNA strand synthesized in vitro is complexed with an RNA strand made in vivo or in vitro before, after, or concurrent with the transformation of the DNA strand into the cell.
  • the dsRNA is a single circular nucleic acid containing a sense and an antisense region, or the dsRNA includes a circular nucleic acid and either a second circular nucleic acid or a linear nucleic acid (see, for example, WO 00/63364, filed Apr. 19, 2000, or U.S. Ser. No. 60/130,377, filed Apr. 21, 1999.)
  • Exemplary circular nucleic acids include lariat structures in which the free 5' phosphoryl group of a nucleotide becomes linked to the 2' hydroxyl group of another nucleotide in a loop back fashion.
  • the dsRNA includes one or more modified nucleotides in which the 2' position in the sugar contains a halogen (such as fluorine group) or contains an alkoxy group (such as a methoxy group) which increases the half-life of the dsRNA in vitro or in vivo compared to the corresponding dsRNA in which the corresponding 2' position contains a hydrogen or an hydroxyl group.
  • the dsRNA includes one or more linkages between adjacent nucleotides other than a naturally-occurring phosphodiester linkage. Examples of such linkages include phosphoramide, phosphorothioate, and phosphorodithioate linkages.
  • the dsRNAs may also be chemically modified nucleic acid molecules as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,661.
  • the dsRNA contains one or two capped strands, as disclosed, for example, by WO 00/63364, filed Apr. 19, 2000, or U.S. Ser. No. 60/130,377, filed Apr. 21, 1999.
  • the dsRNA can be any of the at least partially dsRNA molecules disclosed in WO 00/63364, as well as any of the dsRNA molecules described in U.S. Provisional Application 60/399,998; and U.S. Provisional Application 60/419,532, and PCT/US2003/033466, the teaching of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Any of the dsRNAs may be expressed in vitro or in vivo using the methods described herein or standard methods, such as those described in WO 00/63364.
  • antisense compounds are not expected to result in cleavage or the target nucleic acid via RNase H or to result in cleavage or sequestration through the RISC pathway.
  • antisense activity may result from occupancy, wherein the presence of the hybridized antisense compound disrupts the activity of the target nucleic acid.
  • the antisense compound may be uniformly modified or may comprise a mix of modifications and/or modified and unmodified nucleosides.
  • Nucleotide sequences that encode fibrinogen alpha, beta, gamma include, without limitation, the following: NT_016354.18_TRUNC_80049001_80063000_COMP (fibrinogen alpha) (SEQ ID NO: 1), NT_016354.19_TRUNC_80028001_80042000 (fibrinogen beta) (SEQ ID NO: 2), and NT_016354.19_TRUNC_80070001_80084000_COMP (fibrinogen gamma) (SEQ ID NO: 3).
  • antisense compounds defined by a SEQ ID NO may comprise, independently, one or more modifications to a sugar moiety, an internucleoside linkage, or a nucleobase.
  • Antisense compounds described by Isis Number (Isis No) indicate a combination of nucleobase sequence and motif.
  • a target region is a structurally defined region of the target nucleic acid.
  • a target region may encompass a 3 ' UTR, a 5' UTR, an exon, an intron, an exon/intron junction, a coding region, a translation initiation region, translation termination region, or other defined nucleic acid region.
  • the structurally defined regions for fibrinogen can be obtained by accession number from sequence databases such as NCBI and such information is incorporated herein by reference.
  • a target region may encompass the sequence from a 5' target site of one target segment within the target region to a 3 ' target site of another target segment within the same target region.
  • Targeting includes determination of at least one target segment to which an antisense compound hybridizes, such that a desired effect occurs.
  • the desired effect is a reduction in mRNA target nucleic acid levels.
  • the desired effect is reduction of levels of protein encoded by the target nucleic acid or a phenotypic change associated with the target nucleic acid.
  • a target region may contain one or more target segments. Multiple target segments within a target region may be overlapping. Alternatively, they may be non-overlapping. In certain embodiments, target segments within a target region are separated by no more than about 300 nucleotides. In certain emodiments, target segments within a target region are separated by a number of nucleotides that is, is about, is no more than, is no more than about, 250, 200, 150, 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, or 10 nucleotides on the target nucleic acid, or is a range defined by any two of the preceeding values.
  • target segments within a target region are separated by no more than, or no more than about, 5 nucleotides on the target nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, target segments are contiguous. Contemplated are target regions defined by a range having a starting nucleic acid that is any of the 5' target sites or 3' target sites listed herein.
  • Suitable target segments may be found within a 5 ' UTR, a coding region, a 3 ' UTR, an intron, an exon, or an exon/intron junction.
  • Target segments containing a start codon or a stop codon are also suitable target segments.
  • a suitable target segment may specifcally exclude a certain structurally defined region such as the start codon or stop codon.
  • the determination of suitable target segments may include a comparison of the sequence of a target nucleic acid to other sequences throughout the genome.
  • the BLAST algorithm may be used to identify regions of similarity amongst different nucleic acids. This comparison can prevent the selection of antisense compound sequences that may hybridize in a non-specific manner to sequences other than a selected target nucleic acid (i.e., non-target or off-target sequence s) .
  • hybridization occurs between an antisense compound disclosed herein and a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • the most common mechanism of hybridization involves hydrogen bonding (e.g., Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen or reversed Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding) between complementary nucleobases of the nucleic acid molecules.
  • Hybridization can occur under varying conditions. Stringent conditions are sequence- dependent and are determined by the nature and composition of the nucleic acid molecules to be hybridized.
  • the antisense compounds provided herein are specifically hybridizable with a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • An antisense compound and a target nucleic acid are complementary to each other when a sufficient number of nucleobases of the antisense compound can hydrogen bond with the corresponding nucleobases of the target nucleic acid, such that a desired effect will occur (e.g., antisense inhibition of a target nucleic acid, such as a fibrinogen nucleic acid).
  • Non-complementary nucleobases between an antisense compound and a fibrinogen nucleic acid may be tolerated provided that the antisense compound remains able to specifically hybridize to a target nucleic acid.
  • an antisense compound may hybridize over one or more segments of a fibrinogen nucleic acid such that intervening or adjacent segments are not involved in the hybridization event (e.g., a loop structure, mismatch or hairpin structure).
  • the antisense compounds provided herein, or a specified portion thereof are, or are at least, 70%, 80%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% complementary to a fibrinogen nucleic acid, a target region, target segment, or specified portion thereof. Percent complementarity of an antisense compound with a target nucleic acid can be determined using routine methods.
  • an antisense compound in which 18 of 20 nucleobases of the antisense compound are complementary to a target region, and would therefore specifically hybridize would represent 90 percent complementarity.
  • the remaining noncomplementary nucleobases may be clustered or interspersed with complementary nucleobases and need not be contiguous to each other or to complementary nucleobases.
  • an antisense compound which is 18 nucleobases in length having 4 (four) noncomplementary nucleobases which are flanked by two regions of complete complementarity with the target nucleic acid would have 77.8%) overall complementarity with the target nucleic acid and would thus fall within the scope of the present invention.
  • Percent complementarity of an antisense compound with a region of a target nucleic acid can be determined routinely using BLAST programs (basic local alignment search tools) and PowerBLAST programs known in the art (Altschul et al, J. Mol. Biol, 1990, 215, 403 410; Zhang and Madden, Genome Res., 1997, 7, 649 656). Percent homology, sequence identity or complementarity, can be determined by, for example, the Gap program (Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package, Version 8 for Unix, Genetics Computer Group, University Research Park, Madison Wis.), using default settings, which uses the algorithm of Smith and Waterman (Adv. Appl. Math., 1981, 2, 482 489).
  • the antisense compounds provided herein, or specified portions thereof are fully complementary (i.e., 100% complementary) to a target nucleic acid, or specified portion thereof.
  • an antisense compound may be fully complementary to a fibrinogen nucleic acid, or a target region, or a target segment or target sequence thereof.
  • "fully complementary" means each nucleobase of an antisense compound is capable of precise base pairing with the corresponding nucleobases of a target nucleic acid.
  • a 20 nucleobase antisense compound is fully complementary to a target sequence that is 400 nucleobases long, so long as there is a corresponding 20 nucleobase portion of the target nucleic acid that is fully complementary to the antisense compound.
  • Fully complementary can also be used in reference to a specified portion of the first and /or the second nucleic acid.
  • a 20 nucleobase portion of a 30 nucleobase antisense compound can be "fully complementary" to a target sequence that is 400 nucleobases long.
  • the 20 nucleobase portion of the 30 nucleobase oligonucleotide is fully complementary to the target sequence if the target sequence has a corresponding 20 nucleobase portion wherein each nucleobase is complementary to the 20 nucleobase portion of the antisense compound.
  • the entire 30 nucleobase antisense compound may or may not be fully complementary to the target sequence, depending on whether the remaining 10 nucleobases of the antisense compound are also complementary to the target sequence.
  • non-complementary nucleobase may be at the 5' end or 3' end of the antisense compound.
  • the non-complementary nucleobase or nucleobases may be at an internal position of the antisense compound.
  • two or more non-complementary nucleobases may be contiguous (i.e., linked) or non-contiguous.
  • a non-complementary nucleobase is located in the wing segment of a gapmer antisense oligonucleotide.
  • antisense compounds that are, or are up to 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 nucleobases in length comprise no more than 4, no more than 3, no more than 2, or no more than 1 non-complementary nucleobase(s) relative to a target nucleic acid, such as a fibrinogen nucleic acid, or specified portion thereof.
  • antisense compounds that are, or are up to 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
  • nucleobases in length comprise no more than 6, no more than 5, no more than 4, no more than 3, no more than 2, or no more than 1 non- complementary nucleobase(s) relative to a target nucleic acid, such as a fibrinogen nucleic acid, or specified portion thereof.
  • the antisense compounds provided herein also include those which are complementary to a portion of a target nucleic acid.
  • portion refers to a defined number of contiguous (i.e. linked) nucleobases within a region or segment of a target nucleic acid.
  • a “portion” can also refer to a defined number of contiguous nucleobases of an antisense compound.
  • the antisense compounds are complementary to at least an 8 nucleobase portion of a target segment.
  • the antisense compounds are complementary to at least a 12 nucleobase portion of a target segment.
  • the antisense compounds are complementary to at least a 15 nucleobase portion of a target segment.
  • antisense compounds that are complementary to at least a 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or more nucleobase portion of a target segment, or a range defined by any two of these values.
  • the antisense compounds provided herein may also have a defined percent identity to a particular nucleotide sequence, SEQ ID NO, or compound represented by a specific Isis number, or portion thereof.
  • an antisense compound is identical to the sequence disclosed herein if it has the same nucleobase pairing ability.
  • a RNA which contains uracil in place of thymidine in a disclosed DNA sequence would be considered identical to the DNA sequence since both uracil and thymidine pair with adenine.
  • Shortened and lengthened versions of the antisense compounds described herein as well as compounds having non-identical bases relative to the antisense compounds provided herein also are contemplated.
  • the non-identical bases may be adjacent to each other or dispersed throughout the antisense compound. Percent identity of an antisense compound is calculated according to the number of bases that have identical base pairing relative to the sequence to which it is being compared.
  • the antisense compounds, or portions thereof are at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to one or more of the antisense compounds or SEQ ID NOs, or a portion thereof, disclosed herein.
  • a portion of the antisense compound is compared to an equal length portion of the target nucleic acid.
  • an 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 nucleobase portion is compared to an equal length portion of the target nucleic acid.
  • a portion of the antisense oligonucleotide is compared to an equal length portion of the target nucleic acid.
  • an 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 nucleobase portion is compared to an equal length portion of the target nucleic acid.
  • a nucleoside is a base-sugar combination.
  • the nucleobase (also known as base) portion of the nucleoside is normally a heterocyclic base moiety.
  • Nucleotides are nucleosides that further include a phosphate group covalently linked to the sugar portion of the nucleoside. For those nucleosides that include a pentofuranosyl sugar, the phosphate group can be linked to the 2', 3' or 5' hydroxyl moiety of the sugar.
  • Oligonucleotides are formed through the covalent linkage of adjacent nucleosides to one another, to form a linear polymeric oligonucleotide. Within the oligonucleotide structure, the phosphate groups are commonly referred to as forming the internucleoside linkages of the oligonucleotide.
  • Modifications to antisense compounds encompass substitutions or changes to internucleoside linkages, sugar moieties, or nucleobases. Modified antisense compounds are often preferred over native forms because of desirable properties such as, for example, enhanced cellular uptake, enhanced affinity for nucleic acid target, increased stability in the presence of nucleases, or increased inhibitory activity.
  • Chemically modified nucleosides may also be employed to increase the binding affinity of a shortened or truncated antisense oligonucleotide for its target nucleic acid. Consequently, comparable results can often be obtained with shorter antisense compounds that have such chemically modified nucleosides.
  • RNA and DNA The naturally occuring internucleoside linkage of RNA and DNA is a 3' to 5' phosphodiester linkage.
  • Antisense compounds having one or more modified, i.e. non-naturally occurring, internucleoside linkages are often selected over antisense compounds having naturally occurring internucleoside linkages because of desirable properties such as, for example, enhanced cellular uptake, enhanced affinity for target nucleic acids, and increased stability in the presence of nucleases.
  • Oligonucleotides having modified internucleoside linkages include internucleoside linkages that retain a phosphorus atom as well as internucleoside linkages that do not have a phosphorus atom.
  • Representative phosphorus containing internucleoside linkages include, but are not limited to, phosphodiesters, phosphotriesters, methylphosphonates, phosphoramidate, and phosphorothioates. Methods of preparation of phosphorous-containing and non-phosphorous- containing linkages are well known.
  • antisense compounds targeted to a target nucleic acid comprise one or more modified internucleoside linkages.
  • the modified internucleoside linkages are phosphorothioate linkages.
  • each internucleoside linkage of an antisense compound is a phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage.
  • Antisense compounds can optionally contain one or more nucleosides wherein the sugar group has been modified.
  • Such sugar modified nucleosides may impart enhanced nuclease stability, increased binding affinity, or some other beneficial biological property to the antisense compounds.
  • nucleosides comprise chemically modified ribofuranose ring moieties.
  • Examples of chemically modified ribofuranose rings include without limitation, addition of substitutent groups (including 5' and 2' substituent groups, bridging of non-geminal ring atoms to form bicyclic nucleic acids (BNA), replacement of the ribosyl ring oxygen atom with S, N(R), or C(Ri)(R 2 ) (R, Ri and R 2 are each independently H, Ci-Ci 2 alkyl or a protecting group) and combinations thereof.
  • substitutent groups including 5' and 2' substituent groups
  • BNA bicyclic nucleic acids
  • R, Ri and R 2 are each independently H, Ci-Ci 2 alkyl or a protecting group
  • Examples of chemically modified sugars include 2 -F-5'- methyl substituted nucleoside (see PCT International Application WO 2008/101 157 Published on 8/21/08 for other disclosed 5',2'-bis substituted nucleosides) or replacement of the ribosyl ring oxygen atom with S with further substitution at the 2'-position (see published U. S. Patent Application US2005-0130923, published on June 16, 2005) or alternatively 5 '-substitution of a BNA (see PCT International Application WO 2007/134181 Published on 1 1/22/07 wherein LNA is substituted with for example a 5'-methyl or a 5'-vinyl group).
  • nucleosides having modified sugar moieties include without limitation nucleosides comprising 5'-vinyl, 5'-methyl (R or S), 4'-S, 2'-F, 2'-OCH 3 , 2'-OCH 2 CH 3 , - OCH 2 CH 2 F and 2'-0(CH 2 ) 2 OCH 3 substituent groups.
  • bicyclic nucleosides refer to modified nucleosides comprising a bicyclic sugar moiety.
  • examples of bicyclic nucleosides include without limitation nucleosides comprising a bridge between the 4' and the 2' ribosyl ring atoms.
  • antisense compounds provided herein include one or more bicyclic nucleosides comprising a 4' to 2' bridge.
  • 4' to 2' bridged bicyclic nucleosides include but are not limited to one of the formulae: 4'-(CH 2 )-0-2' (LNA); 4'-(CH 2 )-S-2'; 4'-(CH 2 ) 2 -0-2' (ENA); 4'-CH(CH 3 )- 0-2' (also referred to as constrained ethyl or cEt) and 4'-CH(CH 2 OCH 3 )-0-2' (and analogs thereof see U. S.
  • Patent 7,427,672 issued on September 23, 2008
  • 4'-CH 2 -C(H)(CH 3 )-2' see Chattopadhyaya et al, J. Org. Chem., 2009, 74, 1 18-134
  • Each of the foregoing bicyclic nucleosides can be prepared having one or more stereochemical sugar configurations including for example a-L-ribofuranose and ⁇ -D-ribofuranose (see PCT international application PCT/DK98/00393, published on March 25, 1999 as WO 99/14226).
  • x 0, 1, or 2;
  • n 1, 2, 3, or 4;
  • the bridge of a bicyclic sugar moiety is -[C(R a )(Rb)] n -, -[C(R a )(Rb)] n -0-, -C(R a R b )-N(R)-0- or -C(R a R b )-0-N(R)-.
  • the bridge is 4'-CH 2 -2', 4'-(CH 2 ) 2 -2', 4'-(CH 2 ) 3 -2', 4'-CH 2 -0-2', 4'-(CH 2 ) 2 -0-2', 4'-CH 2 -0-N(R)-2' and 4'- CH 2 -N(R)-0-2'- wherein each R is, independently, H, a protecting group or Ci-Ci 2 alkyl.
  • bicyclic nucleosides are further defined by isomeric configuration.
  • a nucleoside comprising a 4'-2' methylene-oxy bridge may be in the a-L configuration or in the ⁇ -D configuration.
  • a-L-methyleneoxy (4'-CH 2 -0-2') BNA's have been incorporated into antisense oligonucleotides that showed antisense activity (Frieden et al, Nucleic Acids Research, 2003, 27, 6365-6372).
  • bicyclic nucleosides include, but are not limited to, (A) a-L- methyleneoxy (4'-CH 2 -0-2') BNA , (B) ⁇ -D-methyleneoxy (4'-CH 2 -0-2') BNA , (C) ethyleneoxy (4'-(CH 2 ) 2 -0-2') BNA , (D) aminooxy (4'-CH 2 -0-N(R)-2') BNA, (E) oxyamino (4'-CH 2 -N(R)-0-2') BNA, and (F) methyl(methyleneoxy) (4'-CH(CH 3 )-0-2') BNA, (G) methylene-thio (4'-CH 2 -S-2') BNA, (H) methylene-amino (4'-CH 2 -N(R)-2') BNA, (I) methyl carbocyclic (4'-CH 2 -CH(CH 3 )-2') BNA,
  • bicyclic nucleosides are provided having Formula I:
  • Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety
  • Rc is Ci-Ci 2 alkyl or an amino protecting group
  • T a and Tb are each, independently H, a hydroxyl protecting group, a conjugate group, a reactive phosphorus group, a phosphorus moiety or a covalent attachment to a support medium.
  • bicyclic nucleosides are provided having Formula II:
  • Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety
  • T a and Tb are each, independently H, a hydroxyl protecting group, a conjugate group, a reactive phosphorus group, a phosphorus moiety or a covalent attachment to a support medium;
  • Z a is Ci-C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, acyl, substituted acyl, substituted amide, thiol or substituted thio.
  • bicyclic nucleosides are provided having Formula III:
  • Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety
  • T a and Tb are each, independently H, a hydroxyl protecting group, a conjugate group, a reactive phosphorus group, a phosphorus moiety or a covalent attachment to a support medium;
  • bicyclic nucleosides are provided having Formula IV:
  • Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety
  • T a and Tb are each, independently H, a hydroxyl protecting group, a conjugate group, a reactive phosphorus group, a phosphorus moiety or a covalent attachment to a support medium;
  • Rd is Ci-C 6 alkyl, substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl or substituted C 2 -C 6 alkynyl;
  • each q a , qb, q c and qd is, independently, H, halogen, Ci-C 6 alkyl, substituted Ci-C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl or substituted C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, Ci-C 6 alkoxyl, substituted Ci-C 6 alkoxyl, acyl, substituted acyl, Ci-C 6 aminoalkyl or substituted Ci-C 6 aminoalkyl;
  • bicyclic nucleosides are provided having Formula V:
  • Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety
  • T a and Tb are each, independently H, a hydroxyl protecting group, a conjugate group, a reactive phosphorus group, a phosphorus moiety or a covalent attachment to a support medium;
  • q g and q are each, independently, H, halogen, C1-C12 alkyl or substituted C1-C12 alkyl.
  • BNA methyleneoxy (4'-CH 2 -0-2') BNA monomers adenine, cytosine, guanine, 5-methyl-cytosine, thymine and uracil, along with their oligomerization, and nucleic acid recognition properties have been described (Koshkin et al, Tetrahedron, 1998, 54, 3607-3630). BNAs and preparation thereof are also described in WO 98/39352 and WO 99/14226.
  • bicyclic nucleosides are provided having Formula VI:
  • Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety
  • 4'-2' bicyclic nucleoside or “4' to 2' bicyclic nucleoside” refers to a bicyclic nucleoside comprising a furanose ring comprising a bridge connecting two carbon atoms of the furanose ring connects the 2' carbon atom and the 4' carbon atom of the sugar ring.
  • nucleosides refer to nucleosides comprising modified sugar moieties that are not bicyclic sugar moieties.
  • sugar moiety, or sugar moiety analogue, of a nucleoside may be modified or substituted at any position.
  • 2'-modified sugar means a furanosyl sugar modified at the 2' position.
  • such modifications include substituents selected from: a halide, including, but not limited to substituted and unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted and unsubstituted thioalkyl, substituted and unsubstituted amino alkyl, substituted and unsubstituted alkyl, substituted and unsubstituted allyl, and substituted and unsubstituted alkynyl.
  • a halide including, but not limited to substituted and unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted and unsubstituted thioalkyl, substituted and unsubstituted amino alkyl, substituted and unsubstituted alkyl, substituted and unsubstituted allyl, and substituted and unsubstituted alkynyl.
  • 2'- substituent groups can also be selected from: Ci-Ci 2 alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl or O-aralkyl, SH, SCH 3 , OCN, CI, Br, CN, F, CF 3 , OCF 3 , SOCH 3 , S0 2 CH 3 , ON0 2 , N0 2 , N 3 , H 2 , heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkaryl, aminoalkylamino, polyalkylamino, substituted silyl, an RNA cleaving group, a reporter group, an intercalator, a group for improving pharmacokinetic properties, or a group for improving the pharmacodynamic properties of an antisense compound, and other substituents having similar properties.
  • modifed nucleosides comprise a 2'-MOE side chain (Baker et al, J. Biol Chem., 1997, 272, 11944-12000).
  • 2'-MOE substitution have been described as having improved binding affinity compared to unmodified nucleosides and to other modified nucleosides, such as 2'- O- methyl, O-propyl, and O-aminopropyl.
  • Oligonucleotides having the 2'-MOE substituent also have been shown to be antisense inhibitors of gene expression with promising features for in vivo use (Martin, Helv. Chim.
  • a "modified tetrahydropyran nucleoside” or “modified TUP nucleoside” means a nucleoside having a six-membered tetrahydropyran "sugar” substituted in for the pentofuranosyl residue in normal nucleosides (a sugar surrogate).
  • Modified TUP nucleosides include, but are not limited to, what is referred to in the art as hexitol nucleic acid (UNA), anitol nucleic acid (ANA), manitol nucleic acid (MNA) (see Leumann, Bioorg. Med. Chem., 2002, 10, 841-85 -HNA) having a tetrahydropyran ring system as illustrated below:
  • sugar surrogates are selected having Formula VII:
  • Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety
  • T a and Tb are each, independently, an internucleoside linking group linking the tetrahydropyran nucleoside analog to the antisense compound or one of T a and Tb is an internucleoside linking group linking the tetrahydropyran nucleoside analog to the antisense compound and the other of T a and Tb is H, a hydroxyl protecting group, a linked conjugate group or a 5' or 3'-terminal group;
  • the modified THP nucleosides of Formula VII are provided wherein qi, q 2 , q 3 , q 4 , q 5 , q 6 and q 7 are each H. In certain embodiments, at least one of qi, q 2 , q 3 , q 4 , qs, q 6 and q 7 is other than H. In certain embodiments, at least one of qi, q 2 , q 3 , q 4 , qs, q 6 and q 7 is methyl. In certain embodiments, TUP nucleosides of Formula VII are provided wherein one of Ri and R 2 is fluoro. In certain embodiments, Ri is fluoro and R 2 is H; Ri is methoxy and R 2 is H, and Ri is methoxyethoxy and R 2 is H.
  • sugar surrogates comprise rings having more than 5 atoms and more than one heteroatom.
  • nucleosides comprising morpholino sugar moieties and their use in oligomeric compounds has been reported (see for example: Braasch et al, Biochemistry, 2002, 41, 4503-4510; and U.S. Patents 5,698,685; 5, 166,315; 5, 185,444; and 5,034,506).
  • morpholino means a sugar surrogate having the following formula:
  • morpholinos may be modified, for example by adding or altering various substituent groups from the above morpholino structure.
  • sugar surrogates are referred to herein as "modifed morpholinos.”
  • Patent Application US2005-0130923, published on June 16, 2005) or alternatively 5 '-substitution of a bicyclic nucleic acid see PCT International Application WO 2007/134181, published on 11/22/07 wherein a 4'-CH 2 -0-2' bicyclic nucleoside is further substituted at the 5' position with a 5'-methyl or a 5'-vinyl group.
  • PCT International Application WO 2007/134181 published on 11/22/07 wherein a 4'-CH 2 -0-2' bicyclic nucleoside is further substituted at the 5' position with a 5'-methyl or a 5'-vinyl group.
  • carbocyclic bicyclic nucleosides along with their oligomerization and biochemical studies have also been described (see, e.g., Srivastava et a/., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129(26), 8362-8379).
  • antisense compounds comprise one or more modified cyclohexenyl nucleosides, which is a nucleoside having a six-membered cyclohexenyl in place of the pentofuranosyl residue in naturally occurring nucleosides.
  • Modified cyclohexenyl nucleosides include, but are not limited to those described in the art (see for example commonly owned, published PCT Application WO 2010/036696, published on April 10, 2010, Robeyns et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc, 2008, 130(6), 1979-1984; Horvath et al, Tetrahedron Letters, 2007, 48, 3621-3623; Nauwelaerts et al, J.
  • Bx is a heterocyclic base moiety
  • T 3 and T 4 are each, independently, an internucleoside linking group linking the cyclohexenyl nucleoside analog to an antisense compound or one of T 3 and T is an internucleoside linking group linking the tetrahydropyran nucleoside analog to an antisense compound and the other of T 3 and T is H, a hydroxyl protecting group, a linked conjugate group, or a 5'-or 3'-terminal group; and
  • qi, q 2 , q 3 , q 4 , qs, q 6 , q7, qs and qg are each, independently, H, C1-C5 alkyl, substituted Ci- C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, substituted C 2 -C 6 alkynyl or other sugar substituent group.
  • 2'-modified or “2 '-substituted” refers to a nucleoside comprising a sugar comprising a substituent at the 2' position other than H or OH.
  • 2'-F refers to a nucleoside comprising a sugar comprising a fluoro group at the 2' position of the sugar ring.
  • 2'-OMe or “2'-OCH 3 " or “2'-0-methyl” each refers to a nucleoside comprising a sugar comprising an -OCH 3 group at the 2' position of the sugar ring.
  • MOE or "2'-MOE” or “2'-OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 3 " or “2'-0-methoxyethyl” each refers to a nucleoside comprising a sugar comprising a -OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 3 group at the 2' position of the sugar ring.
  • oligonucleotide refers to a compound comprising a plurality of linked nucleosides. In certain embodiments, one or more of the plurality of nucleosides is modified. In certain embodiments, an oligonucleotide comprises one or more ribonucleosides (RNA) and/or deoxyribonucleosides (DNA).
  • RNA ribonucleosides
  • DNA deoxyribonucleosides
  • bicyclo and tricyclo sugar surrogate ring systems are also known in the art that can be used to modify nucleosides for incorporation into antisense compounds (see for example review article: Leumann, Bioorg. Med. Chem., 2002, 10, 841-854). Such ring systems can undergo various additional substitutions to enhance activity.
  • nucleobase moieties In nucleotides having modified sugar moieties, the nucleobase moieties (natural, modified or a combination thereof) are maintained for hybridization with an appropriate nucleic acid target.
  • antisense compounds comprise one or more nucleosides having modified sugar moieties.
  • the modified sugar moiety is 2'-MOE.
  • the 2' -MOE modified nucleosides are arranged in a gapmer motif.
  • the modified sugar moiety is a bicyclic nucleoside having a (4'-CH(CH 3 )- 0-2') bridging group.
  • the (4'-CH(CH 3 )-0-2') modified nucleosides are arranged throughout the wings of a gapmer motif.
  • Nucleobase (or base) modifications or substitutions are structurally distinguishable from, yet functionally interchangeable with, naturally occurring or synthetic unmodified nucleobases. Both natural and modified nucleobases are capable of participating in hydrogen bonding. Such nucleobase modifications can impart nuclease stability, binding affinity or some other beneficial biological property to antisense compounds. Modified nucleobases include synthetic and natural nucleobases such as, for example, 5-methylcytosine (5-me-C). Certain nucleobase substitutions, including 5-methylcytosine substitutions, are particularly useful for increasing the binding affinity of an antisense compound for a target nucleic acid.
  • 5-methylcytosine substitutions have been shown to increase nucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2°C (Sanghvi, Y.S., Crooke, S . and Lebleu, B., eds., Antisense Research and Applications, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993, pp. 276-278).
  • Additional modified nucleobases include 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2- propyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and 2- thiocytosine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl (-C ⁇ C-CH3) uracil and cytosine and other alkynyl derivatives of pyrimidine bases, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl and other 8- substituted adenines and guanines, 5-halo particularly 5-bromo, 5-trifluoromethyl and other 5- substituted urac
  • Heterocyclic base moieties can also include those in which the purine or pyrimidine base is replaced with other heterocycles, for example 7-deaza-adenine, 7-deazaguanosine, 2- aminopyridine and 2-pyridone.
  • Nucleobases that are particularly useful for increasing the binding affinity of antisense compounds include 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and 0-6 substituted purines, including 2 aminopropyladenine, 5-propynyluracil and 5- propynylcytosine.
  • antisense compounds targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid comprise one or more modified nucleobases.
  • shortened or gap-widened antisense oligonucleotides targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid comprise one or more modified nucleobases.
  • the modified nucleobase is 5-methylcytosine.
  • each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine.
  • Antisense oligonucleotides may be admixed with pharmaceutically acceptable active or inert substances for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions or formulations.
  • Compositions and methods for the formulation of pharmaceutical compositions are dependent upon a number of criteria, including, but not limited to, route of administration, extent of disease, or dose to be administered.
  • An antisense compound targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid can be utilized in pharmaceutical compositions by combining the antisense compound with a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier.
  • the "pharmaceutical carrier” or “excipient” is a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent, suspending agent or any other pharmacologically inert vehicle for delivering one or more nucleic acids to an animal.
  • the excipient can be liquid or solid and can be selected, with the planned manner of administration in mind, so as to provide for the desired bulk, consistency, etc., when combined with a nucleic acid and the other components of a given pharmaceutical composition.
  • Typical pharmaceutical carriers include, but are not limited to, binding agents (e.g., pregelatinized maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, etc.); fillers (e.g., lactose and other sugars, microcrystalline cellulose, pectin, gelatin, calcium sulfate, ethyl cellulose, polyacrylates or calcium hydrogen phosphate, etc.); lubricants (e.g., magnesium stearate, talc, silica, colloidal silicon dioxide, stearic acid, metallic stearates, hydrogenated vegetable oils, corn starch, polyethylene glycols, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, etc.); disintegrants (e.g., starch, sodium starch glycolate, etc.); and wetting agents (e.g., sodium lauryl sulphate, etc.).
  • binding agents e.g., pregelatinized maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone or hydroxyprop
  • compositions of the present invention can also be used to formulate the compositions of the present invention.
  • suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to, water, salt solutions, alcohols, polyethylene glycols, gelatin, lactose, amylose, magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like.
  • a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent includes phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). PBS is a diluent suitable for use in compositions to be delivered parenterally.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antisense compound targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent.
  • the pharmaceutically acceptable diluent is PBS.
  • the antisense compound is an antisense oligonucleotide.
  • compositions comprising antisense compounds encompass any pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or salts of such esters, or any other oligonucleotide which, upon administration to an animal, including a human, is capable of providing (directly or indirectly) the biologically active metabolite or residue thereof. Accordingly, for example, the disclosure is also drawn to pharmaceutically acceptable salts of antisense compounds, prodrugs, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such prodrugs, and other bioequivalents. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, sodium and potassium salts.
  • a prodrug can include the incorporation of additional nucleosides at one or both ends of an antisense compound which are cleaved by endogenous nucleases within the body, to form the active antisense compound.
  • Antisense compounds may be covalently linked to one or more moieties or conjugates which enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellular uptake of the resulting antisense oligonucleotides.
  • Typical conjugate groups include cholesterol moieties and lipid moieties.
  • Additional conjugate groups include carbohydrates, phospholipids, biotin, phenazine, folate, phenanthridine, anthraquinone, acridine, fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarins, and dyes.
  • Antisense compounds can also be modified to have one or more stabilizing groups that are generally attached to one or both termini of antisense compounds to enhance properties such as, for example, nuclease stability. Included in stabilizing groups are cap structures. These terminal modifications protect the antisense compound having terminal nucleic acid from exonuclease degradation, and can help in delivery and/or localization within a cell. The cap can be present at the 5'-terminus (5'-cap), or at the 3'-terminus (3'-cap), or can be present on both termini. Cap structures are well known in the art and include, for example, inverted deoxy abasic caps. Further 3' and 5 '-stabilizing groups that can be used to cap one or both ends of an antisense compound to impart nuclease stability include those disclosed in WO 03/004602 published on January 16, 2003.
  • antisense compounds are modified by attachment of one or more conjugate groups.
  • conjugate groups modify one or more properties of the attached oligonucleotide, including but not limited to pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, stability, binding, absorption, cellular distribution, cellular uptake, charge and clearance.
  • Conjugate groups are routinely used in the chemical arts and are linked directly or via an optional conjugate linking moiety or conjugate linking group to a parent compound such as an oligonucleotide.
  • Conjugate groups includes without limitation, intercalators, reporter molecules, polyamines, polyamides, polyethylene glycols, thioethers, polyethers, cholesterols, thiocholesterols, cholic acid moieties, folate, lipids, phospholipids, biotin, phenazine, phenanthridine, anthraquinone, adamantane, acridine, fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarins and dyes.
  • Certain conjugate groups have been described previously, for example: cholesterol moiety (Letsinger et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
  • Acids Res., 1990, 18, 3777-3783 a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain (Manoharan et al, Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 1995, 14, 969-973), or adamantane acetic acid (Manoharan et al, Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 3651-3654), a palmityl moiety (Mishra et al, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1995, 1264, 229-237), or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety (Crooke et al, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Then, 1996, 277, 923-937).
  • Cell culture and antisense compounds treatment The effects of antisense compounds on the level, activity or expression of fibrinogen nucleic acids can be tested in vitro in a variety of cell types.
  • Cell types used for such analyses are available from commerical vendors ⁇ e.g. American Type Culture Collection, Manassus, VA; Zen-Bio, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC; Clonetics Corporation, Walkersville, MD) and are cultured according to the vendor's instructions using commercially available reagents (e.g. Invitrogen Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA).
  • Illustrative cell types include, but are not limited to, HepG2 cells, Hep3B cells, and primary hepatocytes.
  • Described herein are methods for treatment of cells with antisense oligonucleotides, which can be modified appropriately for treatment with other antisense compounds.
  • cells are treated with antisense oligonucleotides when the cells reach approximately 60-80% confluency in culture.
  • One reagent commonly used to introduce antisense oligonucleotides into cultured cells includes the cationic lipid transfection reagent LIPOFECTIN (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA).
  • Antisense oligonucleotides are mixed with LIPOFECTIN in OPTI-MEM 1 (Invitrogen,
  • LIPOFECTIN concentration that typically ranges 2 to 12 ug/mL per 100 nM antisense oligonucleotide.
  • Another reagent used to introduce antisense oligonucleotides into cultured cells includes
  • LIPOFECTAMINE (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). Antisense oligonucleotide is mixed with LIPOFECTAMINE in OPTI-MEM 1 reduced serum medium (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) to achieve the desired concentration of antisense oligonucleotide and a LIPOFECTAMINE concentration that typically ranges 2 to 12 ug/mL per 100 nM antisense oligonucleotide.
  • Another technique used to introduce antisense oligonucleotides into cultured cells includes electroporation (Sambrooke and Russell in Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual. Third Edition. Cold Spring Harbor laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York. 2001).
  • Cells are treated with antisense oligonucleotides by routine methods. Cells are typically harvested 16-24 hours after antisense oligonucleotide treatment, at which time RNA or protein levels of target nucleic acids are measured by methods known in the art and described herein. In general, when treatments are performed in multiple replicates, the data are presented as the average of the replicate treatments.
  • the concentration of antisense oligonucleotide used varies from cell line to cell line. Methods to determine the optimal antisense oligonucleotide concentration for a particular cell line are well known in the art. Antisense oligonucleotides are typically used at concentrations ranging from 1 nM to 300 nM when transfected with LIPOFECTAMINE. Antisense oligonucleotides are used at higher concentrations ranging from 625 to 20,000 nM when transfected using electroporation. RNA Isolation
  • RNA analysis can be performed on total cellular RNA or poly(A)+ mRNA. Methods of RNA isolation are well known in the art (Sambrooke and Russell in Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual. Third Edition. Cold Spring Harbor laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York. 2001). RNA is prepared using methods well known in the art, for example, using the TRIZOL Reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) according to the manufacturer's recommended protocols.
  • RNA analysis can be performed on total cellular RNA or poly(A)+ mRNA. Methods of RNA isolation are well known in the art. Northern blot analysis is also routine in the art.
  • Quantitative real-time PCR can be conveniently accomplished using the commercially available ABI PRISM 7600, 7700, or 7900 Sequence Detection System, available from PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA and used according to manufacturer's instructions. Quantitative Real-Time PCR Analysis of Target RNA Levels Quantitation of target RNA levels may be accomplished by quantitative real-time PCR using the ABI PRISM 7600, 7700, or 7900 Sequence Detection System (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) according to manufacturer's instructions. Methods of quantitative real-time PCR are well known in the art.
  • RNA Prior to real-time PCR, the isolated RNA is subjected to a reverse transcriptase (RT) reaction, which produces complementary DNA (cDNA) that is then used as the substrate for the real-time PCR amplification.
  • RT and real-time PCR reactions are performed sequentially in the same sample well.
  • RT and real-time PCR reagents are obtained from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA). RT real-time-PCR reactions are carried out by methods well known to those skilled in the art.
  • Gene (or RNA) target quantities obtained by real time PCR are normalized using either the expression level of a gene whose expression is constant, such as cyclophilin A, or by quantifying total RNA using RIBOGREEN (Invitrogen, Inc. Carlsbad, CA). Cyclophilin A expression is quantified by real time PCR, by being run simultaneously with the target, multiplexing, or separately. Total RNA is quantified using RIBOGREEN RNA quantification reagent (Invetrogen, Inc. Eugene, OR). Methods of RNA quantification by RIBOGREEN are taught in Jones, L.J., et al, (Analytical Biochemistry, 1998, 265, 368-374). A CYTOFLUOR 4000 instrument (PE Applied Biosystems) is used to measure RIBOGREEN fluorescence.
  • Probes and primers are designed to hybridize to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • Methods for designing real-time PCR probes and primers are well known in the art, and may include the use of software such as PRIMER EXPRESS Software (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA).
  • Gene target quantities obtained by RT, real-time PCR can be normalized using either the expression level of GAPDH, a gene whose expression is constant, or by quantifying total RNA using RiboGreenTM (Molecular Probes, Inc. Eugene, OR).
  • GAPDH expression can be quantified by RT, real-time PCR, by being run simultaneously with the target, multiplexing, or separately.
  • Total RNA can be quantified using RiboGreenTM RNA quantification reagent (Molecular Probes, Inc. Eugene, OR).
  • Probes and primers for use in real-time PCR are designed to hybridize to target-specific sequences.
  • the target-specific PCR probes can have FAM covalently linked to the 5' end and TAMRA or MGB covalently linked to the 3' end, where FAM is the fluorescent dye and TAMRA or MGB is the quencher dye.
  • Antisense inhibition of fibrinogen nucleic acids can be assessed by measuring fibrinogen protein levels. Protein levels of fibrinogen can be evaluated or quantitated in a variety of ways well known in the art, such as immunoprecipitation, Western blot analysis (immunoblotting), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative protein assays, protein activity assays (for example, caspase activity assays), immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry or fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).
  • Antibodies directed to a target can be identified and obtained from a variety of sources, such as the MSRS catalog of antibodies (Aerie Corporation, Birmingham, MI), or can be prepared via conventional monoclonal or polyclonal antibody generation methods well known in the art. Antibodies useful for the detection of mouse, rat, monkey, and human fibrinogen are commercially available.
  • Antisense compounds for example, antisense oligonucleotides, are tested in animals to assess their ability to inhibit expression of fibrinogen and produce phenotypic changes, such as, amelioration of muscle degeneration and protection from muscle loss, as indicated by a mouse forearm max strength assay. Testing may be performed in normal animals, or in experimental disease models.
  • antisense oligonucleotides are formulated in a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, such as phosphate-buffered saline.
  • Administration includes parenteral routes of administration, such as intraperitoneal, intravenous, and subcutaneous.
  • the invention provides methods of treating an individual comprising administering one or more pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention.
  • the individual has a fibrinogen related disease, disorder, or symptom thereof.
  • the individual has fibrosis in an organ, tissue or muscle.
  • the individual has DMD.
  • the individual is at risk for developing DMD.
  • the individual has been identified as in need of therapy. Examples of such individuals include, but are not limited to those having one or more symptoms or risk factors for having DMD, which include, genetic predisposition.
  • provided herein are methods for prophylactically reducing fibrinogen expression in an individual. Certain embodiments include treating an individual in need thereof by administering to an individual a therapeutically effective amount of an antisense compound targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid.
  • administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an antisense compound targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid is accompanied by monitoring of fibrinogen levels in the serum, organ, tissue or muscle of an individual, to determine an individual's response to administration of the antisense compound.
  • administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an antisense compound targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid is accompanied by monitoring of fibrosis levels in an organ, tissue or muscle of an individual, to determine the individual's response to administration of the antisense compound.
  • administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an antisense compound targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid is accompanied by monitoring of collagen levels in an organ, tissue or muscle of the individual, to determine an individual's response to administration of the antisense compound.
  • administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an antisense compound targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid is accompanied by monitoring of muscle function or muscle degeneration in an individual, to determine the individual's response to administration of the antisense compound.
  • An individual's response to administration of the antisense compound is used by a physician to determine the amount and duration of therapeutic intervention.
  • administration of an antisense compound targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid results in reduction of fibrinogen expression by at least 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 99%, or a range defined by any two of these values.
  • administration of an antisense compound targeted to a fibrinogen nucleic acid results in a change in a measure of inflammation, swelling, hypertension, and/or vascular permeability.
  • administration of a fibrinogen antisense compound increases the measure by at least 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 99%, or a range defined by any two of these values. In some embodiments, administration of a fibrinogen antisense compound decreases the measure by at least 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 99%, or a range defined by any two of these values.
  • compositions comprising an antisense compound targeted to fibrinogen are used for the preparation of a medicament for treating a patient suffering or susceptible to DMD.
  • the compounds or pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be administered in a number of ways depending upon whether local or systemic treatment is desired and upon the area to be treated. Administration can be topical, intradermal, pulmonary, (e.g., by local inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal, intranasal, epidermal and transdermal), oral or parenteral.
  • Administration can be topical, intradermal, pulmonary, (e.g., by local inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal, intranasal, epidermal and transdermal), oral or parenteral.
  • parenteral administration includes intravenous, intra-arterial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection or infusion; or intracranial, e.g., intrathecal or intraventricular, administration.
  • parenteral administration is by infusion.
  • Infusion can be chronic or continuous or short or intermittent.
  • infused pharmaceutical agents are delivered with a pump.
  • parenteral administration is by injection.
  • the injection can be delivered with a syringe or a pump.
  • the injection is a bolus injection.
  • the injection is administered directly to a tissue or organ.
  • formulations for parenteral, intrathecal or intraventricular administration can include sterile aqueous solutions which can also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives such as, but not limited to, penetration enhancers, carrier compounds and other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.
  • formulations for topical administration of the compounds or compositions can include, but is not limited to, pharmaceutical carriers, excipients, sterile and non-sterile aqueous solutions, non-aqueous solutions in common solvents such as alcohols, or solutions of the compounds or compositions in liquid or solid oil bases.
  • the solutions can also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives.
  • Formulations for topical administration can include transdermal patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders.
  • formulations for oral administration of the compounds or compositions can include, but is not limited to, pharmaceutical carriers, excipients, powders or granules, microparticulates, nanoparticulates, suspensions or solutions in water or non-aqueous media, capsules, gel capsules, sachets, tablets or minitablets. Thickeners, flavoring agents, diluents, emulsifiers, dispersing aids or binders can be desirable.
  • oral formulations are those in which compounds provided herein are administered in conjunction with one or more penetration enhancers, surfactants and chelators.
  • compositions are administered according to a dosing regimen (e.g., dose, dose frequency, and duration) wherein the dosing regimen can be selected to achieve a desired effect.
  • a dosing regimen e.g., dose, dose frequency, and duration
  • the desired effect can be, for example, reduction of fibrinogen or the prevention, reduction, amelioration or slowing the progression of a disease or condition associated with fibrinogen.
  • the variables of the dosing regimen are adjusted to result in a desired concentration of pharmaceutical composition in a subject.
  • concentration of pharmaceutical composition can refer to the compound, oligonucleotide, or active ingredient of the pharmaceutical composition.
  • dose and dose frequency are adjusted to provide a tissue concentration or plasma concentration of a pharmaceutical composition at an amount sufficient to achieve a desired effect.
  • Dosing is dependent on severity and responsiveness of the disease state to be treated, with the course of treatment lasting from several days to several months, or until a cure is effected or a diminution of the disease state is achieved. Dosing is also dependent on drug potency and metabolism. In certain embodiments, dosage is from 0.01 ⁇ g to lOOmg per kg of body weight, or within a range of O.OOlmg to lOOOmg dosing, and may be given once or more daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, or even once every 2 to 20 years.
  • oligonucleotide is administered in maintenance doses, ranging from 0.01 ⁇ g to lOOmg per kg of body weight, once or more daily, to once every 20 years or ranging from O.OOlmg to lOOOmg dosing.
  • one or more pharmaceutical compositions described herein are co-administered with one or more other pharmaceutical agents.
  • such one or more other pharmaceutical agents are designed to treat the same disease, disorder, or condition as the one or more pharmaceutical compositions described herein.
  • such one or more other pharmaceutical agents are designed to treat a different disease, disorder, or condition as the one or more pharmaceutical compositions described herein.
  • such one or more other pharmaceutical agents are designed to treat an undesired side effect of one or more pharmaceutical compositions described herein.
  • one or more pharmaceutical compositions described herein are co-administered with another pharmaceutical agent to treat an undesired effect of that other pharmaceutical agent.
  • one or more pharmaceutical compositions described herein are coadministered with another pharmaceutical agent to produce a combinational effect. In certain embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical compositions described herein are co-administered with another pharmaceutical agent to produce a synergistic effect.
  • one or more pharmaceutical compositions described herein and one or more other pharmaceutical agents are administered at the same time. In certain embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical compositions described herein and one or more other pharmaceutical agents are administered at different times. In certain embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical compositions described herein and one or more other pharmaceutical agents are prepared together in a single formulation. In certain embodiments, one or more pharmaceutical compositions described herein and one or more other pharmaceutical agents are prepared separately.
  • pharmaceutical agents that may be co-administered with a fibrinogen specific inhibitor described herein include, but are not limited to, an additional fibrinogen inhibitor.
  • pharmaceutical agents that may be co-administered with a fibrinogen specific inhibitor described herein include, but are not limited to, anti-fibrotic drugs such as ACE inhibitors, steroids, TGF-beta inhibitors, CTGF inhibitors, interferon-gamma, pirfenidone, anti-inflammatory drugs, angiotensin receptor blockers, HMG-CoA inhibitors and the like.
  • pharmaceutical agents that may be co-administered with a fibrinogen specific inhibitor described herein include, but are not limited to, drugs used to treat DMD such as steroids or pain medications.
  • the co-administered pharmaceutical agent is administered prior to administration of a pharmaceutical composition described herein. In certain embodiments, the co-administered pharmaceutical agent is administered following administration of a pharmaceutical composition described herein. In certain embodiments the co-administered pharmaceutical agent is administered at the same time as a pharmaceutical composition described herein. In certain embodiments the dose of a co-administered pharmaceutical agent is the same as the dose that would be administered if the co-administered pharmaceutical agent was administered alone. In certain embodiments the dose of a co-administered pharmaceutical agent is lower than the dose that would be administered if the co-administered pharmaceutical agent was administered alone. In certain embodiments the dose of a co-administered pharmaceutical agent is greater than the dose that would be administered if the co-administered pharmaceutical agent was administered alone.
  • the co-administration of a second compound enhances the effect of a first compound, such that co-administration of the compounds results in an effect that is greater than the effect of administering the first compound alone.
  • the co-administration results in effects that are additive of the effects of the compounds when administered alone.
  • the co-administration results in effects that are supra-additive of the effects of the compounds when administered alone.
  • the first compound is an antisense compound.
  • the second compound is an antisense compound to the same or different target.
  • Example 1 Antisense inhibition of murine fibrinogen Chimeric antisense oligonucleotides targeted to a murine fibrinogen alpha (a), beta ( ⁇ ), or gamma ( ⁇ ) nucleic acid were tested for their effect on fibrinogen mRNA in vitro.
  • fibrinogen a cultured mouse primary hepatocytes were transfected using electroporation with 312.5 nM, 625 nM, 1,250 nM, 2,500 nM, 5,000 nM, and 10,000 nM antisense oligonucleotide.
  • fibrinogen ⁇ cultured mouse primary hepatocytes were transfected using electroporation with 500 nM, 1,000 nM, 2,000 nM, 4,000 nM, and 8,000 nM antisense oligonucleotide.
  • cultured mouse primary hepatocytes were transfected using electroporation with 625 nM, 1,250 nM, 2,500 nM, 5,000 nM, and 10,000 nM antisense oligonucleotide. After a treatment period of approximately 24 hours, RNA was isolated from the cells and mouse fibrinogen mRNA levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR.
  • Murine primer probe set RTS3224 (forward sequence GGAGAGACATCAGAGTCAATGCA, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 4; reverse sequence CGTCAATCAACCCTTTCATCCT, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 5; probe sequence ACTGGCCCTTCTGCTCTGATGATGACTG, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 6) was used to measure mRNA levels for fibrinogen a.
  • Murine primer probe set RTS3247 (forward sequence GGCTACTGCCAACCAGAAGAA, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 7; reverse sequence ACTCCCATGTCTGTGTCAGCAT, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 8; probe sequence AGAACGGAGACCCCCCGATGCA, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 9) was used to measure mRNA levels for fibrinogen ⁇ .
  • Murine primer probe set RTS3248 (forward sequence TCCGGCTGGTGGATGAAC, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 10; reverse sequence TGATTTTGAGTAAGTACCACCTTGGT, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 11; probe sequence ATGTCACGCAGGCCACCTCAATGG, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 12) was used to measure mRNA levels for fibrinogen ⁇ . Fibrinogen mRNA levels were adjusted according to total RNA content, as measured by RIBOGREEN® (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA). The chimeric antisense oligonucleotides described herein were designed as 5-10-5 MOE gapmers.
  • the gapmers are 20 nucleosides in length, wherein the central gap segment is comprised of ten 2'-deoxynucleosides and is flanked on both sides (in the 5' and 3 ' directions) by wings comprising 5 nucleosides each. Each nucleoside in the 5' wing segment and each nucleoside in the 3 ' wing segment has a 2'-MOE modification.
  • ISIS 462754 (GCCTGGTAAGCACTTCGCAG, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 13) is a chimeric antisense oligonucleotide designed as a 5-10-5 MOE gapmer targeting murine Fibrinogen a (GENBANK Accession No. BC005467.1, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 14; oligonucleotide target site starting at position 1781).
  • ISIS 472871 (CCGAGCAGTTGCCCTTTGCC, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 15) is a chimeric antisense oligonucleotide designed as a 5-10-5 MOE gapmer targeting murine Fibrinogen ⁇ (the complement of GENBANK Accession No. NT_039240.7 truncated from 32225001 to 32239000, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 16; oligonucleotide target site starting at position 2924).
  • ISIS 472830 (GCAGCCATAGATGCCTCATG, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 17) is a chimeric antisense oligonucleotide designed as a 5-10-5 MOE gapmer targeting murine Fibrinogen ⁇ (the complement of GENBANK Accession No. NT_039240.7 truncated from 32225001 to 32239000, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 16; oligonucleotide target site starting at position 2964).
  • ISIS 472841 (GTCCTTTAGCAGAGTCAGGT, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 18) is a chimeric antisense oligonucleotide designed as a 5-10-5 MOE gapmer targeting murine Fibrinogen ⁇ (the complement of GENBANK Accession No. NT_039240.7 truncated from 32225001 to 32239000, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 16; oligonucleotide target site starting at position 6674).
  • ISIS 473677 (GCTTTGATCAGTTCTTTGGC, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 19) is a chimeric antisense oligonucleotide designed as a 5-10-5 MOE gapmer targeting murine Fibrinogen ⁇ (GENBANK Accession No. NM_133862.1, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 20; oligonucleotide target site starting at position 256).
  • ISIS 473693 (GTATTCTCAGTGCATATGGA, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 21) is a chimeric antisense oligonucleotide designed as a 5-10-5 MOE gapmer targeting murine Fibrinogen ⁇ (GENBANK Accession No. NM_133862.1, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 20; oligonucleotide target site starting at position 813).
  • Example 2 Effect of antisense inhibition of murine fibrinogen in BALB/c mice The effect of antisense inhibition of the three isoforms of fibrinogen was evaluated in
  • mice Male BALB/c mice were subcutaneously administered antisense oligonucleotides targeting fibrinogen a, fibrinogen ⁇ , and fibrinogen ⁇ for 4 weeks. This resulted in a target reduction in liver RNA of 85%, 87%, and 83%, respectively, and plasma fibrinogen levels of 0.5, 0.27, and 0.31 mg/ml respectively compared to -3-4 mg/ml in the PBS control.
  • C57BL/10ScSn-/Jwdroix/J mice (common name mdx) have a loss-of-function mutation in exon 23 of the dystrophin gene that eliminates dystrophin expression and underlies progressive muscle degeneration starting at about three weeks of age.
  • the mdx mouse is a Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD) model. Fibrinogen deposition, which precedes that of collagen, is increased in fibrotic areas in the mdx mouse model.
  • DMD Duchenne's muscular dystrophy
  • mdx mice showed significant fibrinogen accumulation in diaphragm muscle at 2.5 months, as revealed by Western Blot and Immuno staining, and increased plasma fibrinogen concentration.
  • Antisense oligonucleotides targeting fibrinogen monomers ⁇ , ⁇ , and ⁇ were designed and evaluated for their effect on mdx mice.
  • Batroxobin a commercial serine protease, which acts as a defibrinogenating agent in clinical treatment (Iwai, S. et al, Thromb. Res. 1999. 96: 421- 426), was used as a positive control.
  • mice 2 weeks of age and obtained from Jackson Laboratories, were separated groups and treated as shown in Table 1. A group of wildtype C57BL/6 mice was used as control.
  • Mdx mice were subcutaneously administered antisense oligonucleotides ISIS 462754, ISIS 472871, and ISIS 473677.
  • ISIS 462754 50 mg/kg of ISIS 462754 was injected subcutaneously twice a week for 9 weeks (Group 4).
  • 50 mg/kg of ISIS 472871 was injected subcutaneously twice a week for 9 weeks (Group 5).
  • ISIS 473677 50 mg/kg of ISIS 473677 was injected subcutaneously twice a week for 9 weeks (Group 6).
  • PBS was injected subcutaneously twice a week for 9 weeks (Group 2).
  • One positive control group of 5 mice was injected with 1-2 units of Batroxobin daily for 2 months (Group 3).
  • Fibrinogen mRNA level evaluation mRNA levels of Fibrinogen a, Fibrinogen ⁇ , and Fibrinogen ⁇ from liver tissue were evaluated. The results are presented in Table 2. The data indicates that all three isoforms of fibrinogen were inhibited by the respective antisense oligonucleotides. Batroxobin has no effect on Fibrinogen mRNA levels, as expected.
  • Plasma levels of Fibrinogen a, Fibrinogen ⁇ , and Fibrinogen ⁇ were evaluated by a fibrinogen ELISA kit (Kamiya Biomedical Co, Seattle, WA). The results are presented in Table 3. The data indicates that all three antisense oligonucleotides reduced fibrinogen plasma protein levels. Batroxobin has no effect on Fibrinogen plasma levels, as expected.
  • ASO treated mice were analyzed in a mouse tail bleeding assay and demonstrated no increased bleeding compared to the untreated control mice.
  • Muscle function evaluation One day after treatment, muscle function was evaluated by forearm maximum strength measurement. Forearm grip strength was measured as the peak force exerted by a mouse's forearm when the investigator pulls a mouse by the base of the tail away from the transducer of the grip strength meter. The results are presented in Table 4. The data indicates that treatment with any of the antisense oligonucleotides increased muscle function, compared to the PBS treated mdx mice, to levels comparable to the C57BL/6 control as well as the Batroxobin-treated mice.
  • mice Two days after treatment, the mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation. The diaphragm was dissected out and diaphragm fibrinogen deposition was evaluated by Western blotting of muscle extracts using an anti-mouse fibrinogen antibody (Nordic Immunology; GAM/Fbg/7S; Eindhoven, The Netherlands). The protein bands of the blot were quantified using the image analyses software ImageJ (Collins TJ, July 2007, "ImageJ for microscopy”. BioTechniques 43 (1 Suppl): 25-30). The results are presented in Table 5.
  • diaphragm tissue was stained with hematoxylin and eosin, to stain the cytoplasmic contents.
  • the cytoplasmic contents of the tissue were quantified using the image analyzing software, Aperio (Vista, CA). The results are presented in Table 6.
  • Charge and Rudnicki (Charge, S.B.P. and Rudnicki, M.A. Physiol. Rev. 84: 209-238, 2004) link the decrease in cytoplasmic count to an increase in muscle degeneration in the diaphragm.
  • Treatment with antisense oligonucleotides targeting fibrinogen resulted in reduction of muscle degeneration, as indicated by increase in cytoplasm count compared to the control.
  • Diaphragm tissue was immunostained with an anti-mouse fibrinogen antibody (Nordic Immunology; GAM/Fbg/7S; Eindhoven, The Netherlands) to evaluate the level of fibrinogen deposition.
  • the results are presented in Table 7. The data indicates that all three antisense oligonucleotides reduced fibrinogen deposition in the diaphragm compared to the PBS control. The reduction of fibrinogen deposition by antisense oligonucleotide treatment was greater than that of Batroxobin-treated mice.
  • Diaphragm tissue was stained with Sirius Red to evaluate the level of collagen deposition.
  • the results are presented in Table 8. The data indicates that all three antisense oligonucleotides reduced collagen deposition in the diaphragm tissue compared to the PBS control. The reduction of collagen deposition by antisense oligonucleotide treatment was greater than that of Batroxobin-treated mice.
  • Example 4 In vivo effect of antisense inhibition of murine Fibrinogen in a tail bleeding assay In order to demonstrate that antisense inhibition of fibrinogen was associated with minimal bleeding risk, tail-bleeding was measured to observe the hemorrhagic potential of treatment with antisense oligonucleotides.
  • mice 472830, 472841, 473693, or ISIS 473677 administered subcutaneously twice a week for 4 weeks.
  • a control group of 4 BALB/c mice was treated with PBS, administered subcutaneously twice a week for 4 weeks.
  • mice Two days after the final treatment of antisense oligonucleotide or PBS, mice were placed in a tail bleeding chamber. Mice were anesthetized in the chamber with isoflurane and a small piece of tail (approximately 5 mm from the tip) was cut with sterile scissors. The tail cut was immediately placed in a 15 mL Falcon tube filled with approximately 10 mL of 0.9% NaCl buffer solution warmed to 37°C. The blood was collected over the course of 40 minutes. The tubes were weighed both before and after bleeding. The results are provided in Table 9.

Abstract

La présente invention concerne des méthodes destinées à diminuer le taux de fibrinogènes et à traiter, prévenir, ou améliorer une maladie, un trouble ou un symptôme associé aux fibrinogènes chez un individu dont l'état nécessite un tel traitement. Un(e) tel(le) maladie, trouble ou symptôme associé(e) aux fibrinogènes peut être la DMD. Les méthodes destinées à inhiber les fibrinogènes peuvent également être utilisées comme traitement prophylactique pour prévenir le développement de manifestations d'une maladie, trouble ou symptôme associé(e) aux fibrinogènes, tel(le) que la DMD, chez des individus à risque.
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WO2023092218A1 (fr) * 2021-11-23 2023-06-01 The University Of British Columbia Procédés et compositions pour moduler le fibrinogène
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