WO2019022986A1 - Compositions d'acide nucléique et procédés d'inhibition du facteur d - Google Patents

Compositions d'acide nucléique et procédés d'inhibition du facteur d Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2019022986A1
WO2019022986A1 PCT/US2018/042317 US2018042317W WO2019022986A1 WO 2019022986 A1 WO2019022986 A1 WO 2019022986A1 US 2018042317 W US2018042317 W US 2018042317W WO 2019022986 A1 WO2019022986 A1 WO 2019022986A1
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Prior art keywords
aptamer
seq
rna
cases
loop
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PCT/US2018/042317
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English (en)
Inventor
Carl ERICKSON
Christopher P. Rusconi
Kevin G. Mclure
Matthew Levy
Arijit BHOWMICK
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Vitrisa Therapeutics, Inc.
Albert Einstein College Of Medicine, Inc.
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Priority claimed from PCT/US2018/014573 external-priority patent/WO2018136827A1/fr
Application filed by Vitrisa Therapeutics, Inc., Albert Einstein College Of Medicine, Inc. filed Critical Vitrisa Therapeutics, Inc.
Publication of WO2019022986A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019022986A1/fr

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
    • A61P25/02—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system for peripheral neuropathies
    • 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
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • 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
    • C12N15/115—Aptamers, i.e. nucleic acids binding a target molecule specifically and with high affinity without hybridising therewith ; Nucleic acids binding to non-nucleic acids, e.g. aptamers
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/10—Type of nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/16—Aptamers
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/31—Chemical structure of the backbone
    • C12N2310/317—Chemical structure of the backbone with an inverted bond, e.g. a cap structure
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/35—Nature of the modification
    • C12N2310/351—Conjugate

Definitions

  • Visual impairment is a national and global health concern that has a negative impact on physical and mental health.
  • the number of people with visual impairment and blindness is increasing due to an overall aging population.
  • Visual impairment and blindness can be caused by any one of a large number of eye diseases and disorders affecting people of all ages.
  • age-related macular degeneration AMD is an eye disorder that is currently the leading cause of vision loss in people fifty years of age or older in industrialized countries. It is estimated that by 2020, the number of people with AMD could exceed 196 million and by 2040, that number is expected to rise to 288 million.
  • AMD is a degenerative eye disease that progresses from early stages to advanced stages of the disease. Risk factors for the disease include aging, lifestyle factors such as smoking, and genetics.
  • the clearest indicator of progression to AMD is the appearance of drusen, yellow-white deposits under the retina, and it is an important component of both forms of AMD: exudative ("wet”) and non-exudative (“dry”).
  • Wet AMD causes vision loss due to abnormal blood vessel growth in the choriocapillaris through Bruch's membrane.
  • geographic atrophy The most advanced form of dry AMD, known as geographic atrophy, is generally more gradual and occurs when light-sensitive cells in the macula atrophy, blurring and eliminating vision in the affected eye. While there are currently some promising treatments for wet AMD, no FDA-approved treatment exists for dry AMD or geographic atrophy.
  • STGD childhood-onset Stargardt Disease
  • Stargardt 1 a genetic, rare juvenile macular dystrophy generally associated with loss of central vision in the first two decades of life.
  • STGD has a prevalence of approximately 1/20,000 affecting approximately 30,000 people in the US.
  • STGD affects many ages, with the childhood- onset population at highest risk and most need.
  • Patients with childhood-onset STGD tend to develop early severe visual acuity loss, significantly compromised retinal function, and rapid retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell atrophy with accompanying loss of retinal function.
  • the median ages of onset and the median age at baseline examination are 8.5 (range, 3-16) and 12 years (range, 7-16), respectively.
  • STGD is an autosomal recessive genetic disease or complex heterozygous disease, caused by mutations in the ABCA4 gene.
  • the ABCA4 gene encodes the photoreceptor protein ABCA4 Transporter, which is responsible for removal of bisretinoid fluorophores, which can include N-retinylidene-N- retinyethanolamine (A2E), all-trans-retinal and related photo-oxidation products of vitamin A aldehyde which together constitute lipofuscin from photoreceptor cells.
  • A2E N-retinylidene-N- retinyethanolamine
  • Accumulation of all- trans-retinal in photoreceptor cells is believed to damage RPE cells via oxidative stress, and trigger or promote complement-mediated damage to RPE cells, leading to retinal atrophy.
  • a related disease termed Stargardt-like macular dystrophy, also known as STGD3 is inherited in a dominant autosomal manner and is due to mutations in the ELOVL4 gene.
  • ELOVL4 encodes the ELOVL4 protein, ELOVL fatty acid elongase 4. Mutations in ELOVL4 protein associated with STGD lead to mis-folding and accumulation of ELOVL4 protein aggregates in retinal cells, which impact retinal cell function, eventually leading to cell death and retinal atrophy. No treatments exist for STGD or Stargardt-like disease.
  • an aptamer that selectively binds to or blocks complement factor D (fD), the aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence of 5'-DWWVGSNHHK-3 ' (SEQ ID NO:319), where D is A, G, or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; S is G or C; N is A, C, G, or U; H is A, C, or U; and K is G or U.
  • an aptamer that selectively binds to or blocks complement factor D (fD), said aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence of 5'-AAGUDN-3', where D is A, G, or U; and N is A, C, G, or U.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer that selectively binds to or blocks complement factor D (fD), said aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence of 5'-DUG-3', where D is A, G, or U.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer that selectively binds to or blocks complement factor D (fD), said aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence of 5'-NNDNV DUG YNDKU DWWVGSNHHK BHNNR AAGUDN BBNNK-3' (SEQ ID NO:325), where N is A, C, G, or U; D is A, G, or U; Y is C or U; K is G or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; S is G or C; H is A, C, or U; R is A or G; and B is C, G, or U.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding is an RNA aptamer or a modified RNA aptamer.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding comprises one or more modified nucleotides.
  • at least 50% of the nucleic acid sequence of any aptamer of the preceding comprises one or more modified nucleotides.
  • the one or more modified nucleotides comprises a 2'F-modified nucleotide, a 2'OMe-modified nucleotide, or a
  • the one or more modified nucleotides are selected from the group consisting of: 2'F-G, 2'OMe-G, 2'OMe-U, 2'OMe-A, 2'OMe-C, a 3' terminal inverted deoxythymidine, and any combination thereof.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding comprises a nuclease-stabilized nucleic acid backbone.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding is an RNA aptamer comprising nucleotides having ribose in a ⁇ -D- ribofuranose configuration.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding selectively binds to an active site of fD.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding selectively binds to a substrate-binding exosite of fD. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding selectively binds to both an active site of fD and a substrate-binding exosite of fD. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding blocks an active site of fD. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding blocks a substrate-binding exosite of fD. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding blocks both an active site and a substrate-binding exosite of fD.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding inhibits a function or modulates an activity associated with fD. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding prevents association of fD with pre-formed C3bB complex. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding has no more than one nucleic acid strand. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding comprises more than one nucleic acid strand. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding has a nucleic acid sequence from 30-90 nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding selectively binds to an active site of fD with a K d of less than about 50nM. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding inhibits fD in an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay with an IC 50 of less than about 50nM. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding inhibits fD in a fD convertase assay with an IC 50 of less than about 50nM. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding inhibits at least 85% of fD activity in an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding inhibits at least 85% of fD activity in a fD convertase assay. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding inhibits fD activity in an esterase activity assay with an IC 50 of less than about 50nM. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding binds to fD with a K d of less than about 50nM and inhibits fD in an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay with an IC 90 of less than about 500nM.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding binds to fD with a K d of less than about 50nM and inhibits fD in an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay with an IC 50 of less than about ⁇ .
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding is conjugated to a polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecule.
  • the PEG molecule has a molecular weight of 80 kDa or less.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding does not contain a pseudoknot structure.
  • a method for modulating complement factor D (fD) in a biological system comprising: administering to the biological system an aptamer according to any of the preceding, thereby modulating fD in the biological system.
  • the biological system comprises biological tissue or biological cells.
  • the biological system is a subject.
  • the subject is a human.
  • the modulating comprises inhibiting a function associated with fD.
  • the modulating comprises preventing association of fD with pre-formed C3bB complex.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding is provided for use in a method of therapy; for use in a method of treatment that benefits from modulating fD; for use in a method of treatment that benefits from inhibiting a function associated with fD; or for use in a method for the treatment of ocular diseases.
  • a pharmaceutical composition or medicament comprising a plurality of aptamers according to any of the preceding and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, or diluent.
  • the greater than 90% of the plurality of aptamers comprise nucleotides having ribose in a ⁇ -D-ribofuranose configuration.
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first base-paired stem, a first loop, a second base-paired stem, a second loop, and a third loop, wherein the third loop comprises 6 or more nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof, and wherein the first loop has fewer nucleotides than the second loop.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first base-paired stem, a first loop, a second base-paired stem, a second loop, and a third loop, wherein the third loop comprises 6 or more nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof, and wherein the second loop comprises more than 5 nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first base-paired stem, a first loop, a second base-paired stem, a second loop, and a third loop, wherein the third loop comprises 6 or more nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof, and wherein the third loop is adjacent to the first stem.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first base-paired stem, a first loop, a second base-paired stem, a second loop, and a third loop, wherein the third loop comprises 6 or more nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof, and wherein the first base-paired stem has no more than 5 base pairs.
  • complement factor D complement factor D
  • the third loop is connected to the first base-paired stem.
  • the first loop has from 1 to 10 nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof.
  • the first loop has from 3 to 5 nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof.
  • first loop comprises a nucleic acid sequence of 5'-DUG-3', where D is A, G, or U.
  • the second loop comprises at least 6 nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof.
  • the second loop comprises at least 7 nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof. In some cases, the second loop comprises 10 or 11 nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof. In some cases, the second loop comprises a nucleic acid sequence of 5'-DWWVGS HHK-3 ' (SEQ ID NO:319), where D is A, G, or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; B is C, G, or U; and H is A, C, or U.
  • the second loop comprises a nucleic acid sequence having a U at nucleotide position 2, nucleotide position 3, or both.
  • the third loop has from 6 to 8 nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof.
  • the third loop comprises a nucleic acid sequence comprising 5'-AAGUDN-3', where K is G or U; and N is A, G, C, or U.
  • the first base-paired stem has from 2 to 10 base pairs. In some cases, the first base-paired stem has from 3 to 8 base pairs. In some cases, the second base-paired stem has from 2 to 10 base pairs. In some cases, the second base-paired stem comprises 4 or 5 base pairs.
  • the second base-paired stem comprises a terminal U-G base pair adjacent to the second loop. In some cases, the second base-paired stem comprises a terminal C-G base pair adjacent to the second loop.
  • the nucleic acid sequence comprises nucleotides having ribose in a ⁇ -D-ribofuranose configuration. In some cases, at least 50% of the nucleic acid sequence comprises nucleotides having ribose in a ⁇ -D-ribofuranose configuration.
  • the third loop comprises at least 4 nucleotides and up to 2 non-nucleotidyl spacers. In some cases, the third loop comprises at least 6 nucleotides.
  • the non-nucleotidyl spacers comprise 3 carbons, 6 carbons, or 9 carbons. In some cases, the non-nucleotidyl spacers comprise an 18-atom spacer. In one example, the 18-atom spacer comprises hexaethylene glycol. In some cases, a) the first base-paired stem is adjacent to said first loop; b) the second base-paired stem is adjacent to the first loop, the second loop, and the third loop; or c) the first base-paired stem is adjacent to the first loop and the second base-paired stem is adjacent to the first loop, the second loop, and the third loop.
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising a base-paired terminal stem; an asymmetric internal loop; an internal base-paired stem; and exactly one terminal loop, wherein the terminal loop comprises more than 4 nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof, and wherein the asymmetric internal loop is adjacent to exactly 2 base-paired stems.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first base-paired stem, a first loop, a second base-paired stem, a second loop, and a third loop, wherein the second loop comprises 7 or more nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof, wherein the first base-paired stem has no more than 5 base pairs, and wherein the second base-paired stem comprises more than 2 base pairs.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising exactly one terminal base-paired stem; exactly one asymmetric internal loop comprising, from a 5' to 3' direction, a first loop and a second loop; exactly one internal base- paired stem; and exactly one terminal loop, wherein the first loop of the asymmetric internal loop has fewer nucleotides than the terminal loop.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising exactly one terminal base-paired stem; exactly one asymmetric internal loop; exactly one internal base-paired stem; and exactly one terminal loop, wherein the exactly one terminal loop comprises more than 4 nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof. In some cases, the exactly one terminal loop comprises 10 or more nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof.
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising exactly one terminal base-paired stem; exactly one asymmetric internal loop comprising, from a 5' to 3' direction, a first loop and a second loop; exactly one internal base- paired stem; and exactly one terminal loop, wherein the second loop comprises 6 or more nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising exactly one terminal base-paired stem; exactly one asymmetric internal loop; exactly one internal base-paired stem; and exactly one terminal loop, wherein the exactly one terminal loop comprises 7 or more nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof.
  • fD complement factor D
  • the exactly one terminal base-paired stem comprises a tail at a 5' end, at a 3' end, or at both a 5' end and a 3' end, and the tail comprises at least one unpaired nucleotide.
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first base-paired stem, a first loop, a second base-paired stem, a second loop, and a third loop, wherein the second base-paired stem comprises a terminal U-G base pair adjacent to the second loop.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first base-paired stem, a first loop, a second base-paired stem, a second loop, and a third loop, wherein the first loop comprises a nucleic acid sequence of 5'-DUG-3', where D is A, G, or U.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first base-paired stem, a first loop, a second base-paired stem, a second loop, and a third loop, wherein the third loop comprises a nucleic acid sequence comprising 5'-AAGUDN-3', where K is G or U; and N is A, G, C, or U.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first base-paired stem, a first loop, a second base-paired stem, a second loop, and a third loop, wherein the second loop comprises a nucleic acid sequence of 5'-DWWVGS HHK-3' (SEQ ID NO:319), where D is A, G, or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; B is C, G, or U; and H is A, C, or U.
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first base-paired stem, a first loop, a second base-paired stem, a second loop, and a third loop, wherein the second loop comprises a nucleic acid sequence having a U at nucleotide position 2, nucleotide position 3, or both.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first base-paired stem, a first loop, a second base-paired stem, a second loop, and a third loop, wherein the second base-paired stem comprises a terminal C-G base pair adjacent to the second loop.
  • fD complement factor D
  • any aptamer of the preceding is an RNA aptamer or a modified RNA aptamer. In other cases, any aptamer of the preceding is a DNA aptamer or a modified DNA aptamer. In some cases, any aptamer of the preceding comprises one or more modified nucleotides. In some instances, at least 50% of the nucleic acid sequence comprises the one or more modified nucleotides. In some instances, the one or more modified nucleotides comprises a 2'F-modified nucleotide, a 2'OMe-modified nucleotide, or a combination thereof.
  • the one or more modified nucleotides are selected from the group consisting of: 2'F- G, 2'OMe-G, 2'OMe-U, 2'OMe-A, 2'OMe-C, a 3 ' terminal inverted deoxythymidine, and any combination thereof.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding comprises a nuclease- stabilized nucleic acid backbone.
  • the stem-loop structure of any aptamer of the preceding has exactly two base-paired stems.
  • any aptamer of the preceding is an RNA aptamer comprising nucleotides having ribose in a ⁇ -D-ribofuranose configuration.
  • any aptamer of the preceding selectively binds to an active site of fD. In some cases, any aptamer of the preceding selectively binds to a substrate-binding exosite of fD. In some cases, any aptamer of the preceding selectively binds to both an active site of fD and a substrate-binding exosite of fD. In some cases, any aptamer of the preceding blocks an active site of fD. In some cases, any aptamer of the preceding blocks a substrate-binding exosite of fD. In some cases, any aptamer of the preceding blocks both an active site and a substrate-binding exosite of fD.
  • any aptamer of the preceding inhibits a function associated with fD. In some cases, any aptamer of the preceding prevents association of fD with pre-formed C3bB complex. In some cases, any aptamer of the preceding has no more than one nucleic acid strand. In other cases, any aptamer of the preceding comprises more than one nucleic acid strand. In some cases, the nucleic acid sequence of any aptamer of the preceding has from 30-90 nucleotides, non-nucleotidyl spacers, or a combination thereof.
  • any aptamer of the preceding selectively binds to an active site of fD with a 3 ⁇ 4 of less than about 50nM. In some cases, any aptamer of the preceding inhibits fD in an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay with an IC 50 of less than about 50nM. In some cases, any aptamer of the preceding inhibits fD in a fD convertase assay with an IC 50 of less than about 50nM. In some cases, any aptamer of the preceding inhibits at least 85% of fD activity in an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay.
  • any aptamer of the preceding inhibits at least 85%) of fD activity in a fD convertase assay. In some cases, any aptamer of the preceding inhibits fD activity in an esterase activity assay. In some cases, any aptamer of the preceding binds to fD with a K d of less than about 50nM and inhibits fD in an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay with an IC 90 of less than about 500nM. In some cases, any aptamer of the preceding binds to fD with a K d of less than about 50nM and inhibits fD in an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay with an IC 50 of less than about lOOnM.
  • any aptamer of the preceding is conjugated to a polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecule.
  • the PEG molecule has a molecular weight of 80 kDa or less.
  • any aptamer of the preceding does not contain a pseudoknot structure.
  • any aptamer of the preceding has less than 3 unpaired nucleotide residues at a 5' terminus, a 3' terminus, or both.
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs:13, 165, 166, 244, 253, 256, 262, 269, 284, 285, 294, 303, 306, and 312, or comprising at least 80%> sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs:13, 165, 166, 244, 253, 256, 262, 284, 285, 294, 303, 306, and 312.
  • the nucleic acid sequence comprises one or more modified nucleotides. In some instances, at least 50% of said nucleic acid sequence comprises the one or more modified nucleotides.
  • the one or more modified nucleotides comprises a 2'F-modified nucleotide, a 2'OMe-modified nucleotide, or a combination thereof. In some cases, the one or more modified nucleotides are selected from the group consisting of: 2'F-G, 2'OMe-G, 2'OMe-U, 2'OMe-A, 2'OMe-C, a 3' terminal inverted deoxythymidine, and any combination thereof.
  • the aptamer is selected from the group consisting of: Aptamer 76 as described in Table 2, Aptamer 116 as described in Table 2, Aptamer 102 as described in Table 2, Aptamer 104 as described in Table 2, Aptamer 106 as described in Table 2, Aptamer 108 as described in Table 2, Aptamer 107 as described in Table 2, Aptamer 109 as described in Table 2, and Aptamer 99 as described in Table 2.
  • the aptamer is conjugated to a polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecule.
  • the PEG molecule has a molecular weight of 80 kDa or less.
  • the PEG molecule is conjugated to the aptamer using a pegylation reagent, wherein the pegylation reagent comprises 2,3-Bis(methylpolyoxyethylene-oxy)-l- ⁇ 3-[(l,5-dioxo-5-succinimidyloxy, pentyl)amino]propyloxy ⁇ propane.
  • a pegylation reagent comprises 2,3-Bis(methylpolyoxyethylene-oxy)-l- ⁇ 3-[(l,5-dioxo-5-succinimidyloxy, pentyl)amino]propyloxy ⁇ propane.
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively blocks the active site of complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising at least one stem and at least one loop.
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising at least one stem and at least one loop, wherein the aptamer comprises at least one modified nucleotide.
  • the aptamer comprises a nuclease-stabilized nucleic acid backbone.
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising at least one stem and at least one loop, wherein the nucleic acid sequence does not include any one of SEQ ID NOs:228-235.
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively blocks an active site of complement factor D (fD) and having a secondary structure having exactly three loops.
  • the secondary structure further has exactly two base- paired stems.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding has a nucleic acid sequence that does not include any one of SEQ ID NOs:l-3, 168-227.
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising at least one stem and at least one loop, wherein said aptamer is an RNA aptamer or a modified RNA aptamer.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding further comprises up to two stems. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding further comprises up to three loops. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding is an RNA aptamer or a modified RNA aptamer. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding is a DNA aptamer or a modified DNA aptamer. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding selectively binds to an active site of fD. In some cases, an aptamer of the preceding has at least one loop, wherein each of the at least one loop has up to 25 nucleotides.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding has no more than one nucleic acid strand. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding has at least one stem, wherein no more than one of the at least one stem has more than 20 base pairs. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding has a nucleic acid sequence comprising from 30-90 nucleotides. [0039] In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding has a stem-loop secondary structure comprising, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first stem, a first loop, a second stem, a second loop, and a third loop. In some cases, the first loop comprises fewer nucleotides than the second loop.
  • the third loop is connected to the first stem.
  • the first loop has from 1 to 10 nucleotides.
  • the first loop has from 3 to 5 nucleotides.
  • the first loop comprises a nucleic acid sequence of 5'-DUG-3', where D is A, G, or U.
  • the second loop has from 2 to 15 nucleotides.
  • the second loop has at least 8 nucleotides.
  • the second loop has exactly 10 nucleotides.
  • the second loop has 10 or 11 nucleotides.
  • the second loop comprises a nucleic acid sequence of 5'-DWWVGS HHK-3' (SEQ ID NO:319), where D is A, G, or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; B is C, G, or U; and H is A, C, or U.
  • the second loop comprises a nucleic acid sequence having a U at nucleotide position 2, position 3, or both.
  • the third loop has from 2 to 10 nucleotides. In some cases, the third loop has at least 6 nucleotides. In some cases, the third loop has exactly 6 nucleotides. In some cases, the third loop has from 6 to 8 nucleotides.
  • the third loop has a nucleic acid sequence comprising 5'- AAGUDN-3', where K is G or U; and N is A, G, C, or U.
  • the first stem has from 2 to 10 base pairs. In some cases, the first stem has from 3 to 8 base pairs. In some cases, the second stem has from 2 to 10 base pairs. In some cases, the second stem has 4 or 5 base pairs. In some cases, the second stem comprises a terminal U-G base pair adjacent to the second loop. In some cases, the second stem comprises a terminal C-G base pair adjacent to the second loop.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding selectively binds to an active site of fD with a K d of less than about 50nM. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding inhibits fD in an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay with an IC 50 of less than about 50nM. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding inhibits fD in a fD convertase assay with an IC 50 of less than about 50nM. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding inhibits at least 85% of fD activity in an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding inhibits at least 85% of fD activity in a fD convertase assay. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding inhibits fD activity in an esterase activity assay. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding binds to fD with a K d of less than about 50nM and inhibits fD in an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay with an IC 90 of less than about 500nM.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding binds to fD with a K d of less than about 50nM and inhibits fD in an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay with an IC 50 of less than about ⁇ .
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding has a nucleic acid sequence comprising at least one modified nucleotide.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding is conjugated to a polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecule.
  • the PEG molecule has a molecular weight of 80 kDa or less.
  • an aptamer having a nucleic acid sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs:l-3, 10-167, 267-286, 317, and 318 or any nucleic acid sequence described in Table 2 or having at least 80% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs:l-3, 10-167, 267-286, 317, and 318 or any nucleic acid sequence described in Table 2.
  • an aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence that selectively binds to complement factor D (fD) and having a stem-loop secondary structure comprising a terminal stem, an asymmetric internal loop, an internal stem, and a terminal loop.
  • fD complement factor D
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding does not contain a pseudoknot structure. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding has less than 3 unpaired nucleotide residues at a 5' terminus, a 3' terminus, or both.
  • an aptamer according to any of the preceding is provided for use in a method of therapy; for use in a method of treatment that benefits from modulating fD; for use in a method of treatment that benefits from inhibiting a function associated with fD; or for use in a method for the treatment of ocular diseases.
  • an aptamer according to any of the preceding is provided and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, or diluent.
  • a pharmaceutical composition or medicament comprising a plurality of aptamers according to any of the preceding.
  • greater than 90% of the plurality of aptamers comprise nucleotides having ribose in a ⁇ -D-ribofuranose configuration.
  • a method for modulating complement factor D (fD) in a biological system comprising: administering to the biological system, an aptamer according to any one of the preceding, thereby modulating fD in the biological system.
  • the modulating comprises inhibiting a function associated with fD.
  • the modulating comprises preventing association of fD with pre-formed C3bB complex.
  • the biological system is a subject. In some cases, the subject is a human.
  • FIG. 1 depicts a non-limiting example of a consensus secondary structure of a family of stem-loop anti-fD aptamers according to an embodiment of the disclosure (SEQ ID NO:320).
  • FIG. 1 further depicts a non-limiting illustration of numbering of stem and loop sequences according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 depicts a non-limiting example of an asymmetric loop according to an
  • FIG. 3 depicts a non-limiting example of a role for the alternative complement pathway in the pathogenesis of geographic atrophy.
  • FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B depict modeling of the intravitreal (IVT) inhibition of Factor D by an anti-Factor D aptamer at various IVT concentrations over time.
  • FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C, and FIG. 5D depict non-limiting examples of small molecule inhibitors of fD.
  • FIG. 6 depicts the amino acid sequence of human complement Factor D, chymotrypsin numbering scheme, and fD numbering scheme.
  • FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, and FIG. 7C depict a non-limiting example of an aptamer library sequence that may be utilized to generate anti-Factor D aptamers according to an embodiment of the disclosure (SEQ ID NOS:322, 323, and 6, in order of appearance).
  • FIG. 8 depicts binding analysis of libraries enriched in anti -Factor D aptamers by flow cytometry according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 9 depicts measurement of K d values of libraries enriched in anti -Factor D aptamers according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 10 depicts direct binding analysis of anti-Factor D aptamers by flow cytometry according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 11 depicts measurement of K d values of anti -Factor D aptamers according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 12 depicts a competition assay according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 13 depicts examples of data obtained from an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 14 depicts examples of data obtained from a fD esterase activity assay according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 15A depicts examples of data obtained from an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 15B depicts examples of data obtained from a fD esterase activity assay according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG 15C depicts examples of data obtained from a competition assay according to an
  • FIG. 16 depicts examples of data obtained from selective substitution of 3-carbon spacers for each nucleotide of a fD aptamer according to an embodiment of the disclosure (SEQ ID NO: 12).
  • FIG. 17 depicts examples of data obtained from an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 18 depicts examples of data obtained from a competition binding assay according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B depict examples of data obtained from an alternative
  • FIG. 20A, FIG. 20B, FIG. 20C, and FIG. 20D depict non-limiting examples of secondary structures of several active-site directed inhibitors of fD according to an embodiment of the disclosure (SEQ ID NOS: 162, and 165-167, in order of appearance).
  • FIG. 21 depicts examples of relative binding affinity of several active-site directed inhibitors of fD using a flow cytometry based competition binding assay according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 22 depicts a non-limiting example of SPR complex assembly data according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 23 depicts a non-limiting example of dose-dependent inhibition of
  • the disclosure herein provides aptamer compositions that selectively bind to complement factor (D) (fD) and methods of using such aptamer compositions.
  • the aptamers provided herein inhibit a function associated with complement factor D (fD).
  • the aptamers provided herein are nucleic acid aptamers comprising RNA, DNA, or both RNA and DNA.
  • the nucleic acid aptamers may be modified in some manner.
  • the aptamers provided herein may comprise a consensus nucleic acid sequence.
  • the anti-fD aptamer comprises a consensus nucleic acid sequence of 5'-DUG-3', where D is A, G, or U; and Y is C or U.
  • the anti-fD aptamer comprises a consensus nucleic acid sequence of 5'- DWWVGS HHK-3' (SEQ ID NO:319), where D is A, G, or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; S is G or C; N is A, C, G, or U; H is A, C, or U; and K is G or U.
  • the anti-fD aptamer comprises a consensus nucleic acid sequence of 5'-AAGUDN-3', where D is A, G, or U; and N is A, C, G, or U.
  • the anti-fD aptamer comprises a consensus nucleic acid sequence of one or more of the following: (i) 5'-DUG-3', where D is A, G, or U; (ii) 5' DWWVGS HHK-3' (SEQ ID NO:319), where D is A, G, or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; S is G or C; N is A, C, G, or U; H is A, C, or U; and K is G or U; and (iii) AAGUDN-3 ', where D is A, G, or U; and N is A, C, G, or U.
  • an anti-fD aptamer of the disclosure may comprise a consensus nucleic acid sequence of 5'-N DNV DUG YNDKU DWWVGS HHK BHN R AAGUDN BBN K-3 ' (SEQ ID NO:325), where N is A, C, G, or U; D is A, G, or U; Y is C or U; K is G or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; S is G or C; H is A, C, or U; R is A or G; and B is C, G, or U.
  • consensus sequences as provided herein refer to RNA
  • consensus sequences provided herein may comprise DNA.
  • one or more nucleotides of any consensus sequence provided herein may be DNA.
  • the aptamer compositions described herein have unique stem-loop secondary structures.
  • the aptamers of the disclosure have, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first base paired stem, a first loop, a second base paired stem, a second loop, and a third loop.
  • the aptamers may also include one or more further elements (e.g., additional stem(s) or loop(s)).
  • further elements are located before the first base paired stem and/or after the third loop.
  • such further elements are located interspersed between other elements of the aptamer (e.g., between the first loop and the second base paired stem, etc.).
  • each element is adjacent to each other.
  • the aptamers may have, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first base paired stem adjacent to a first loop, which is adjacent to a second base paired stem, which is adjacent to a second loop.
  • a third loop may be present, and may, in some cases be adjacent to the first and/or second base paired stems.
  • the aptamers of the disclosure have a terminal base paired stem, an asymmetric internal loop, an internal base paired stem, and/or a terminal loop.
  • stem-loop aptamers that may be used to inhibit fD are described throughout.
  • the disclosure herein provides methods and compositions for the treatment of ocular diseases or disorders.
  • the methods and compositions include the use of an anti-fD aptamer having a consensus nucleic acid sequence for the treatment of ocular diseases or disorders.
  • the methods and compositions may include the use of an anti-fD aptamer having a consensus nucleic acid sequence of one or more of the following: (i) 5 '-DUGS', where D is A, G, or U; (ii) 5' DWW VGS HHK-3 ' (SEQ ID NO:319), where D is A, G, or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; S is G or C; N is A, C, G, or U; H is A, C, or U; and K is G or U; and (iii) AAGUDN-3', where D is A, G, or U; and N is A, C, G, or U.
  • the methods and compositions may include the use of an anti-fD aptamer having a consensus nucleic acid sequence of 5'-NNDNV DUG YNDKU DWWVGSNHHK BHNNR AAGUDN BBNNK-3' (SEQ ID NO:325), where N is A, C, G, or U; D is A, G, or U; Y is C or U; K is G or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; S is G or C; H is A, C, or U; R is A or G; and B is C, G, or U.
  • N is A, C, G, or U
  • D is A, G, or U
  • Y C or U
  • K is G or U
  • W is A or U
  • V is A, C, or G
  • S is G or C
  • H is A, C, or U
  • R is A or G
  • B is C, G, or U.
  • the methods and compositions include the use of an anti-fD stem-loop aptamer for, e.g., the treatment of ocular diseases or disorders.
  • the ocular disease is macular degeneration.
  • macular degeneration is age-related macular degeneration.
  • age-related macular degeneration is dry age-related macular degeneration.
  • dry age-related macular degeneration is advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (i.e., geographic atrophy).
  • the ocular disease is wet age-related macular degeneration.
  • the ocular disease is Stargardt disease.
  • the methods and compositions involve the inhibition of the alternative complement pathway.
  • the methods and compositions involve the inhibition of a function associated with Factor D (fD). In some cases, the methods and compositions involve the inhibition of a function associated with fD for the treatment of ocular diseases. In some cases, the methods and compositions involve the inhibition of a function associated with fD for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration or geographic atrophy. In some cases, the methods and compositions involve the inhibition of a function associated with fD for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration. In some cases, the methods and compositions involve the inhibition of a function associated with fD for the treatment of Stargardt disease.
  • fD Factor D
  • the compositions may include oligonucleotides (e.g., aptamers) that selectively bind to and/or modulate an activity associated with fD.
  • oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure inhibit a function associated with fD.
  • the oligonucleotide compositions may bind directly to an active site of fD or to a region of fD that includes the active site, or the oligonucleotide compositions may bind to a region of fD such that the oligonucleotide occludes or blocks access to the active site.
  • oligonucleotide compositions that bind to and/or block access to the active site of fD include aptamers having a consensus nucleic acid sequence of one or more of the following: (i) 5'-DUG- 3', where D is A, G, or U; (ii) 5' DWW VGS HHK-3 ' (SEQ ID NO:319), where D is A, G, or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; S is G or C; N is A, C, G, or U; H is A, C, or U; and K is G or U; and (iii) AAGUDN-3', where D is A, G, or U; and N is A, C, G, or U.
  • oligonucleotide compositions that bind to and/or block access to the active site of fD include aptamers having a consensus nucleic acid sequence of 5'-N DNV DUG Y DKU
  • DWWVGS HHK BHN R AAGUDN BBN K-3' (SEQ ID NO:325), where N is A, C, G, or U; D is A, G, or U; Y is C or U; K is G or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; S is G or C; H is A, C, or U; R is A or G; and B is C, G, or U.
  • the oligonucleotide compositions may bind directly to an exosite of fD or to a region of fD that includes the exosite, or the oligonucleotide compositions may bind to a region of fD such that the oligonucleotide occludes or blocks access of a substrate to the exosite.
  • oligonucleotide compositions that bind to and/or block access to the exosite of fD include aptamers having a consensus nucleic acid sequence of one or more of the following: (i) 5'-DUG-3', where D is A, G, or U; (ii) 5' -DWW VGSNHHK-3 ' (SEQ ID NO:319), where D is A, G, or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; S is G or C; N is A, C, G, or U; H is A, C, or U; and K is G or U; and (iii) AAGUDN-3', where D is A, G, or U; and N is A, C, G, or U.
  • oligonucleotide compositions that bind to and/or block access to the exosite of fD include aptamers having a consensus nucleic acid sequence of 5'-NNDNV DUG YNDKU
  • DWWVGSNHHK BHNNR AAGUDN BBNNK-3' (SEQ ID NO:325), where N is A, C, G, or U; D is A, G, or U; Y is C or U; K is G or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; S is G or C; H is A, C, or U; R is A or G; and B is C, G, or U.
  • the oligonucleotide compositions may bind to and/or block access to both the active site and the exosite of fD. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions may bind to the active site of fD and block access to the exosite of fD. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions may block access to the active site of fD and bind to the exosite of fD.
  • oligonucleotide compositions that bind to and/or block access to both the active site and the exosite of fD include aptamers having a consensus nucleic acid sequence of one or more of the following: (i) 5'-DUG-3', where D is A, G, or U; (ii) 5' DWW VGSNHHK-3 ' (SEQ ID NO:319), where D is A, G, or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; S is G or C; N is A, C, G, or U; H is A, C, or U; and K is G or U; and (iii) AAGUDN-3', where D is A, G, or U; and N is A, C, G, or U.
  • oligonucleotide compositions that bind to and/or block access to both the active site and the exosite of fD include aptamers having a consensus nucleic acid sequence of 5'-NNDNV DUG YNDKU DWWVGSNHHK BHNNR AAGUDN BBNNK-3' (SEQ ID NO:325), where N is A, C, G, or U; D is A, G, or U; Y is C or U; K is G or U; W is A or U; V is A, C, or G; S is G or C; H is A, C, or U; R is A or G; and B is C, G, or U.
  • the oligonucleotides are aptamers, such as RNA aptamers, DNA aptamers, modified RNA aptamers, or modified DNA aptamers.
  • the aptamers of the disclosure may have secondary structures.
  • the secondary structures may include a stem-loop structure which may include one or more loops and one or more stems.
  • stem-loop structures for modulating fD are described herein.
  • sequence identity refers to an exact nucleotide-to-nucleotide or amino acid- to-amino acid correspondence of two polynucleotides or polypeptide sequences, respectively.
  • techniques for determining sequence identity include determining the nucleotide sequence of a polynucleotide and/or determining the amino acid sequence encoded thereby, and comparing these sequences to a second nucleotide or amino acid sequence.
  • Two or more sequences can be compared by determining their "percent identity.”
  • the percent identity of two sequences, whether nucleic acid or amino acid sequences is the number of exact matches between two aligned sequences divided by the length of the longer sequences and multiplied by 100. Percent identity may also be determined, for example, by comparing sequence information using the advanced BLAST computer program, including version 2.2.9, available from the National Institutes of Health. The BLAST program is based on the alignment method of Karlin and Altschul, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:2264-2268 (1990) and as discussed in Altschul, et al., J. Mol. Biol.
  • the BLAST program defines identity as the number of identical aligned symbols (generally nucleotides or amino acids), divided by the total number of symbols in the shorter of the two sequences. The program may be used to determine percent identity over the entire length of the proteins being compared. Default parameters are provided to optimize searches with short query sequences in, for example, with the blastp program.
  • the program also allows use of an SEG filter to mask-off segments of the query sequences as determined by the SEG program of Wootton and Federhen, Computers and Chemistry 17: 149-163 (1993). Ranges of desired degrees of sequence identity are approximately 80% to 100% and integer values therebetween. Typically, the percent identities between a disclosed sequence and a claimed sequence are at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 98%.
  • nucleotide sequence when used in reference to a group or series of related nucleic acids, refers to a nucleotide sequence that reflects the most common choice of base at each position in the sequence where the series of related nucleic acids has been subjected to mathematical and/or sequence analysis.
  • nucleotide sequences provided herein are represented by standard nucleotide notation, as set forth by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (TUPAC).
  • TUPAC International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
  • Nucleotide sequences provided herein may include one or more degenerate bases.
  • a "degenerate base” generally refers to a position on a nucleotide sequence that can have more than one possible alternative.
  • Degenerate bases are generally represented by a Roman character as set forth by the international Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). For example, the Roman character "D”, when used in relation to a nucleotide sequence, represents a degenerate base of A, G, or U.
  • aptamer refers to an oligonucleotide and/or nucleic acid analogues that can bind to a specific target molecule. Aptamers can include RNA, DNA, modified RNA, modified DNA, any nucleic acid analogue, and/or combinations thereof.
  • Aptamers can be single-stranded oligonucleotides. In some cases, aptamers may comprise more than one nucleic acid strand (e.g., two or more nucleic acid strands). Without wishing to be bound by theory, aptamers are thought to bind to a three-dimensional structure of a target molecule. Aptamers may be monomenc (composed of a single unit) or multimenc (composed of multiple units). Multimeric aptamers can be homomeric (composed of multiple identical units) or heteromeric (composed of multiple non-identical units). Aptamers herein may be described by their primary structures, meaning the linear nucleotide sequence of the aptamer.
  • aptamers herein are generally described from the 5' end to the 3' end, unless otherwise stated. Additionally or alternatively, aptamers herein may be described by their secondary structures which may refer to the combination of single-stranded regions and base-pairing interactions within the aptamer.
  • An aptamer may have a secondary structure having at least two complementary regions of the same nucleic acid strand that base-pair to form a double helix (referred to herein as a "stem"). Generally, these complementary regions are complementary when read in the opposite direction.
  • the term “stem” as used herein may refer to either of the complementary nucleotide regions individually or may encompass a base-paired region containing both complementary regions, or a portion thereof.
  • the term “stem” may refer to the 5' side of the stem, that is, the stem sequence that is closer to the 5' end of the aptamer; additionally or alternatively, the term “stem” may refer to the 3 ' side of the stem, that is, the stem sequence that is closer to the 3 ' end of the aptamer. In some cases, the term “stem” may refer to the 5' side of the stem and the 3 ' side of the stem, collectively.
  • the term “base-paired stem” is generally used herein to refer to both complementary stem regions collectively. A base-paired stem may be perfectly complementary meaning that 100% of its base pairs are Watson-Crick base pairs. A base-paired stem may also be “partially complementary.” As used herein, the term “partially
  • complementary stem refers to a base-paired stem that is not entirely made up of Watson-Crick base pairs but does contain base pairs (either Watson-Crick base pairs or G-U/U-G wobble base pairs) at each terminus.
  • a partially complementary stem contains both Watson- Crick base-pairs and G-U/U-G wobble base pairs.
  • a partially complementary stem is exclusively made up of G-U/U-G wobble base pairs.
  • a partially complementary stem may contain mis-matched base pairs and/or unpaired bases in the region between the base pairs at each terminus of the stem; but in such cases, the mis-matched base pairs and/or unpaired bases make up at most 50% of the positions between the base pairs at each terminus of the stem.
  • a stem as described herein may be referred to by the position, in a 5' to 3 ' direction on the aptamer, of the 5' side of the stem (i.e., the stem sequence closer to the 5' terminus of the aptamer), relative to the 5' side of additional stems present on the aptamer.
  • stem 1 S I
  • stem 1 may refer to the stem sequence that is closest to the 5' terminus of the aptamer, its complementary stem sequence, or both stem sequences collectively.
  • stem 2 may refer to the next stem sequence that is positioned 3 ' relative to S I, its complementary stem sequence, or both stem sequences collectively.
  • the aptamers of the disclosure have exactly two stems (e.g., S I and S2). In other cases, the aptamers of the disclosure may have more than two stems (e.g., S I, S2, S3, etc.). Each additional stem may be referred to by its position, in a 5' to 3 ' direction, on the aptamer, as described above. For example, S3 may be positioned 3 ' relative to S2 on the aptamer, S4 may be positioned 3 'relative to S3 on the aptamer, and so on.
  • the term "first stem” is used to refer to a stem in the aptamer, irrespective of its location. For example, a first stem may be SI, S2, S3, S4 or any other stem in the aptamer.
  • a stem may be adjacent to an unpaired region.
  • An unpaired region may be present at a terminus of the aptamer or at an internal region of the aptamer.
  • loop generally refers to an internal unpaired region of an aptamer.
  • the term “loop” generally refers to any unpaired region of an aptamer that is flanked on both the 5' end and the 3' end by a stem region.
  • a loop sequence may be adjacent to a single base-paired stem, such that the loop and stem structure together resemble a hairpin.
  • the primary sequence of the aptamer contains a first stem sequence adjacent to the 5' end of the loop sequence and a second stem sequence adjacent to the 3' end of the loop sequence; and the first and second stem sequences are complementary to each other.
  • each terminus of a loop is adjacent to first and second stem sequences that are not complementary.
  • the primary sequence of the aptamer may contain an additional loop sequence that is bordered at one or both ends by stem sequences that are complementary to the first and/or second stem sequences.
  • the two loops are referred to jointly herein as an "asymmetric loop” or “asymmetric loop pair,” terms that are used herein interchangeably.
  • the two loops have the same number of nucleotides, they are referred to jointly as a "symmetric loop” or “symmetric loop pair,” terms that are used interchangeably herein.
  • FIG. 2 depicts an example of an "asymmetric loop", composed of two loops that each contain different numbers of nucleotides and that border the same two stems.
  • the first loop sequence has 3 nucleotides
  • the second loop sequence has 6 nucleotides.
  • An "asymmetric loop” is bordered by exactly two base-paired stems, as depicted in the example shown in FIG. 2.
  • a "symmetric loop” is bordered by exactly two base-paired stems.
  • a loop as described herein may be referred to by its position, in a 5' to 3' direction, on the aptamer.
  • loop 1 may refer to a loop sequence that is positioned most 5' on the aptamer.
  • loop 2 may refer to a loop sequence that is positioned 3' relative to LI
  • loop 3 may refer to a loop sequence that is positioned 3' relative to L2.
  • the aptamers of the disclosure have exactly three loops (e.g., LI, L2, and L3). In other cases, the aptamers of the disclosure may have more than three loops (e.g., LI, L2, L3, L4, etc.).
  • Each additional loop may be referred to by its position, in a 5' to 3' direction, on the aptamer, as described above.
  • L4 may be positioned 3' relative to L3 on the aptamer
  • L5 may be positioned 3 'relative to L4 on the aptamer
  • the term "first loop" is used to refer to a loop in the aptamer, irrespective of its location.
  • a first loop may be LI, L2, L3, L4 or any other loop in the aptamer.
  • stem -loop generally refers to the secondary structure of an aptamer of the disclosure having at least one stem and at least one loop.
  • a stem- loop secondary structure may include a terminal stem and a terminal loop.
  • a stem-loop secondary structure includes structures having two stems, which may include a terminal stem, an internal loop, an internal stem, and a terminal loop.
  • a "terminal stem” as used herein generally refers to a stem that encompasses both the 5' and/or 3 ' terminus of the aptamer.
  • a "terminal stem” is bordered at one or both termini by a "tail” comprising one or more unpaired nucleotides.
  • a terminal stem present in the aptamer may be bordered by a tail of one or more unpaired nucleotides (or other structures) at its 5' end.
  • a terminal stem present in the aptamer may be bordered by a tail of one or more unpaired nucleotides (or other structures) at its 3 ' end.
  • a terminal stem present in the aptamer may be bordered by a tail of one or more unpaired nucleotides (or other structures) at both its 5' end and its 3 ' end.
  • a terminal stem is generally adjacent to a loop; for example, the 5' side of a terminal stem (i.e., the terminal stem sequence closest to the 5' end of the molecule) may be bordered at its 3 ' terminus by the 5' terminus of a loop.
  • a terminal stem i.e., the terminal stem sequence closest to the 3 ' end of the molecule
  • an "internal stem” as used herein generally refers to a stem that is bordered at both termini by a loop sequence.
  • a “terminal loop” as used herein generally refers to a loop that is bordered by the same stem at both termini of the loop.
  • a terminal loop may be bordered at its 5' end by a stem sequence, and may be bordered at its 3 ' end by the complementary stem sequence.
  • an "internal loop” as used herein generally refers to a loop that is bordered at both termini by different stems.
  • an internal loop may be bordered at its 5' end by a first stem sequence, and may be bordered at its 3 ' end by a second stem sequence that is not complementary to the first stem sequence.
  • a stem-loop secondary structure includes structures having more than two stems. Unless otherwise stated, when an aptamer includes more than one stem and/or more than one loop, the stems and loops are numbered consecutively in ascending order from the 5' end to the 3 ' end of the primary nucleotide sequence.
  • an aptamer of the disclosure may have a terminal stem, an asymmetric internal loop, an internal stem, and a terminal loop, such as depicted in FIG. 1.
  • an aptamer of the disclosure may have exactly one terminal stem, exactly one asymmetric internal loop, exactly one internal stem, and exactly one terminal loop.
  • an aptamer of the disclosure may have, in a 5' to 3 ' direction, a first stem, a first loop, a second stem, a second loop, and a third loop.
  • an aptamer of the disclosure may have the general structure, in a 5' to 3' direction, S1-L1-S2-L2-S2-L3-S1 (FIG. 1).
  • exosite generally refers to a protein domain or region of a protein that is capable of binding to another protein.
  • the exosite may also be referred to herein as a "secondary binding site", for example, a binding site that is remote from or separate from a primary binding site (e.g., an active site).
  • primary and secondary binding sites may overlap. Binding of a molecule to an exosite may cause a physical change in the protein (e.g., a conformational change).
  • the activity of a protein may be dependent on occupation of the exosite.
  • the exosite may be distinct from an allosteric site.
  • the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may bind to the exosite of fD or to part of the exosite of fD, or may bind to a region of fD that includes the exosite. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may block or occlude the exosite such that the natural substrate of fD is prevented from accessing the exosite. In such cases, the oligonucleotide may block access to the exosite without directly binding the exosite (e.g., may bind to a region of fD other than the exosite in such a way that the exosite is sterically occluded).
  • catalytic cleft refers to a domain of an enzyme in which a substrate molecule binds to and undergoes a chemical reaction.
  • the active site may include amino acid residues that form temporary bonds with the substrate (e.g., a binding site) and amino acid residues that catalyze a reaction of that substrate (e.g., catalytic site).
  • the active site may be a groove or pocket (e.g., a cleft) of the enzyme which can be located in a deep tunnel within the enzyme or between the interfaces of multimeric enzymes.
  • the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may bind to the active site of fD or to part of the active site of fD, or may bind to a region of fD that includes the active site. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may block or occlude the active site of fD such that the natural substrate of fD is prevented from accessing the active site. In such cases, the oligonucleotide may block access to the active site, without directly binding the active site (e.g., may bind to a region of fD other than the active site in such a way that the active site is sterically occluded).
  • the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may include oligonucleotides that block or occlude the active site of fD, without directly binding the constituent amino acids comprising the active site of fD, such that the natural substrate of fD is prevented from accessing the active site.
  • oligonucleotide compositions (e.g., aptamers) of the disclosure may block or occlude both the active site and the exosite.
  • oligonucleotide compositions (e.g., aptamers) of the disclosure may both block access to the active site and may block access to the substrate-binding exosite.
  • oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may bind to and/or block access to the active site of fD and prevent association of fD with pre-formed C3bB complex.
  • oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may bind to and/or block access to both the active site and the substrate-binding exosite of fD, and may prevent association of fD with pre-formed C3bB complex.
  • epitope refers to the part of an antigen (e.g., a substance that stimulates an immune system to generate an antibody against) that is specifically recognized by the antibody.
  • the antigen is a protein or peptide and the epitope is a specific region of the protein or peptide that is recognized and bound by an antibody.
  • the aptamers described herein bind to a region of fD that is an epitope for an anti-fD antibody or antibody fragment thereof, wherein the anti-fD antibody inhibits a function associated with fD.
  • the aptamer binding region of fD overlaps with at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or 100% of the epitope for an anti-fD antibody or the binding site of another fD-inhibiting molecule.
  • a polypeptide can be any protein, peptide, protein fragment or component thereof.
  • a polypeptide can be a protein naturally occurring in nature or a protein that is ordinarily not found in nature.
  • a polypeptide can consist largely of the standard twenty protein-building amino acids or it can be modified to incorporate non-standard amino acids.
  • a polypeptide can be modified, typically by the host cell, by e.g., adding any number of biochemical functional groups, including phosphorylation, acetylation, acylation, formylation, alkylation, methylation, lipid addition (e.g.
  • Polypeptides can undergo structural changes in the host cell such as the formation of disulfide bridges or proteolytic cleavage.
  • the peptides described herein may be therapeutic peptides utilized for e.g., the treatment of a disease.
  • the complement system is a part of the innate immune system that enhances the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear pathogens from an organism. Although the system is not adaptable and does not change over the course of an individual's lifetime, it can be recruited and brought into action by the adaptive immune system.
  • the complement system consists of a number of small proteins found in the blood, in general synthesized by the liver, and normally circulating as inactive precursors (pro-proteins). When stimulated by one of several triggers, proteases in the system cleave specific proteins to release cytokines and initiate an amplifying cascade of further cleavages. The end result of this complement activation or complement fixation cascade is massive amplification of the response and activation of the cell-killing membrane attack complex. Over 30 proteins and protein fragments make up the complement system, including serum proteins, serosal proteins, and cell membrane receptors.
  • the alternative complement pathway is a rapid, antibody-independent route for complement system activation and amplification.
  • the alternative pathway comprises several components: C3, Factor B (fB), and fD.
  • Activation of the alternative pathway occurs when C3b, a proteolytic cleavage form of C3, is bound to an activating surface agent such as a bacterium.
  • fB is then bound to C3b, and cleaved by fD to yield the C3 convertase C3bBb.
  • Amplification of C3 convertase activity occurs as additional C3b is produced and deposited.
  • the amplification response is further aided by the binding of the positive regulator protein properdin (Factor P), which stabilizes the active convertase against degradation, extending its half-life from 1-2 minutes to 18 minutes.
  • the C3 convertase further assembles into a C5 convertase (C3b3bBb).
  • This complex subsequently cleaves complement component C5 into two components: the C5a polypeptide (9 kDa) and the C5b polypeptide (170 kDa).
  • the C5a polypeptide binds to a 7 transmembrane G- protein coupled receptor, which was originally associated with leukocytes and is now known to be expressed on a variety of tissues including hepatocytes and neurons.
  • the C5a molecule is the primary chemotactic component of the human complement system and can trigger a variety of biological responses including leukocyte chemotaxis, smooth muscle contraction, activation of intracellular signal transduction pathways, neutrophil-endothelial adhesion, cytokine and lipid mediator release and oxidant formation.
  • the alternative complement pathway is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of a variety of ischemic, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases including age-related macular degeneration, geographic atrophy, Stargardt disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma.
  • components of the alternative complement pathway may be important targets for the treatment of these diseases.
  • AMD Age-related macular degeneration
  • AMD is a chronic and progressive eye disease that is the leading cause of irreparable vision loss in the United States, Europe, and Japan.
  • AMD is characterized by the progressive deterioration of the central portion of the retina referred to as the macula.
  • the clearest indicator of progression to AMD is the appearance of drusen, yellow- white deposits under the retina, which are plaques of material that are derived from the metabolic waste products of retinal cells.
  • the appearance of drusen is an important component of both forms of AMD: exudative ("wet”) and non-exudative (“dry”).
  • drusen The presence of numerous, intermediate-to-large drusen is associated with the greatest risk of progression to late-stage disease, characterized by geographic atrophy and/or neovascularization.
  • geographic atrophy The majority of patients with wet AMD experience severe vision loss in the affected eye within months to two years after diagnosis of the disease, although vision loss can occur within hours or days.
  • Dry AMD is more gradual and occurs when light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly atrophy, gradually blurring central vision in the affected eye. Vision loss is exacerbated by the formation and accumulation of drusen and sometimes the deterioration of the retina, although without abnormal blood vessel growth and bleeding.
  • Geographic atrophy is a term used to refer to advanced dry AMD.
  • FIG. 3 depicts a potential role for the alternative complement pathway in the pathogenesis of geographic atrophy.
  • multiple factors may lead to activation of the alternative complement pathway, including the appearance of drusen in the eye, immune dysfunction, and genetic differences that predispose patients to activation of the complement pathway.
  • amplification of C3 convertase activity may occur as additional C3b is produced and deposited.
  • C3 convertase activity may lead to inflammation and opsonization.
  • the C3 convertase may further assemble into a C5 convertase (C3b3bBb) which may lead to cell death through formation of the Membrane Attack Complex.
  • the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to treat AMD. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to treat wet AMD. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to treat geographic atrophy. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to stop, slow, or reverse the progression of wet AMD or geographic atrophy. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to treat symptoms associated with wet AMD or geographic atrophy. Star gar dt Disease
  • STGD Stargardt Disease
  • ABCA4 Transporter which is responsible for removal of bisretinoid fluorophores, which can include N-retinylidene-N- retinyethanolamine (A2E), all-trans-retinal and related photo-oxidation products of vitamin A aldehyde which together constitute lipofuscin from photoreceptor cells. Accumulation of all- trans-retinal in photoreceptor cells is believed to damage RPE cells via oxidative stress, and trigger or promote complement-mediated damage to RPE cells, leading to retinal atrophy.
  • A2E N-retinylidene-N- retinyethanolamine
  • STGD is characterized by the progressive deterioration of the central portion of the retina referred to as the macula, generally beginning in the first two decades of life.
  • the clearest indicator of progression of STGD is the appearance of drusen, yellow-white deposits under the retina, which are plaques of material that are derived from the metabolic waste products of retinal cells, including all-trans-retinal and other vitamin A-related metabolites.
  • the onset of STGD is typically between the ages of 6-20 years, with early symptoms including difficulties in reading and adjusting to light. Patients with childhood-onset STGD tend to develop early severe visual acuity loss, significantly compromised retinal function, and rapid retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell atrophy with accompanying loss of retinal function.
  • RPE retinal pigment epithelial
  • the median ages of onset and the median age at baseline examination are 8.5 (range, 3-16) and 12 years (range, 7- 16), respectively. Patients with adult-onset disease are more likely to preserve visual acuity for a longer time and show slighter retinal dysfunction. Accumulation of all-trans-retinal in photoreceptor cells leads to inflammation, oxidative stress, deposition of auto-fluorescent lipofuscin pigments in the retinal pigment epithelium and retinal atrophy. Lipofuscin deposits (drusen), and oxidative products, trigger the alternative complement pathway into an
  • a related disease termed Stargardt-like macular dystrophy, also known as STGD3 is inherited in a dominant autosomal manner and is due to mutations in the ELOVL4 gene.
  • ELOVL4 encodes the ELOVL4 protein, ELOVL fatty acid elongase 4. Mutations in ELOVL4 protein associated with STGD lead to mis-folding and accumulation of ELOVL4 protein aggregates in retinal cells, which impact retinal cell function, eventually leading to cell death and retinal atrophy.
  • Complement pathway activation is also thought to play a role in Stargardt-like disease, and therefore inhibitors of complement, particularly complement factor D, are anticipated to stop or slow the progression of vision loss in individuals with Stargardt-like disease.
  • the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to treat Stargardt and Stargardt-like disease. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to stop, slow, or reverse the progression of Stargardt and Stargardt-like disease. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to treat symptoms associated with Stargardt and Stargardt-like disease.
  • the methods and compositions described herein use one or more aptamers for the treatment of an ocular disease. In some cases, the methods and compositions described herein utilize one or more aptamers for modulating an activity associated with fD.
  • aptamer refers to oligonucleotide molecules that bind to a target (e.g., a protein) with high affinity and specificity through non-Watson-Crick base pairing interactions.
  • the aptamers described herein are non-naturally occurring oligonucleotides (i.e., synthetically produced) that are isolated and used for the treatment of a disorder or a disease.
  • Aptamers can bind to essentially any target molecule including, without limitation, proteins, oligonucleotides, carbohydrates, lipids, small molecules, and even bacterial cells.
  • the aptamers described herein are oligonucleotides that bind to proteins of the alternative complement pathway. Whereas many naturally occurring oligonucleotides, such as mRNA, encode information in their linear base sequences, aptamers generally do not encode information in their linear base sequences. Further, aptamers can be distinguished from naturally occurring oligonucleotides in that binding of aptamers to target molecules is dependent upon secondary and tertiary structures of the aptamer.
  • Aptamers may be suitable as therapeutic agents and may be preferable to other therapeutic agents because: 1) aptamers may be fast and economical to produce because aptamers can be developed entirely by in vitro processes; 2) aptamers may have low toxicity and may lack an immunogenic response; 3) aptamers may have high specificity and affinity for their targets; 4) aptamers may have good solubility; 5) aptamers may have tunable pharmacokinetic properties; 6) aptamers may be amenable to site-specific conjugation of PEG and other carriers; and 7) aptamers may be stable at ambient temperatures. [00107] Aptamers as described herein may include any number of modifications that can affect the function or affinity of the aptamer.
  • aptamers may be unmodified or they may contain modified nucleotides to improve stability, nuclease resistance or delivery characteristics.
  • modifications may include chemical substitutions at the sugar and/or phosphate and/or base positions, for example, at the 2' position of ribose, the 5 position of pyrimidines, and the 8 position of purines, various 2'-modified pyrimidines and modifications with 2'-amino (2'- H 2 ), 2'-fluoro (2'-F), and/or 2'-0-methyl (2'-OMe) substituents.
  • aptamers described herein comprise a 2'-OMe and/or a 2'F modification to increase in vivo stability.
  • the aptamers described herein contain modified nucleotides to improve the affinity and specificity of the aptamers for a specific epitope, exosite or active site.
  • modified nucleotides include those modified with guanidine, indole, amine, phenol, hydroxymethyl, or boronic acid.
  • pyrimidine nucleotide triphosphate analogs or CE-phosphoramidites may be modified at the 5 position to generate, for example, 5- benzylaminocarbonyl-2'-deoxyuridine (BndU); 5- N-(phenyl-3-propyl)carboxamide]-2'- deoxyuridine (PPdU); 5-(N-thiophenylmethylcarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine (ThdU); 5-(N-4- fluorobenzylcarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine (FBndU); 5-(N-(l-naphthylmethyl)carboxamide)- 2'-deoxyuridine (NapdU); 5 -(N-2-naphthylmethylcarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine (2NapdU); 5- (N-l-naphthylethylcarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine ( EdU); 5-(N-2- naphthy
  • Modifications of the aptamers contemplated in this disclosure include, without limitation, those which provide other chemical groups that incorporate additional charge, polarizability, hydrophobicity, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction, and functionality to the nucleic acid aptamer bases or to the nucleic acid aptamer as a whole. Modifications to generate oligonucleotide populations that are resistant to nucleases can also include one or more substitute internucleotide linkages, altered sugars, altered bases, or combinations thereof.
  • Such modifications include, but are not limited to, 2'-position sugar modifications, 5-position pyrimidine modifications, 8-position purine modifications, modifications at exocyclic amines, substitution of 4-thiouridine, substitution of 5-bromo or 5-iodo-uracil; backbone modifications, phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate, or alkyl phosphate modifications, methylations, and unusual base-pairing combinations such as the isobases isocytidine and isoguanosine.
  • Modifications can also include 3' and 5' modifications such as capping, e.g., addition of a 3'-3'- dT cap to increase exonuclease resistance.
  • Aptamers of the disclosure may generally comprise nucleotides having ribose in the ⁇ - D-ribofuranose configuration. In some cases, 100% of the nucleotides present in the aptamer have ribose in the ⁇ -D-ribofuranose configuration. In some cases, at least 50% of the nucleotides present in the aptamer have ribose in the ⁇ -D-ribofuranose configuration.
  • the length of the aptamer can be variable. In some cases, the length of the aptamer is less than 100 nucleotides. In some cases, the length of the aptamer is greater than 10
  • the length of the aptamer is between 10 and 90 nucleotides.
  • the aptamer can be, without limitation, about 10, about 15, about 20, about 25, about 30, about 35, about 40, about 45, about 50, about 55, about 60, about 65, about 70, about 75, about 80, about 85, or about 90 nucleotides in length.
  • a polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer chain is covalently bound to the aptamer, referred to herein as PEGylation.
  • PEGylation may increase the half-life and stability of the aptamer in physiological conditions.
  • the PEG polymer is covalently bound to the 5' end of the aptamer.
  • the PEG polymer is covalently bound to the 3' end of the aptamer.
  • the PEG polymer is covalently bound to specific site on a nucleobase within the aptamer, including the 5-position of a pyrimidine or 8-position of a purine.
  • the PEG polymer is covalently bound to an abasic site within the aptamer.
  • an aptamer described herein may be conjugated to a PEG having the general formula, H-(0-CH 2 -CH 2 ) n -OH.
  • an aptamer described herein may be conjugated to a methoxy-PEG (mPEG) of the general formula, CH 3 0-(CH 2 -CH 2 -0) n -H.
  • the aptamer is conjugated to a linear chain PEG or mPEG.
  • the linear chain PEG or mPEG may have an average molecular weight of up to about 30 kD.
  • Multiple linear chain PEGs or mPEGs can be linked to a common reactive group to form multi-arm or branched PEGs or mPEGs.
  • more than one PEG or mPEG can be linked together through an amino acid linker (e.g., lysine) or another linker, such as glycerine.
  • the aptamer is conjugated to a branched PEG or branched mPEG.
  • Branched PEGs or mPEGs may be referred to by their total mass (e.g., two linked 20kD mPEGs have a total molecular weight of 40kD).
  • Branched PEGs or mPEGs may have more than two arms.
  • Multi-arm branched PEGs or mPEGs may be referred to by their total mass (e.g. four linked 10 kD mPEGs have a total molecular weight of 40 kD).
  • an aptamer of the present disclosure is conjugated to a PEG polymer having a total molecular weight from about 5 kD to about 200 kD, for example, about 5 kD, about 10 kD, about 20 kD, about 30 kD, about 40 kD, about 50 kD, about 60 kD, about 70 kD, about 80 kD, about 90 kD, about 100 kD, about 110 kD, about 120 kD, about 130 kD, about 140 kD, about 150 kD, about 160 kD, about 170 kD, about 180 kD, about 190 kD, or about 200 kD.
  • the aptamer is conjugated to a PEG having a total molecular weight of about 40 kD.
  • the reagent that may be used to generate PEGylated aptamers is a branched PEG N-Hydroxysuccinimide (mPEG- HS) having the general formula:
  • the branched PEGs can be linked through any appropriate reagent, such as an amino acid (e.g., lysine or glycine residues).
  • the reagent used to generate PEGylated aptamers is [N 2 - (monomethoxy 20K polyethylene glycol carbamoyl)-N 6 -(monomethoxy 20K polyethylene glycol carbamoyl)]-lysine N-hydroxysuccinimide having the formula:
  • the reagent used to generate PEGylated aptamers has the formula: x— o—
  • PEG architecture may provide a compound with reduced viscosity compared to a similar aptamer conjugated to a two-armed or single-arm linear PEG.
  • the reagent used to generate PEGylated aptamers has the formula:
  • X is N-hydroxysuccinimide and the PEG arms are of different molecular weights
  • a 40 kD PEG of this architecture may be composed of 2 arms of 5 kD and 4 arms of 7.5 kD.
  • Such PEG architecture may provide a compound with reduced viscosity compared to a similar aptamer conjugated to a two-armed PEG or a single-arm linear PEG.
  • the reagent that may be used to generate PEGylated aptamers is a non- branched mPEG-Succinimidyl Propionate (mPEG-SPA), having the general formula:
  • the reactive ester may be -0-CH 2 - CH 2 -C0 2 -NHS.
  • the reagent that may be used to generate PEGylated aptamers may include a branched PEG linked through glycerol, such as the SunbrightTM series from NOF Corporation, Japan.
  • Non-limitin examples of these reagents include:
  • the reagents may include a non-branched mPEG Succinimidyl alpha-methylbutanoate (mPEG-SMB) having the general formula:
  • the reactive ester may be -0-CH 2 .CH 2 . CH(CH 3 )-C0 2 - HS.
  • the PEG reagents may include nitrophenyl carbonate-linked PEGs, having the general formula:
  • Compounds including nitrophenyl carbonate can be conjugated to primary amine containing linkers.
  • the reagents used to generate PEGylated aptamers may include PEG with thiol-reactive groups that can be used with a thiol-modified linker.
  • PEG with thiol-reactive groups that can be used with a thiol-modified linker.
  • One non-limiting example may include reagents having the following general structure:
  • mPEG is about 10 kD, about 20 kD or about 30 kD.
  • Another non-limiting example may include reagents having the following general structure:
  • Branched PEGs with thiol reactive groups that can be used with a thiol-modified linker, as described above, may include reagents in which the branched PEG has a total molecular weight of about 40 kD or about 60 kD (e.g., where each mPEG is about 20 kD or about 30 kD).
  • the reagents used to generated PEGylated aptamers may include reagents having the following structure:
  • the reaction is carried out between about pH 6 and about pH 10, or between about pH 7 and pH 9 or about pH 8.
  • the reagents used to generate PEGylated aptamers may include reagents having the following structure:
  • the reagents used to generate PEGylated aptamers may include reagents having the following structure:
  • the aptamer is associated with a single PEG molecule. In other cases, the aptamer is associated with two or more PEG molecules.
  • the aptamers described herein may be bound or conjugated to one or more molecules having desired biological properties. Any number of molecules can be bound or conjugated to aptamers, non-limiting examples including antibodies, peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, enzymes, polymers, drugs, small molecules, gold nanoparticles, radiolabels, fluorescent labels, dyes, haptens (e.g., biotin), other aptamers, or nucleic acids (e.g., siRNA). In some cases, aptamers may be conjugated to molecules that increase the stability, the solubility or the bioavailability of the aptamer. Non-limiting examples include polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers, carbohydrates and fatty acids.
  • PEG polyethylene glycol
  • molecules that improve the transport or delivery of the aptamer may be used, such as cell penetration peptides.
  • cell penetration peptides can include peptides derived from Tat, penetratin, polyarginine peptide Arg 8 sequence, Transportan, VP22 protein from Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), antimicrobial peptides such as Buforin I and SynB, polyproline sweet arrow peptide molecules, Pep-1 and MPG.
  • the aptamer is conjugated to a lipophilic compound such as cholesterol, dialkyl glycerol, diacyl glycerol, or a non-immunogenic, high molecular weight compound or polymer such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or other water-soluble pharmaceutically acceptable polymers including, but not limited to, polyaminoamines
  • a lipophilic compound such as cholesterol, dialkyl glycerol, diacyl glycerol, or a non-immunogenic, high molecular weight compound or polymer such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or other water-soluble pharmaceutically acceptable polymers including, but not limited to, polyaminoamines
  • PAMAM polysaccharides such as dextran, or polyoxazolines (POZ).
  • the molecule to be conjugated can be covalently bonded or can be associated through non-covalent interactions with the aptamer of interest.
  • the molecule to be conjugated is covalently attached to the aptamer.
  • the covalent attachment may occur at a variety of positions on the aptamer, for example, to the exocyclic amino group on the base, the 5- position of a pyrimidine nucleotide, the 8-position of a purine nucleotide, the hydroxyl group of the phosphate, or a hydroxyl group or other group at the 5' or 3' terminus.
  • the covalent attachment is to the 5' or 3' hydroxyl group of the aptamer.
  • the aptamer can be attached to another molecule directly or with the use of a spacer or linker.
  • a lipophilic compound or a non-immunogenic, high molecular weight compound can be attached to the aptamer using a linker or a spacer.
  • linkers and attachment chemistries are known in the art.
  • 6- (trifluoroacetamido)hexanol (2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropyl)phosphoramidite can be used to add a hexylamino linker to the 5' end of the synthesized aptamer.
  • linker phosphoramidites may include: TFA-amino C4 CED phosphoramidite having the structure:
  • 5'-amino modifier 5 having the structure:
  • MMT 4-Monomethoxytrit l 5'-amino modifier C12 having the structure:
  • DMT 4,4'-Dimethoxytrityl and 5' thiol-modifier C6 having the structure:
  • the 5'-thiol modified linker may be used, for example, with PEG-maleimides, PEG- vinylsulfone, PEG-iodoacetamide and PEG-orthopyridyl-disulfide.
  • the aptamer may be bonded to the 5'-thiol through a maleimide or vinyl sulfone functionality.
  • the aptamer formulated according to the present disclosure may also be modified by encapsulation within a liposome.
  • the aptamer formulated according to the present disclosure may also be modified by encapsulation within a micelle.
  • Liposomes and micelles may be comprised of any lipids, and in some cases the lipids may be phospholipids, including phosphatidylcholine.
  • the aptamers described herein are designed to inhibit a function associated with an alternative complement pathway enzyme.
  • an anti-fD aptamer is used to inhibit a function associated with fD (e.g., inhibit the catalytic activity of fD).
  • the aptamers described herein are designed to prevent an interaction or binding of two or more proteins of the alternative complement pathway.
  • an aptamer binds to fD and prevents binding of the complex C3bBb to fD.
  • an aptamer of the disclosure binds to fD and prevents binding of pre-formed C3bB complex.
  • the aptamers described herein may bind to a region of fD that is recognized by an antibody or antibody fragment thereof that inhibits a function associated with fD.
  • the antibody or antibody fragment thereof that inhibits a function associated with fD has an amino acid sequence of heavy chain variable region of:
  • FIG. 4 depicts modeling of the intravitreal (IVT) inhibition of Factor D by an anti- Factor D aptamer at various IVT concentrations.
  • FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B demonstrate IVT inhibition of Factor D at various IVT concentrations of an anti -Factor D aptamer.
  • Effective inhibition of IVT Factor D inhibition was modeled using a standard 2 compartment model, assuming reported IVT half-lives for Fabs (7 days, LUCENTIS ® ) and PEGylated aptamers (10 days, MACUGEN ® ) and 1 : 1 inhibition of Factor D by each therapy at the relevant IVT concentrations (IC 50 data). As depicted in FIG.
  • FIG. 4A depicts the predicted IVT drug concentration (nM) of a PEGylated aptamer (dotted line) and an anti-Factor D antibody (solid line) over the number of weeks post IVT injection.
  • the aptamers described herein may bind to a region of fD that is recognized by a small molecule inhibitor that inhibits a function associated with fD, non-limiting examples including dichloroisocoumarin or any one of the compounds depicted in FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C, and FIG. 5D.
  • the aptamers described herein may bind to a region of fD that is recognized by a peptide inhibitor that inhibits a function associated with fD.
  • an aptamer of the disclosure comprises one of the following sequences described in Table 1 or Table 2.
  • G is 2'F and A
  • C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA
  • C6S represents a six-carbon disulfide linker
  • idT represents a 3' inverted deoxythymidine residue.
  • G is 2'F and A
  • C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA
  • C6S represents a six-carbon disulfide linker
  • idT represents a 3' inverted deoxythymidine residue.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA, C6NH 2 represents a 6-carbon amino containing linker, and idT represents a 3' inverted deoxythymidine residue.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe with modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modifications modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A
  • C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • SEQ ID Rd3-35 full RNA GGG AG AUGGC GCUG AUC AGGC C GC CU length UGCCAGUAUUGGGUUUGGCUGGAAGU NO:93 with
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A
  • C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • SEQ ID Rd3-36 full RNA GGGAGAUGGC GCUG AUC AGGC CGACU length UGCCAGUAUUGGCUUAGGCUGGAAGU
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.
  • G is 2'F and A, C and U are 2'OMe modified RNA.

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Abstract

La présente invention concerne des procédés et des compositions pour l'inhibition de la voie alterne du complément. Les procédés et les compositions impliquent généralement l'utilisation d'aptamères pour inhiber le facteur de complément D. L'invention concerne en outre des aptamères anti-facteur D pour le traitement de la dégénérescence maculaire sèche liée à l'âge, l'atrophie géographique, la dégénérescence maculaire humide liée à l'âge, la maladie de Stargardt et d'autres troubles ou maladies oculaires. Dans certains cas, des séquences consensus d'aptamères anti-fD sont décrites.
PCT/US2018/042317 2017-07-24 2018-07-16 Compositions d'acide nucléique et procédés d'inhibition du facteur d WO2019022986A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

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US201762536387P 2017-07-24 2017-07-24
US62/536,387 2017-07-24
PCT/US2018/014573 WO2018136827A1 (fr) 2017-01-20 2018-01-19 Compositions à boucle en épingle à cheveux et procédés pour inhiber le facteur d
USPCT/US18/14573 2018-01-19

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Cited By (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10428330B2 (en) 2017-01-20 2019-10-01 Vitrisa Therapeutics, Inc. Stem-loop compositions and methods for inhibiting factor D
US11274307B2 (en) 2016-01-20 2022-03-15 396419 B.C. Ltd. Compositions and methods for inhibiting factor D

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WO2012178083A1 (fr) * 2011-06-22 2012-12-27 Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Méthodes de traitement de troubles chroniques au moyen d'inhibiteurs de complément
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US9803194B2 (en) * 2013-03-14 2017-10-31 Caribou Biosciences, Inc. Compositions and methods of nucleic acid-targeting nucleic acids
US20170328909A1 (en) * 2011-12-30 2017-11-16 Quest Diagnostics Investments Incorporated Aptamers and diagnostic methods for detecting the egf receptor
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US9873727B2 (en) * 2006-10-19 2018-01-23 Duke University Reversible platelet inhibition
WO2012178083A1 (fr) * 2011-06-22 2012-12-27 Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Méthodes de traitement de troubles chroniques au moyen d'inhibiteurs de complément
US20170328909A1 (en) * 2011-12-30 2017-11-16 Quest Diagnostics Investments Incorporated Aptamers and diagnostic methods for detecting the egf receptor
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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11274307B2 (en) 2016-01-20 2022-03-15 396419 B.C. Ltd. Compositions and methods for inhibiting factor D
US10428330B2 (en) 2017-01-20 2019-10-01 Vitrisa Therapeutics, Inc. Stem-loop compositions and methods for inhibiting factor D
US11466276B2 (en) 2017-01-20 2022-10-11 396419 B.C. Ltd. Stem-loop compositions and methods for inhibiting factor D

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