RNAi Inhibition of Alpha-ENaC Expression

• US 20100210514A1
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arrowhead Research Corporation
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: HICKMAN, Emma, TAN, Pamela, DANAHAY, Henry Luke, VAN HEEKE, Gino, GEICK, Anke, VORNLOCHER, Hans-Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,168,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 514/2.400
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/713 Double-stranded nucleic acids or oligonucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 45/06 Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/00 Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/06 Antiasthmatics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 13/12 of the kidneys
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/12 for electrolyte homeostasis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/00 Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/12 Antivirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/08 Antiallergic agents antiasthmatic agents A61P11/06; ophthalmic antiallergics A61P27/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/00 Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/12 Antihypertensives
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/1138 against receptors or cell surface proteins
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2310/14 interfering N.A.
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2310/315 Phosphorothioates
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2310/321 2'-O-R Modification
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2310/322 2'-R Modification
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2310/351 Conjugate
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2310/3513 Protein; Peptide
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2310/3515 : Lipophilic moiety, e.g. cholesterol
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2310/3521 : Methyl

Abstract

The invention relates to compositions and methods for modulating the expression of alpha-ENaC, and more particularly to the downregulation of alpha-ENaC expression by chemically modified oligonucleotides.

Claims

1. A composition comprising an iRNA agent comprising a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein:

a. the sense strand comprises at least 15 contiguous nucleotides from the sense strand of ND8496 (SEQ ID NO;

     1511), and the antisense strand comprises at least 15 contiguous nucleotides from the antisense strand of ND8496 (SEQ ID NO;

     1512);

or

b. the sense strand comprises at least 15 contiguous nucleotides differing by 0, 1, 2 or 3 nucleotides from the sense strand of ND8712 (SEQ ID NO;

     1637), and the antisense strand comprises at least 15 contiguous nucleotides differing by 0, 1, 2 or 3 nucleotides from the antisense strand of ND8712 (SEQ ID NO;

     1638).

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the antisense strand is 30 or fewer nucleotides in length, and wherein the sense strand and the antisense strand form a duplex region 15 to 30 nucleotide pairs in length.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the antisense strand and the sense strand are each 19 to 23 nucleotides in length.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the iRNA agent comprises a modification that causes the iRNA agent to have increased stability in a biological sample.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the iRNA agent comprises a phosphorothioate or a 2′

-modified nucleotide.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the iRNA agent comprises:

at least one 5′

-uridine-adenine-3′

(5′

-ua-3′

) dinucleotide, wherein the uridine is a 2′

-modified nucleotide;

at least one 5′

-uridine-guanine-3′

(5′

-ug-3′

) dinucleotide, wherein the 5′

-uridine is a 2′

-modified nucleotide;

at least one 5′

-cytidine-adenine-3′

(5′

-ca-3′

) dinucleotide, wherein the 5′

-cytidine is a 2′

-modified nucleotide;

or at least one 5′

-uridine-uridine-3′

(5′

-uu-3′

) dinucleotide, wherein the 5′

-uridine is a 2′

-modified nucleotide.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the iRNA agent comprises a 2′

-modification selected from the group consisting of;

2′

-deoxy, 2′

-deoxy-2′

-fluoro, 2′

-O-methyl, 2′

-O-methoxyethyl (2′

-O-MOE), 2′

-O-aminopropyl (2′

-O-AP), 2′

-O-dimethylaminoethyl (2′

-O-DMAOE), 2′

-O-dimethylaminopropyl (2′

-O-DMAP), 2′

-O-dimethylaminoethyloxyethyl (2′

-O-DMAEOE), and 2′

-O—

N-methylacetamido (2′

-O-NMA).

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the iRNA agent comprises a blunt end.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the iRNA agent comprises a nucleotide overhang having 1 to 4 unpaired nucleotides.

10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the iRNA agent comprises a nucleotide overhang at the 3′

-end of the antisense strand of the iRNA agent.

11. The composition of claim 1, wherein the iRNA agent is ND8496 (SEQ ID NOs:

1511 and

     1512).

12. The composition of claim 1, wherein the iRNA is ND8712 (SEQ ID NOs:

1637 and

     1638).

13. The composition of claim 1, wherein the iRNA agent is ligated to one or more diagnostic compound, reporter group, cross-linking agent, nuclease-resistance conferring moiety, natural or unusual nucleobase, lipophilic molecule, cholesterol, lipid, lectin, steroid, uvaol, hecigenin, diosgenin, terpene, triterpene, sarsasapogenin, Friedelin, epifriedelanol-derivatized lithocholic acid, vitamin, carbohydrate, dextran, pullulan, chitin, chitosan, synthetic carbohydrate, Oligo Lactate 15-mer, natural polymer, low- or medium-molecular weight polymer, inulin, cyclodextrin, hyaluronic acid, protein, protein-binding agent, integrin-targeting molecule, polycationic, peptide, polyamine, peptide mimic, and/or transferrin.

14. The composition of claim 1, wherein the antisense strand and the sense strand are each 19 nucleotides in length and the RNAi agent is blunt-ended

17. The use of the composition of claim 1 in treating a pathological state mediated at least in part by alpha-ENaC expression.

18. The use of claim 17, wherein the composition is administered in an amount sufficient to reduce the level of alpha-ENaC expression in a cell or tissue of a human subject.

19. The use of claim 17, wherein the human subject has a pathological state selected from:

cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, respiratory tract infections, lung carcinoma, Liddles syndrome, hypertension, renal insufficiency, and electrolyte imbalance.

15. A composition comprising an iRNA agent to alpha-ENaC, wherein the iRNA agent comprises

a sense strand and an antisense strand,

wherein the sense strand comprises at least 15 contiguous nucleotides differing by 0, 1, 2, or 3 nucleotides from the sense strand of an iRNA agent selected from the group consisting of ND8496 (SEQ ID NO:

1511) and ND8712 (SEQ ID NO;

     1637), and

wherein the antisense strand comprises at least 15 contiguous nucleotides differing by 0, 1, 2, or 3 nucleotides from the antisense strand of an iRNA agent selected from the group consisting of ND8496 (SEQ ID NO;

     1512) and ND8712 (SEQ ID NO;

     1638), the composition further comprising an epithelial receptor ligand.

16. The composition of claim 15, wherein the epithelial receptor ligand is (i) transferrin or (ii) folic acid.