1
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Tang Q, Khvorova A. RNAi-based drug design: considerations and future directions. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024; 23:341-364. [PMID: 38570694 PMCID: PMC11144061 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-024-00912-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
More than 25 years after its discovery, the post-transcriptional gene regulation mechanism termed RNAi is now transforming pharmaceutical development, proved by the recent FDA approval of multiple small interfering RNA (siRNA) drugs that target the liver. Synthetic siRNAs that trigger RNAi have the potential to specifically silence virtually any therapeutic target with unprecedented potency and durability. Bringing this innovative class of medicines to patients, however, has been riddled with substantial challenges, with delivery issues at the forefront. Several classes of siRNA drug are under clinical evaluation, but their utility in treating extrahepatic diseases remains limited, demanding continued innovation. In this Review, we discuss principal considerations and future directions in the design of therapeutic siRNAs, with a particular emphasis on chemistry, the application of informatics, delivery strategies and the importance of careful target selection, which together influence therapeutic success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Tang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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2
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Broc B, Varini K, Sonnette R, Pecqueux B, Benoist F, Masse M, Mechioukhi Y, Ferracci G, Temsamani J, Khrestchatisky M, Jacquot G, Lécorché P. LDLR-Mediated Targeting and Productive Uptake of siRNA-Peptide Ligand Conjugates In Vitro and In Vivo. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:548. [PMID: 38675209 PMCID: PMC11054735 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Small RNA molecules such as microRNA and small interfering RNA (siRNA) have become promising therapeutic agents because of their specificity and their potential to modulate gene expression. Any gene of interest can be potentially up- or down-regulated, making RNA-based technology the healthcare breakthrough of our era. However, the functional and specific delivery of siRNAs into tissues of interest and into the cytosol of target cells remains highly challenging, mainly due to the lack of efficient and selective delivery systems. Among the variety of carriers for siRNA delivery, peptides have become essential candidates because of their high selectivity, stability, and conjugation versatility. Here, we describe the development of molecules encompassing siRNAs against SOD1, conjugated to peptides that target the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), and their biological evaluation both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baptiste Broc
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Karine Varini
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Rose Sonnette
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Belinda Pecqueux
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Florian Benoist
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Maxime Masse
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Yasmine Mechioukhi
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Géraldine Ferracci
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Jamal Temsamani
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | | | - Guillaume Jacquot
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Pascaline Lécorché
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
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3
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Jadhav V, Vaishnaw A, Fitzgerald K, Maier MA. RNA interference in the era of nucleic acid therapeutics. Nat Biotechnol 2024; 42:394-405. [PMID: 38409587 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-02105-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Two decades of research on RNA interference (RNAi) have transformed a breakthrough discovery in biology into a robust platform for a new class of medicines that modulate mRNA expression. Here we provide an overview of the trajectory of small-interfering RNA (siRNA) drug development, including the first approval in 2018 of a liver-targeted siRNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic in lipid nanoparticles and subsequent approvals of five more RNAi drugs, which used metabolically stable siRNAs combined with N-acetylgalactosamine ligands for conjugate-based liver delivery. We also consider the remaining challenges in the field, such as delivery to muscle, brain and other extrahepatic organs. Today's RNAi therapeutics exhibit high specificity, potency and durability, and are transitioning from applications in rare diseases to widespread, chronic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasant Jadhav
- Research & Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Akshay Vaishnaw
- Research & Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kevin Fitzgerald
- Research & Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Martin A Maier
- Research & Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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4
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Hofman CR, Corey DR. Targeting RNA with synthetic oligonucleotides: Clinical success invites new challenges. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:125-138. [PMID: 37804835 PMCID: PMC10841528 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and duplex RNAs (dsRNAs) are an increasingly successful strategy for drug development. After a slow start, the pace of success has accelerated since the approval of Spinraza (nusinersen) in 2016 with several drug approvals. These accomplishments have been achieved even though oligonucleotides are large, negatively charged, and have little resemblance to traditional small-molecule drugs-a remarkable achievement of basic and applied science. The goal of this review is to summarize the foundation underlying recent progress and describe ongoing research programs that may increase the scope and impact of oligonucleotide therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina R Hofman
- The Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Road, Dallas, TX 75390-9041, USA
| | - David R Corey
- The Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Road, Dallas, TX 75390-9041, USA.
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5
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Sparmann A, Vogel J. RNA-based medicine: from molecular mechanisms to therapy. EMBO J 2023; 42:e114760. [PMID: 37728251 PMCID: PMC10620767 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2023114760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-based therapeutics have the potential to revolutionize the treatment and prevention of human diseases. While early research faced setbacks, it established the basis for breakthroughs in RNA-based drug design that culminated in the extraordinarily fast development of mRNA vaccines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We have now reached a pivotal moment where RNA medicines are poised to make a broad impact in the clinic. In this review, we present an overview of different RNA-based strategies to generate novel therapeutics, including antisense and RNAi-based mechanisms, mRNA-based approaches, and CRISPR-Cas-mediated genome editing. Using three rare genetic diseases as examples, we highlight the opportunities, but also the challenges to wide-ranging applications of this class of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Sparmann
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA‐based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)WürzburgGermany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA‐based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)WürzburgGermany
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB)University of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
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6
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Chen X, Xie L, Zhang C, Tian S, Tang Z, Tian W, Lu P, Yang X. A Convenient Method for the Synthesis of 2'-O-Cyanoethylated Nucleotides and Their Application in the Solid-Phase Synthesis of Related RNA Analogs. Curr Protoc 2023; 3:e923. [PMID: 37962485 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Although small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a key player among gene inhibition therapeutics, there are many obstacles to the development of siRNA drugs due to inherent properties of oligonucleotides, including the unsatisfactory stability of unmodified siRNA, poor pharmacokinetic distribution, and the toxicity induced by off-target effects. To maximize treatment potency, chemical modification of siRNA has undoubtedly been the most successful strategy by far. Widely applied modifications include phosphorothioate linkages, 2'-O-methyl modifications, and 2'-fluoro modifications, among others. To extend the family of chemical modifications for oligonucleotides, 2'-O-cyanoethylated RNA analogs were developed through the replacement of the 2'-hydroxyl group with a 2'-O-cyanoethyl group (-OCH2 CH2 CN). This modification can provide several advantages over unmodified RNA, such as increased stability, improved binding affinity to complementary DNA or RNA strands, and resistance to degradation by cellular nucleases. The 2'-O-cyanoethyl-modified RNAs not only are applied in RNA silencing machinery but also act as research tools for studying RNA structure and function or for developing RNA-based diagnostics. Therefore, the efficient synthesis, deprotection, purification, and characterization of 2'-O-cyanoethylated RNAs deserves more attention. This protocol describes the chemical synthesis of 2'-O-cyanoethylated nucleotides and the solid-phase synthesis, deprotection, and purification of 2'-O-cyanoethylated RNAs. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Preparation of 6-N-dimethylformamidyl-5'-O-dimethoxytrityl-2'-O-cyanoethyl adenosine 3'-(2-cyanoethyl N,N-diisopropyl)phosphoramidite Basic Protocol 2: Preparation of 4-N-acetyl-5'-O-dimethoxytrityl-2'-O-cyanoethyl cytidine 3'-(2-cyanoethyl N,N-diisopropyl)phosphoramidite Basic Protocol 3: Preparation of 2-N-dimethylformamidyl-5'-O-dimethoxytrityl-2'-O-cyanoethyl guanine 3'-(2-cyanoethyl N,N-diisopropyl)phosphoramidite Basic Protocol 4: Preparation of 5'-O-dimethoxytrityl-2'-O-2-cyanoethyl uridine 3'-(2-cyanoethyl N,N-diisopropyl)phosphoramidite Basic Protocol 5: Solid-phase synthesis of 2'-O-cyanoethylated RNA analogs Basic Protocol 6: Deprotection and purification of synthesized 2'-O-cyanoethyl-RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Chen
- Sirnaomics Ltd. Suzhou, Suzhou, China
| | - Long Xie
- Sirnaomics Ltd. Suzhou, Suzhou, China
| | | | - Shen Tian
- Sirnaomics Ltd. Suzhou, Suzhou, China
| | - Zeyu Tang
- Sirnaomics Ltd. Suzhou, Suzhou, China
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7
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Kaushal A. Innate immune regulations and various siRNA modalities. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2023; 13:2704-2718. [PMID: 37219704 PMCID: PMC10204684 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01361-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
RNAi therapeutics are designed to produce the precise silencing effects against the gene-linked diseases which were known to be untreatable in the past. The highly immunostimulatory nature of siRNA enhances the off-target effects and easily get attacked by nucleases; hence, their modulation is essentially required for accurate alterations to be made in the structures to intensify the pharmacological attributes. The phosphonate modifications act as shield against undue phosphorylation effects, and the molecular changes in ribose sugar lowers the level of immunogenicity and increases the binding efficacy. When bases are substituted with virtual/or pseudo bases, they eventually reduce the off-target effects. These changes modulate the nucleic acid sensors and control the hyper-activation of innate immune response. Various modification designs based on STC (universal pattern), ESC, ESC + (advanced patterns) and disubstrate have been explored to silence the gene expression of various diseases e.g., hepatitis, HIV, influenza, RSV, CNV and acute kidney injury. This review describes the various innovative siRNA therapeutics and their implications on the developed immune regulations to silence the disease effects. siRNA causes the silencing effects through RISC processing. The innate immune signalling is induced by both TLR-dependent and TLR-independent pathways. Modification chemistries are utilized to modulate the immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anju Kaushal
- New Zealand Organization for Quality-Member, Auckland, New Zealand.
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8
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Kong S, Gao X, Wang Q, Lin J, Qiu L, Xie M. Two Birds with One Stone: A Novel Dithiomaleimide-Based GalNAc-siRNA Conjugate Enabling Good siRNA Delivery and Traceability. Molecules 2023; 28:7184. [PMID: 37894663 PMCID: PMC10609014 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28207184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
For the first time, a novel dithiomaleimides (DTM) based tetra-antennary GalNAc conjugate was developed, which enable both efficient siRNA delivery and good traceability, without incorporating extra fluorophores. This conjugate can be readily constructed by three click-type reactions, that is, amidations, thiol-dibromomaleimide addition and copper catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). And it also has comparable siRNA delivery efficiency, with a GalNAc L96 standard to mTTR target. Additionally, due to the internal DTMs, a highly fluorescent emission was observed, which benefited delivery tracking and reduced the cost and side effects of the extra addition of hydrophobic dye molecules. In all, the simple incorporation of DTMs to the GalNAc conjugate structure has potential in gene therapy and tracking applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudong Kong
- School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (S.K.); (X.G.); (Q.W.)
- Suzhou Biosyntech Co., Ltd., Suzhou 215300, China
| | - Xiaoqing Gao
- School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (S.K.); (X.G.); (Q.W.)
| | - Qianhui Wang
- School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (S.K.); (X.G.); (Q.W.)
| | - Jianguo Lin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi 214063, China;
| | - Ling Qiu
- School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (S.K.); (X.G.); (Q.W.)
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi 214063, China;
| | - Minhao Xie
- School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (S.K.); (X.G.); (Q.W.)
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi 214063, China;
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9
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Kawamoto Y, Wu Y, Takahashi Y, Takakura Y. Development of nucleic acid medicines based on chemical technology. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114872. [PMID: 37244354 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Oligonucleotide-based therapeutics have attracted attention as an emerging modality that includes the modulation of genes and their binding proteins related to diseases, allowing us to take action on previously undruggable targets. Since the late 2010s, the number of oligonucleotide medicines approved for clinical uses has dramatically increased. Various chemistry-based technologies have been developed to improve the therapeutic properties of oligonucleotides, such as chemical modification, conjugation, and nanoparticle formation, which can increase nuclease resistance, enhance affinity and selectivity to target sites, suppress off-target effects, and improve pharmacokinetic properties. Similar strategies employing modified nucleobases and lipid nanoparticles have been used for developing coronavirus disease 2019 mRNA vaccines. In this review, we provide an overview of the development of chemistry-based technologies aimed at using nucleic acids for developing therapeutics over the past several decades, with a specific emphasis on the structural design and functionality of chemical modification strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Kawamoto
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
| | - You Wu
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yuki Takahashi
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Takakura
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
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10
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Hariharan VN, Shin M, Chang CW, O’Reilly D, Biscans A, Yamada K, Guo Z, Somasundaran M, Tang Q, Monopoli K, Krishnamurthy PM, Devi G, McHugh N, Cooper DA, Echeverria D, Cruz J, Chan IL, Liu P, Lim SY, McConnell J, Singh SP, Hildebrand S, Sousa J, Davis SM, Kennedy Z, Ferguson C, Godinho BMDC, Thillier Y, Caiazzi J, Ly S, Muhuri M, Kelly K, Humphries F, Cousineau A, Parsi KM, Li Q, Wang Y, Maehr R, Gao G, Korkin D, McDougall WM, Finberg RW, Fitzgerald KA, Wang JP, Watts JK, Khvorova A. Divalent siRNAs are bioavailable in the lung and efficiently block SARS-CoV-2 infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2219523120. [PMID: 36893269 PMCID: PMC10089225 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2219523120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The continuous evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants complicates efforts to combat the ongoing pandemic, underscoring the need for a dynamic platform for the rapid development of pan-viral variant therapeutics. Oligonucleotide therapeutics are enhancing the treatment of numerous diseases with unprecedented potency, duration of effect, and safety. Through the systematic screening of hundreds of oligonucleotide sequences, we identified fully chemically stabilized siRNAs and ASOs that target regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome conserved in all variants of concern, including delta and omicron. We successively evaluated candidates in cellular reporter assays, followed by viral inhibition in cell culture, with eventual testing of leads for in vivo antiviral activity in the lung. Previous attempts to deliver therapeutic oligonucleotides to the lung have met with only modest success. Here, we report the development of a platform for identifying and generating potent, chemically modified multimeric siRNAs bioavailable in the lung after local intranasal and intratracheal delivery. The optimized divalent siRNAs showed robust antiviral activity in human cells and mouse models of SARS-CoV-2 infection and represent a new paradigm for antiviral therapeutic development for current and future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vignesh N. Hariharan
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Minwook Shin
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Ching-Wen Chang
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Daniel O’Reilly
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Annabelle Biscans
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Ken Yamada
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Zhiru Guo
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Mohan Somasundaran
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Qi Tang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Kathryn Monopoli
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | | | - Gitali Devi
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Nicholas McHugh
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - David A. Cooper
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Dimas Echeverria
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - John Cruz
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Io Long Chan
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Ping Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Sun-Young Lim
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Jill McConnell
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Satya Prakash Singh
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Samuel Hildebrand
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Jacquelyn Sousa
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Sarah M. Davis
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Zachary Kennedy
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Chantal Ferguson
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Bruno M. D. C. Godinho
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Yann Thillier
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Jillian Caiazzi
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Socheata Ly
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Manish Muhuri
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Karen Kelly
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Fiachra Humphries
- Program in Innate Immunity, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Alyssa Cousineau
- Diabetes Center of Excellence and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Krishna Mohan Parsi
- Diabetes Center of Excellence and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Qi Li
- MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Yang Wang
- MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - René Maehr
- Diabetes Center of Excellence and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Guangping Gao
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Dmitry Korkin
- Department of Computer Science, and Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA01609
| | - William M. McDougall
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Robert W. Finberg
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Katherine A. Fitzgerald
- Program in Innate Immunity, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Jennifer P. Wang
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Jonathan K. Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01655
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11
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Xin N, Lv Y, Lian Y, Lin Z, Huang XQ, Zhao CQ, Wang Y. Preparation of Vinylphosphonates from Ketones Promoted by Tf 2O. J Org Chem 2023. [PMID: 36802599 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.2c02563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
An efficient triflic anhydride promoted phosphorylation of ketone was disclosed, and vinylphosphorus compounds were prepared under solvent- and metal-free conditions. Both aryl and alkyl ketones could perform smoothly to give vinyl phosphonates in high to excellent yields. In addition, the reaction was easy to carry out and easy to scale up. Mechanistic studies suggested that this transformation might involve nucleophilic vinylic substitution or a nucleophilic addition-elimination mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Xin
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and New Battery Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252059, China
| | - Yongzheng Lv
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and New Battery Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252059, China
| | - Yongjian Lian
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and New Battery Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252059, China
| | - Zhu Lin
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and New Battery Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252059, China
| | - Xian-Qiang Huang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and New Battery Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252059, China
| | - Chang-Qiu Zhao
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and New Battery Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252059, China
| | - Yanlan Wang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and New Battery Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252059, China
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12
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Morand S, Lecroq W, Jubault P, Lakhdar S, Bouillon JP, Couve-Bonnaire S. Organophotocatalysis Enables the Synthesis of gem-Fluorophosphonate Alkenes. Org Lett 2022; 24:8343-8347. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.2c03366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Solène Morand
- Normandie Université, INSA Rouen, UNIROUEN, CNRS, COBRA (UMR 6014), 76000 Rouen, France
| | - William Lecroq
- Normandie Université, LCMT, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CNRS, 6 Boulevard Maréchal Juin, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Philippe Jubault
- Normandie Université, INSA Rouen, UNIROUEN, CNRS, COBRA (UMR 6014), 76000 Rouen, France
| | - Sami Lakhdar
- CNRS/Université Paul Sabatier, Laboratoire Hétérochimie Fondamentale et Appliquée (LHFA, UMR5069), 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Cedex 09 Toulouse, France
| | | | - Samuel Couve-Bonnaire
- Normandie Université, INSA Rouen, UNIROUEN, CNRS, COBRA (UMR 6014), 76000 Rouen, France
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13
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Lee JW, Choi J, Choi Y, Kim K, Yang Y, Kim SH, Yoon HY, Kwon IC. Molecularly engineered siRNA conjugates for tumor-targeted RNAi therapy. J Control Release 2022; 351:713-726. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.09.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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14
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Shivatare SS, Shivatare VS, Wong CH. Glycoconjugates: Synthesis, Functional Studies, and Therapeutic Developments. Chem Rev 2022; 122:15603-15671. [PMID: 36174107 PMCID: PMC9674437 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c01032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Glycoconjugates are major constituents of mammalian cells that are formed via covalent conjugation of carbohydrates to other biomolecules like proteins and lipids and often expressed on the cell surfaces. Among the three major classes of glycoconjugates, proteoglycans and glycoproteins contain glycans linked to the protein backbone via amino acid residues such as Asn for N-linked glycans and Ser/Thr for O-linked glycans. In glycolipids, glycans are linked to a lipid component such as glycerol, polyisoprenyl pyrophosphate, fatty acid ester, or sphingolipid. Recently, glycoconjugates have become better structurally defined and biosynthetically understood, especially those associated with human diseases, and are accessible to new drug, diagnostic, and therapeutic developments. This review describes the status and new advances in the biological study and therapeutic applications of natural and synthetic glycoconjugates, including proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and glycolipids. The scope, limitations, and novel methodologies in the synthesis and clinical development of glycoconjugates including vaccines, glyco-remodeled antibodies, glycan-based adjuvants, glycan-specific receptor-mediated drug delivery platforms, etc., and their future prospectus are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachin S Shivatare
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Vidya S Shivatare
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Chi-Huey Wong
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
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15
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Chemical optimization of siRNA for safe and efficient silencing of placental sFLT1. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 29:135-149. [PMID: 35847173 PMCID: PMC9263991 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a rising, potentially lethal complication of pregnancy. PE is driven primarily by the overexpression of placental soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFLT1), a validated diagnostic and prognostic marker of the disease when normalized to placental growth factor (PlGF) levels. Injecting cholesterol-conjugated, fully modified, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting sFLT1 mRNA into pregnant mice or baboons reduces placental sFLT1 and ameliorates clinical signs of PE, providing a strong foundation for the development of a PE therapeutic. siRNA delivery, potency, and safety are dictated by conjugate chemistry, siRNA duplex structure, and chemical modification pattern. Here, we systematically evaluate these parameters and demonstrate that increasing 2'-O-methyl modifications and 5' chemical stabilization and using sequence-specific duplex asymmetry and a phosphocholine-docosanoic acid conjugate enhance placental accumulation, silencing efficiency and safety of sFLT1-targeting siRNAs. The optimization strategy here provides a framework for the chemical optimization of siRNAs for PE as well as other targets and clinical indications.
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16
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Engineered ionizable lipid siRNA conjugates enhance endosomal escape but induce toxicity in vivo. J Control Release 2022; 349:831-843. [PMID: 35917865 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.07.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Lipid conjugation supports delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to extrahepatic tissues, expanding the therapeutic potential of siRNAs beyond liver indications. However, siRNA silencing efficacy in extrahepatic tissues remains inferior to that routinely achieved in liver, partially due to the low rate of endosomal escape following siRNA internalization. Improving siRNA endosomal release into cytoplasm is crucial to improving efficacy of lipid-conjugated siRNAs. Given the ability of ionizable lipids to enhance endosomal escape in a context of lipid nanoparticles (LNP), here, we provide the first report on the effect of an ionizable lipid conjugate on siRNA endosomal escape, tissue distribution, efficacy, and toxicity in vivo. After developing a synthetic route to covalently attach the ionizable lipid, DLin-MC3-DMA, to siRNAs, we demonstrate that DLin-MC3-DMA enhances endosomal escape in cell culture without compromising siRNA efficacy. In mice, DLin-MC3-DMA conjugated siRNAs exhibit a similar overall tissue distribution profile to the similarly hydrophobic cholesterol-conjugated siRNA. However, only DLin-MC3-DMA conjugated siRNAs accumulated in vascular compartments, suggesting an effect of conjugate structure on intratissue distribution. Interestingly, we observed non-specific modulation of gene expression in tissues with high accumulation of DLin-MC3-DMA siRNAs (>20 pmol/mg of tissue) while limited non-specific gene modulation has been observed in tissues with lower siRNA accumulation. These findings suggest modulating the nature of the conjugate is a promising strategy to alter siRNA intratissue and intracellular trafficking. Fine-tuning the nature of the conjugate to optimize endosomal escape while minimizing toxicity will be critical for the progression of therapeutic siRNA applications beyond the liver.
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17
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Pereira PA, Serra MES, Serra AC, Coelho JFJ. Application of vinyl polymer-based materials as nucleic acids carriers in cancer therapy. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 14:e1820. [PMID: 35637638 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based therapies have changed the paradigm of cancer treatment, where conventional treatment modalities still have several limitations in terms of efficacy and severe side effects. However, these biomolecules have a short half-life in vivo, requiring multiple administrations, resulting in severe suffering, discomfort, and poor patient compliance. In the early days of (nano)biotechnology, these problems caused concern in the medical community, but recently it has been recognized that these challenges can be overcome by developing innovative formulations. This review focuses on the use of vinyl polymer-based materials for the protection and delivery of nucleic acids in cancer. First, an overview of the properties of nucleic acids and their versatility as drugs is provided. Then, key information on the achievements to date, the most effective delivery methods, and the evaluation of functionalization approaches (stimulatory strategies) are critically discussed to highlight the importance of vinyl polymers in the new cancer treatment approaches. This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Nucleic Acid-Based Structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Alexandra Pereira
- Department of Chemical Engineering, CEMMPRE, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima-Pólo II, Coimbra, Portugal
- IPN, Instituto Pedro Nunes, Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento em Ciência e Tecnologia, Rua Pedro Nunes, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Arménio C Serra
- Department of Chemical Engineering, CEMMPRE, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima-Pólo II, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge F J Coelho
- Department of Chemical Engineering, CEMMPRE, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima-Pólo II, Coimbra, Portugal
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18
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Abstract
The highly specific induction of RNA interference-mediated gene knockdown, based on the direct application of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), opens novel avenues towards innovative therapies. Two decades after the discovery of the RNA interference mechanism, the first siRNA drugs received approval for clinical use by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency between 2018 and 2022. These are mainly based on an siRNA conjugation with a targeting moiety for liver hepatocytes, N-acetylgalactosamine, and cover the treatment of acute hepatic porphyria, transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis, hypercholesterolemia, and primary hyperoxaluria type 1. Still, the development of siRNA therapeutics faces several challenges and issues, including the definition of optimal siRNAs in terms of target, sequence, and chemical modifications, siRNA delivery to its intended site of action, and the absence of unspecific off-target effects. Further siRNA drugs are in clinical studies, based on different delivery systems and covering a wide range of different pathologies including metabolic diseases, hematology, infectious diseases, oncology, ocular diseases, and others. This article reviews the knowledge on siRNA design and chemical modification, as well as issues related to siRNA delivery that may be addressed using different delivery systems. Details on the mode of action and clinical status of the various siRNA therapeutics are provided, before giving an outlook on issues regarding the future of siRNA drugs and on their potential as one emerging standard modality in pharmacotherapy. Notably, this may also cover otherwise un-druggable diseases, the definition of non-coding RNAs as targets, and novel concepts of personalized and combination treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maik Friedrich
- Faculty of Leipzig, Institute of Clinical Immunology, Max-Bürger-Forschungszentrum (MBFZ), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Vaccines and Infection Models, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Achim Aigner
- Rudolf-Boehm Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Clinical Pharmacology, University of Leipzig, Haertelstrasse 16-18, 04107, Leipzig, Germany.
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19
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Guenther DC, Mori S, Matsuda S, Gilbert JA, Willoughby JLS, Hyde S, Bisbe A, Jiang Y, Agarwal S, Madaoui M, Janas MM, Charisse K, Maier MA, Egli M, Manoharan M. Role of a "Magic" Methyl: 2'-Deoxy-2'-α-F-2'-β- C-methyl Pyrimidine Nucleotides Modulate RNA Interference Activity through Synergy with 5'-Phosphate Mimics and Mitigation of Off-Target Effects. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:14517-14534. [PMID: 35921401 PMCID: PMC9389587 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c01679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Although 2′-deoxy-2′-α-F-2′-β-C-methyl (2′-F/Me) uridine nucleoside derivatives
are a successful class of antiviral drugs, this modification had not
been studied in oligonucleotides. Herein, we demonstrate the facile
synthesis of 2′-F/Me-modified pyrimidine phosphoramidites and
their subsequent incorporation into oligonucleotides. Despite the
C3′-endo preorganization of the parent nucleoside,
a single incorporation into RNA or DNA resulted in significant thermal
destabilization of a duplex due to unfavorable enthalpy, likely resulting
from steric effects. When located at the terminus of an oligonucleotide,
the 2′-F/Me modification imparted more resistance to degradation
than the corresponding 2′-fluoro nucleotides. Small interfering
RNAs (siRNAs) modified at certain positions with 2′-F/Me had
similar or better silencing activity than the parent siRNAs when delivered
via a lipid nanoparticle formulation or as a triantennary N-acetylgalactosamine conjugate in cells and in mice. Modification
in the seed region of the antisense strand at position 6 or 7 resulted
in an activity equivalent to the parent in mice. Additionally, placement
of the antisense strand at position 7 mitigated seed-based off-target
effects in cell-based assays. When the 2′-F/Me modification
was combined with 5′-vinyl phosphonate, both E and Z isomers had silencing activity comparable
to the parent. In combination with other 2′-modifications such
as 2′-O-methyl, the Z isomer
is detrimental to silencing activity. Presumably, the equivalence
of 5′-vinyl phosphonate isomers in the context of 2′-F/Me
is driven by the steric and conformational features of the C-methyl-containing sugar ring. These data indicate that
2′-F/Me nucleotides are promising tools for nucleic acid-based
therapeutic applications to increase potency, duration, and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale C Guenther
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Shohei Mori
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Shigeo Matsuda
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Jason A Gilbert
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | | | - Sarah Hyde
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Anna Bisbe
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Yongfeng Jiang
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Saket Agarwal
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Mimouna Madaoui
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Maja M Janas
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Klaus Charisse
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Martin A Maier
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Martin Egli
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Muthiah Manoharan
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
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20
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Brown KM, Nair JK, Janas MM, Anglero-Rodriguez YI, Dang LTH, Peng H, Theile CS, Castellanos-Rizaldos E, Brown C, Foster D, Kurz J, Allen J, Maganti R, Li J, Matsuda S, Stricos M, Chickering T, Jung M, Wassarman K, Rollins J, Woods L, Kelin A, Guenther DC, Mobley MW, Petrulis J, McDougall R, Racie T, Bombardier J, Cha D, Agarwal S, Johnson L, Jiang Y, Lentini S, Gilbert J, Nguyen T, Chigas S, LeBlanc S, Poreci U, Kasper A, Rogers AB, Chong S, Davis W, Sutherland JE, Castoreno A, Milstein S, Schlegel MK, Zlatev I, Charisse K, Keating M, Manoharan M, Fitzgerald K, Wu JT, Maier MA, Jadhav V. Expanding RNAi therapeutics to extrahepatic tissues with lipophilic conjugates. Nat Biotechnol 2022; 40:1500-1508. [PMID: 35654979 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-022-01334-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutics based on short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) delivered to hepatocytes have been approved, but new delivery solutions are needed to target additional organs. Here we show that conjugation of 2'-O-hexadecyl (C16) to siRNAs enables safe, potent and durable silencing in the central nervous system (CNS), eye and lung in rodents and non-human primates with broad cell type specificity. We show that intrathecally or intracerebroventricularly delivered C16-siRNAs were active across CNS regions and cell types, with sustained RNA interference (RNAi) activity for at least 3 months. Similarly, intravitreal administration to the eye or intranasal administration to the lung resulted in a potent and durable knockdown. The preclinical efficacy of an siRNA targeting the amyloid precursor protein was evaluated through intracerebroventricular dosing in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, resulting in amelioration of physiological and behavioral deficits. Altogether, C16 conjugation of siRNAs has the potential for safe therapeutic silencing of target genes outside the liver with infrequent dosing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jing Li
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alex Kelin
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Diana Cha
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
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21
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Shiohama Y, Fujita R, Sonokawa M, Hisano M, Kotake Y, Krstic-Demonacos M, Demonacos C, Kashiwazaki G, Kitayama T, Fujii M. Elimination of Off-Target Effect by Chemical Modification of 5′-End of Small Interfering RNA. Nucleic Acid Ther 2022; 32:438-447. [DOI: 10.1089/nat.2021.0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuo Shiohama
- Environmental and Biological Information Group, Tropical Biosphere Research Centre, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Fujita
- Department of Biological & Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Iizuka, Japan
| | - Maika Sonokawa
- Department of Biological & Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Iizuka, Japan
| | - Masaaki Hisano
- Department of Biological & Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Iizuka, Japan
| | - Yojiro Kotake
- Department of Biological & Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Iizuka, Japan
| | - Marija Krstic-Demonacos
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, United Kingdom
| | - Constantinos Demonacos
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, School of Health Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Gengo Kashiwazaki
- Department of Advanced Bioscience, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nara, Japan
| | - Takashi Kitayama
- Department of Advanced Bioscience, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nara, Japan
| | - Masayuki Fujii
- Department of Biological & Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Iizuka, Japan
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22
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Poornima G, Harini K, Pallavi P, Gowtham P, Girigoswami K, Girigoswami A. RNA – A choice of potential drug delivery system. INT J POLYM MATER PO 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/00914037.2022.2058946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Govindharaj Poornima
- Medical Bionanotechnology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai 603103, India
| | - Karthick Harini
- Medical Bionanotechnology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai 603103, India
| | - Pragya Pallavi
- Medical Bionanotechnology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai 603103, India
| | - Pemula Gowtham
- Medical Bionanotechnology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai 603103, India
| | - Koyeli Girigoswami
- Medical Bionanotechnology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai 603103, India
| | - Agnishwar Girigoswami
- Medical Bionanotechnology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai 603103, India
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23
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Gangopadhyay S, Gore KR. Advances in siRNA therapeutics and synergistic effect on siRNA activity using emerging dual ribose modifications. RNA Biol 2022; 19:452-467. [PMID: 35352626 PMCID: PMC8973385 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2022.2052641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based therapeutics that control gene expression have been steadily progressing towards achieving their full clinical potential throughout the last few decades. Rapid progress has been achieved in RNAi-based therapy by optimizing high specificity and gene silencing efficiency using chemically modified siRNAs. Since 2018, four siRNA drugs – patisiran, givosiran, lumasiran, and inclisiran, were approved by the US FDA, providing a testament to the promise of RNAi therapeutics. Despite these promising results, safe and efficient siRNA delivery at the target site remains a major obstacle for efficient siRNA-based therapeutics. In this review, we have outlined the synergistic effects of emerging dual ribose modifications, including 2’,4’- and 2’,5’-modifications, 5’-E/Z-vinylphosphonate, and northern methanocarbacyclic (NMC) modifications that have contributed to drug-like effects in siRNA. These modifications enhance nuclease stability, prolong gene silencing efficiency, improve thermal stability, and exhibit high tissue accumulation. We also highlight the current progress in siRNA clinical trials. This review will help to understand the potential effects of dual ribose modifications and provides alternative ways to use extensive 2’-modifications in siRNA drugs. Moreover, the minimal number of these dual ribose modifications could be sufficient to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. In future, detailed in vivo studies using these dual ribose modifications could help to improve the therapeutic effects of siRNA. Rational design could further open doors for the rapid progress in siRNA therapeutics. ![]() ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Gangopadhyay
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India
| | - Kiran R Gore
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India
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24
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Yenilmez B, Wetoska N, Kelly M, Echeverria D, Min K, Lifshitz L, Alterman JF, Hassler MR, Hildebrand S, DiMarzio C, McHugh N, Vangjeli L, Sousa J, Pan M, Han X, Brehm MA, Khvorova A, Czech MP. An RNAi therapeutic targeting hepatic DGAT2 in a genetically obese mouse model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Mol Ther 2022; 30:1329-1342. [PMID: 34774753 PMCID: PMC8899521 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe liver disorder characterized by triglyceride accumulation, severe inflammation, and fibrosis. With the recent increase in prevalence, NASH is now the leading cause of liver transplant, with no approved therapeutics available. Although the exact molecular mechanism of NASH progression is not well understood, a widely held hypothesis is that fat accumulation is the primary driver of the disease. Therefore, diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2), a key enzyme in triglyceride synthesis, has been explored as a NASH target. RNAi-based therapeutics is revolutionizing the treatment of liver diseases, with recent chemical advances supporting long-term gene silencing with single subcutaneous administration. Here, we identified a hyper-functional, fully chemically stabilized GalNAc-conjugated small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting DGAT2 (Dgat2-1473) that, upon injection, elicits up to 3 months of DGAT2 silencing (>80%-90%, p < 0.0001) in wild-type and NSG-PiZ "humanized" mice. Using an obesity-driven mouse model of NASH (ob/ob-GAN), Dgat2-1473 administration prevents and reverses triglyceride accumulation (>85%, p < 0.0001) without increased accumulation of diglycerides, resulting in significant improvement of the fatty liver phenotype. However, surprisingly, the reduction in liver fat did not translate into a similar impact on inflammation and fibrosis. Thus, while Dgat2-1473 is a practical, long-lasting silencing agent for potential therapeutic attenuation of liver steatosis, combinatorial targeting of a second pathway may be necessary for therapeutic efficacy against NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Batuhan Yenilmez
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Nicole Wetoska
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Mark Kelly
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Dimas Echeverria
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA,RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Kyounghee Min
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lawrence Lifshitz
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Julia F. Alterman
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA,RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Matthew R. Hassler
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA,RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Samuel Hildebrand
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA,RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Chloe DiMarzio
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Nicholas McHugh
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA,RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lorenc Vangjeli
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA,RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Sousa
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA,RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Meixia Pan
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Xianlin Han
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Michael A. Brehm
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | - Michael P. Czech
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street Biotech Two, Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605, USA,Corresponding author: Michael P. Czech, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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25
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Therapeutic RNA-silencing oligonucleotides in metabolic diseases. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2022; 21:417-439. [PMID: 35210608 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00407-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recent years have seen unprecedented activity in the development of RNA-silencing oligonucleotide therapeutics for metabolic diseases. Improved oligonucleotide design and optimization of synthetic nucleic acid chemistry, in combination with the development of highly selective and efficient conjugate delivery technology platforms, have established and validated oligonucleotides as a new class of drugs. To date, there are five marketed oligonucleotide therapies, with many more in clinical studies, for both rare and common liver-driven metabolic diseases. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in the field of oligonucleotide therapeutics in metabolism, review past and current clinical trials, and discuss ongoing challenges and possible future developments.
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26
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Introduction and History of the Chemistry of Nucleic Acids Therapeutics. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2434:3-31. [PMID: 35213007 PMCID: PMC7612508 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2010-6_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This introduction charts the history of the development of the major chemical modifications that have influenced the development of nucleic acids therapeutics focusing in particular on antisense oligonucleotide analogues carrying modifications in the backbone and sugar. Brief mention is made of siRNA development and other applications that have by and large utilized the same modifications. We also point out the pitfalls of the use of nucleic acids as drugs, such as their unwanted interactions with pattern recognition receptors, which can be mitigated by chemical modification or used as immunotherapeutic agents.
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27
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Fàbrega C, Aviñó A, Eritja R. Chemical Modifications in Nucleic Acids for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Applications. CHEM REC 2021; 22:e202100270. [DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202100270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carme Fàbrega
- Department of Surfactants and Nanobiotechnology Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC) Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) Jordi Girona 18–26 E-08034 Barcelona Spain
- Networking Center on Bioengineering Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN) E-08034 Barcelona Spain
| | - Anna Aviñó
- Department of Surfactants and Nanobiotechnology Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC) Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) Jordi Girona 18–26 E-08034 Barcelona Spain
- Networking Center on Bioengineering Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN) E-08034 Barcelona Spain
| | - Ramon Eritja
- Department of Surfactants and Nanobiotechnology Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC) Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) Jordi Girona 18–26 E-08034 Barcelona Spain
- Networking Center on Bioengineering Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN) E-08034 Barcelona Spain
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28
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Hill A, van Leeuwen D, Schlösser V, Behera A, Mateescu B, Hall J. Chemically synthesized, self-assembling small interfering RNA-prohead RNA molecules trigger Dicer-independent gene silencing. Chemistry 2021; 28:e202103995. [PMID: 34879171 PMCID: PMC9305526 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202103995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) mediated by small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes is a powerful therapeutic modality, but the translation of siRNAs from the bench into clinical application has been hampered by inefficient delivery in vivo. An innovative delivery strategy involves fusing siRNAs to a three‐way junction (3WJ) motif derived from the phi29 bacteriophage prohead RNA (pRNA). Chimeric siRNA‐3WJ molecules are presumed to enter the RNAi pathway through Dicer cleavage. Here, we fused siRNAs to the phi29 3WJ and two phylogenetically related 3WJs. We confirmed that the siRNA‐3WJs are substrates for Dicer in vitro. However, our results reveal that siRNA‐3WJs transfected into Dicer‐deficient cell lines trigger potent gene silencing. Interestingly, siRNA‐3WJs transfected into an Argonaute 2‐deficient cell line also retain some gene silencing activity. siRNA‐3WJs are most efficient when the antisense strand of the siRNA duplex is positioned 5′ of the 3WJ (5′‐siRNA‐3WJ) relative to 3′ of the 3WJ (3′‐siRNA‐3WJ). This work sheds light on the functional properties of siRNA‐3WJs and offers a design rule for maximizing their potency in the human RNAi pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Hill
- ETH Zurich D-CHAB: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093, Zürich, SWITZERLAND
| | - Daniël van Leeuwen
- ETH Zürich D-BIOL: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich Departement Biologie, Department of Biology, SWITZERLAND
| | - Verena Schlösser
- ETH Zurich D-CHAB: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, SWITZERLAND
| | - Alok Behera
- ETH Zurich D-CHAB: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, SWITZERLAND
| | - Bogdan Mateescu
- ETH Zürich D-BIOL: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich Departement Biologie, Department of Biology, SWITZERLAND
| | - Jonathan Hall
- ETH Zurich D-CHAB: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, SWITZERLAND
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29
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Yamada K, Hildebrand S, Davis SM, Miller R, Conroy F, Sapp E, Caiazzi J, Alterman JF, Roux L, Echeverria D, Hassler MR, Pfister EL, DiFiglia M, Aronin N, Khvorova A. Structurally constrained phosphonate internucleotide linkage impacts oligonucleotide-enzyme interaction, and modulates siRNA activity and allele specificity. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:12069-12088. [PMID: 34850120 PMCID: PMC8643693 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligonucleotides is an emerging class of chemically-distinct therapeutic modalities, where extensive chemical modifications are fundamental for their clinical applications. Inter-nucleotide backbones are critical to the behaviour of therapeutic oligonucleotides, but clinically explored backbone analogues are, effectively, limited to phosphorothioates. Here, we describe the synthesis and bio-functional characterization of an internucleotide (E)-vinylphosphonate (iE-VP) backbone, where bridging oxygen is substituted with carbon in a locked stereo-conformation. After optimizing synthetic pathways for iE-VP-linked dimer phosphoramidites in different sugar contexts, we systematically evaluated the impact of the iE-VP backbone on oligonucleotide interactions with a variety of cellular proteins. Furthermore, we systematically evaluated the impact of iE-VP on RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC) activity, where backbone stereo-constraining has profound position-specific effects. Using Huntingtin (HTT) gene causative of Huntington's disease as an example, iE-VP at position 6 significantly enhanced the single mismatch discrimination ability of the RISC without negative impact on silencing of targeting wild type htt gene. These findings suggest that the iE-VP backbone can be used to modulate the activity and specificity of RISC. Our study provides (i) a new chemical tool to alter oligonucleotide-enzyme interactions and metabolic stability, (ii) insight into RISC dynamics and (iii) a new strategy for highly selective SNP-discriminating siRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Yamada
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Samuel Hildebrand
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Sarah M Davis
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Rachael Miller
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Faith Conroy
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ellen Sapp
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Jillian Caiazzi
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Julia F Alterman
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Loic Roux
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Dimas Echeverria
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Matthew R Hassler
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Edith L Pfister
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Marian DiFiglia
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Neil Aronin
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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30
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Jahns H, Degaonkar R, Podbevsek P, Gupta S, Bisbe A, Aluri K, Szeto J, Kumar P, LeBlanc S, Racie T, Brown CR, Castoreno A, Guenther DC, Jadhav V, Maier MA, Plavec J, Egli M, Manoharan M, Zlatev I. Small circular interfering RNAs (sciRNAs) as a potent therapeutic platform for gene-silencing. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10250-10264. [PMID: 34508350 PMCID: PMC8501968 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to achieve efficient therapeutic post-transcriptional gene-silencing mediated by the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) must be chemically modified. Several supra-RNA structures, with the potential to stabilize siRNAs metabolically have been evaluated for their ability to induce gene silencing, but all have limitations or have not been explored in therapeutically relevant contexts. Covalently closed circular RNA transcripts are prevalent in eukaryotes and have potential as biomarkers and disease targets, and circular RNA mimics are being explored for use as therapies. Here we report the synthesis and evaluation of small circular interfering RNAs (sciRNAs). To synthesize sciRNAs, a sense strand functionalized with the trivalent N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) ligand and cyclized using ‘click’ chemistry was annealed to an antisense strand. This strategy was used for synthesis of small circles, but could also be used for synthesis of larger circular RNA mimics. We evaluated various sciRNA designs in vitro and in vivo. We observed improved metabolic stability of the sense strand upon circularization and off-target effects were eliminated. The 5′-(E)-vinylphosphonate modification of the antisense strand resulted in GalNAc-sciRNAs that are potent in vivo at therapeutically relevant doses. Physicochemical studies and NMR-based structural analysis, together with molecular modeling studies, shed light on the interactions of this novel class of siRNAs, which have a partial duplex character, with the RNAi machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hartmut Jahns
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Peter Podbevsek
- Slovenian NMR Center, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia, EU
| | - Swati Gupta
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Anna Bisbe
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Krishna Aluri
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - John Szeto
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Pawan Kumar
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Sarah LeBlanc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Tim Racie
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | | | | | - Vasant Jadhav
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Janez Plavec
- Slovenian NMR Center, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia, EU
| | - Martin Egli
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | | | - Ivan Zlatev
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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31
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Kishimoto Y, Fujii A, Nakagawa O, Obika S. Enhanced duplex- and triplex-forming ability and enzymatic resistance of oligodeoxynucleotides modified by a tricyclic thymine derivative. Org Biomol Chem 2021; 19:8063-8074. [PMID: 34494641 DOI: 10.1039/d1ob01462e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We designed and synthesized an artificial nucleic acid, [3-(1,2-dihydro-2-oxobenzo[b][1,8]naphthyridine)]-2'-deoxy-D-ribofuranose (OBN), with a tricyclic structure in a nucleobase as a thymidine analog. Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) containing consecutive OBN displayed improved duplex-forming ability with complementary single-stranded (ss) RNA and triplex-forming ability with double-stranded DNA in comparison with ODNs composed of natural thymidine. OBN-modified ODNs also displayed enhanced enzymatic resistance compared with ODNs with natural thymidine and phosphorothioate modification, respectively, due to the structural steric hindrance of the nucleobase. The fluorescence spectra of OBN-modified ODNs showed sufficient fluorescence intensity with ssDNA and ssRNA, which is an advantageous feature for fluorescence imaging techniques of nucleic acids with longer emission wavelengths than bicyclic thymine (bT).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Kishimoto
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. .,Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Sciences and Technology Agency (JST), 7 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan
| | - Akane Fujii
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. .,Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Sciences and Technology Agency (JST), 7 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan
| | - Osamu Nakagawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. .,Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Sciences and Technology Agency (JST), 7 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan.,Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, 180 Nishihamahoji, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan.
| | - Satoshi Obika
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. .,Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Sciences and Technology Agency (JST), 7 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan
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32
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Zhou X, Pan Y, Yu L, Wu J, Li Z, Li H, Guan Z, Tang X, Yang Z. Feasibility of cRGD conjugation at 5'-antisense strand of siRNA by phosphodiester linkage extension. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 25:603-612. [PMID: 34589281 PMCID: PMC8463321 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are widely studied for their highly specific gene silencing activity. However, obstacles remain to the clinical application of siRNAs. Attaching conjugates to siRNAs can improve their stability and broaden their application, and most functional conjugates of siRNAs locate at the 3'-terminus of the sense or antisense strand. In this work, we found that conjugating a group at the 5'-terminus of the antisense strand via phosphodiester was practicable, especially when the group was a flexible moiety such as an alkyl linker. When conjugating a bulky ligand, such as cRGD, the length of the 5'-phosphodiester linker between the ligand and the 5'-terminus of the antisense strand was the key in terms of RNA interference (RNAi). With a relative longer linker, the conjugates showed potency similar to siRNA. A highly efficient transfection system composed of a neutral cytidinyl lipid (DNCA) and a gemini-like cationic lipid (CLD) was employed to deliver siRNAs or their conjugates. The cRGD conjugates showed superior targeting delivery and antitumor efficacy in vivo and also selective cellular uptake in vitro. This unity of encapsulation and conjugation strategy may provide potential strategies for siRNA-based gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- People’s Public Security University of China, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Yufei Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Lijia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- National Center for Occupational Safety and Health, NHC, Beijing 102308, China
| | - Jing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Huantong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zhu Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xinjing Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zhenjun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
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33
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Altenhofer EF, Lawler MJ, Kumar P, Joyce LA, Fowler-Watters M, Pei T, Li Z. Synthesis of a novel cyclopropyl phosphonate nucleotide as a phosphate mimic. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:6808-6811. [PMID: 34142689 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc02328d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The inherent in vivo instability of oligonucleotides presents one of many challenges in the development of RNAi-based therapeutics. Chemical modification to the 5'-terminus serves as an existing paradigm which can make phosphorylated antisense strands less prone to degradation by endogenous enzymes. It has been recently shown that installation of 5'-cyclopropyl phosphonate on the terminus of an oligonucleotide results in greater knockdown of a targeted protein when compared to its unmodified phosphate derivative. In this paper we report the synthesis of a 5'-modified uridine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael J Lawler
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 502 S Rosa Rd, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
| | - Pankaj Kumar
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 502 S Rosa Rd, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
| | - Leo A Joyce
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 502 S Rosa Rd, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
| | | | - Tao Pei
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 502 S Rosa Rd, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
| | - Zhen Li
- 5871 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
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34
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Koizumi M, Hirota Y, Nakayama M, Tamura M, Obuchi W. RNA interference activity of single-stranded oligonucleotides linked between the passenger strand and the guide strand with an aryl phosphate linker. NUCLEOSIDES NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 40:647-664. [PMID: 34047248 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2021.1927077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Recently, we demonstrated that asymmetrical 18 base-paired double-strand oligonucleotides comprised of alternately combined 2'-O-methyl RNA and DNA, termed MED-siRNAs, show high RNase resistance, efficient cleavage of target mRNA, and the subsequent reduction of target protein expression. The 5'-terminal phosphate group and the 3'-overhang of the guide strand were required to fully activate the RNAi activity of MED-siRNAs. Here, we evaluated MED-siRNAs modified with aryl phosphate groups at the 5'-end of the guide strand. The 5'-aryl phosphorylated MED-siRNAs showed highly efficient reduction of target protein expression comparable to 5'-phosphorylated MED-siRNAs. Moreover, 5'-aryl phosphorylated MED-siRNAs linked between the aryl phosphate group at the 5'-end of the guide strand and the hydroxyl group at the 3'-end of the passenger strand with alkyl amide linkers or peptides (e.g., DL-Ser-L-Ala-L-Tyr), resulted in single-stranded MED-siRNAs with a highly efficient cleavage activity of target mRNA with binding to Argonaute 2 via an RNA interference mechanism. These linker techniques could also be used to create siRNAs composed of naturally-occurring molecules such as amino acids. These findings suggest the possibility of using these single-stranded MED-siRNAs as siRNA reagents.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15257770.2021.1927077 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Koizumi
- R&D and Biologics Divisions, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhide Hirota
- R&D and Biologics Divisions, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makiko Nakayama
- R&D and Biologics Divisions, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masakazu Tamura
- R&D and Biologics Divisions, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wataru Obuchi
- R&D and Biologics Divisions, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
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35
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Wei X, Bai C, Zhao L, Zhang P, Li Z, Wang Y, Su Q. Lewis Acid Enables Ketone Phosphorylation: Synthesis of Alkenyl Phosphonates. CHINESE J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.202100083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao‐Hong Wei
- Key Laboratory for Utility of Environment‐Friendly Composite Materials and Biomass in University of Gansu Province, College of Chemical Engineering, Northwest Minzu University No. 1, Northwest Xincun Lanzhou Gansu 730030 China
| | - Chun‐Yuan Bai
- Key Laboratory for Utility of Environment‐Friendly Composite Materials and Biomass in University of Gansu Province, College of Chemical Engineering, Northwest Minzu University No. 1, Northwest Xincun Lanzhou Gansu 730030 China
| | - Lian‐Biao Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Utility of Environment‐Friendly Composite Materials and Biomass in University of Gansu Province, College of Chemical Engineering, Northwest Minzu University No. 1, Northwest Xincun Lanzhou Gansu 730030 China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Utility of Environment‐Friendly Composite Materials and Biomass in University of Gansu Province, College of Chemical Engineering, Northwest Minzu University No. 1, Northwest Xincun Lanzhou Gansu 730030 China
| | - Zhen‐Hua Li
- Key Laboratory for Utility of Environment‐Friendly Composite Materials and Biomass in University of Gansu Province, College of Chemical Engineering, Northwest Minzu University No. 1, Northwest Xincun Lanzhou Gansu 730030 China
| | - Yan‐Bin Wang
- Key Laboratory for Utility of Environment‐Friendly Composite Materials and Biomass in University of Gansu Province, College of Chemical Engineering, Northwest Minzu University No. 1, Northwest Xincun Lanzhou Gansu 730030 China
| | - Qiong Su
- Key Laboratory for Utility of Environment‐Friendly Composite Materials and Biomass in University of Gansu Province, College of Chemical Engineering, Northwest Minzu University No. 1, Northwest Xincun Lanzhou Gansu 730030 China
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36
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Forbes TA, Brown BD, Lai C. Therapeutic RNA interference: A novel approach to the treatment of primary hyperoxaluria. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2021; 88:2525-2538. [PMID: 34022071 PMCID: PMC9291495 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural biological pathway that inhibits gene expression by targeted degradation or translational inhibition of cytoplasmic mRNA by the RNA induced silencing complex. RNAi has long been exploited in laboratory research to study the biological consequences of the reduced expression of a gene of interest. More recently RNAi has been demonstrated as a therapeutic avenue for rare metabolic diseases. This review presents an overview of the cellular RNAi machinery as well as therapeutic RNAi design and delivery. As a clinical example we present primary hyperoxaluria, an ultrarare inherited disease of increased hepatic oxalate production which leads to recurrent calcium oxalate kidney stones. In the most common form of the disease (Type 1), end‐stage kidney disease occurs in childhood or young adulthood, often necessitating combined kidney and liver transplantation. In this context we discuss nedosiran (Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) and lumasiran (Alnylam Pharmaceuticals), which are both novel RNAi therapies for primary hyperoxaluria that selectively reduce hepatic expression of lactate dehydrogenase and glycolate oxidase respectively, reducing hepatic oxalate production and urinary oxalate levels. Finally, we consider future optimizations advances in RNAi therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Forbes
- Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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37
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Hofmeister A, Jahn-Hofmann K, Brunner B, Helms MW, Metz-Weidmann C, Krack A, Kurz M, Li Z, Weitzenberg MM, Pflimlin E, Plettenburg O, Scheidler S. Syntheses of Morpholine-Based Nucleotide Analogs for Hepatic siRNA Targeting and Stabilization. J Med Chem 2021; 64:6838-6855. [PMID: 33950677 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A morpholine-based nucleotide analog was developed as a building block for hepatic siRNA targeting and stabilization. Attachment of an asialoglycoprotein-binding GalNAc ligand at the morpholine nitrogen was realized with different linkers. The obtained morpholino GalNAc scaffolds were coupled to the sense strand of a transthyretin-targeting siRNA and tested for their knockdown potency in vitro and in vivo. A clear structure-activity relationship was developed with regard to the linker type and length as well as the attachment site of the morpholino GalNAc moieties at the siRNA sense strand. Further, simple alkylation of the morpholine nitrogen led to a nucleotide analog, which increased siRNA stability, when used as a double 3'-overhang at the sense strand sequence. Combination of the best morpholino GalNAc building blocks as targeting nucleotides with an optimized stabilizing alkyl-substituted morpholine as 3'-overhangs resulted in siRNAs without any phosphorothioate stabilization in the sense strand and clearly improved the duration of action in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Hofmeister
- Sanofi R&D, Industrial Park Hoechst, G838, Frankfurt am Main 65926, Germany
| | | | - Bodo Brunner
- Sanofi R&D, Industrial Park Hoechst, G838, Frankfurt am Main 65926, Germany
| | - Mike W Helms
- Sanofi R&D, Industrial Park Hoechst, G838, Frankfurt am Main 65926, Germany
| | | | - Arne Krack
- Sanofi R&D, Industrial Park Hoechst, G838, Frankfurt am Main 65926, Germany
| | - Michael Kurz
- Sanofi R&D, Industrial Park Hoechst, G838, Frankfurt am Main 65926, Germany
| | - Ziyu Li
- Sanofi R&D, Industrial Park Hoechst, G838, Frankfurt am Main 65926, Germany
| | - Merle M Weitzenberg
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Center of Biomolecular Drug Research (BMWZ), Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover 30167, Germany.,Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Medicinal Chemistry (IMC), Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | | | - Oliver Plettenburg
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Center of Biomolecular Drug Research (BMWZ), Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover 30167, Germany.,Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Medicinal Chemistry (IMC), Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - Sabine Scheidler
- Sanofi R&D, Industrial Park Hoechst, G838, Frankfurt am Main 65926, Germany
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38
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Agarwal S, Allard R, Darcy J, Chigas S, Gu Y, Nguyen T, Bond S, Chong S, Wu JT, Janas MM. Impact of Serum Proteins on the Uptake and RNAi Activity of GalNAc-Conjugated siRNAs. Nucleic Acid Ther 2021; 31:309-315. [PMID: 33861634 PMCID: PMC8377513 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2020.0919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Serum protein interactions are evaluated during the drug development process since they determine the free drug concentration in blood and thereby can influence the drug's pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. While the impact of serum proteins on the disposition of small molecules is well understood, it is not yet well characterized for a new modality, RNA interference therapeutics. When administered systemically, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) conjugated to the N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) ligand bind to proteins present in circulation. However, it is not known if these protein interactions may impact the GalNAc-conjugated siRNA uptake into hepatocytes mediated through the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) and thereby influence the activity of GalNAc-conjugated siRNAs. In this study, we assess the impact of serum proteins on the uptake and activity of GalNAc-conjugated siRNAs in primary human hepatocytes. We found that a significant portion of the GalNAc-conjugated siRNAs is bound to serum proteins. However, ASGPR-mediated uptake and activity of GalNAc-conjugated siRNAs were minimally impacted by the presence of serum relative to their uptake and activity in the absence of serum. Therefore, in contrast to small molecules, serum proteins are expected to have minimal impact on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of GalNAc-conjugated siRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saket Agarwal
- Early Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ruth Allard
- Early Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Justin Darcy
- Early Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Samantha Chigas
- Early Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yongli Gu
- Early Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tuyen Nguyen
- Early Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sarah Bond
- Early Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Saeho Chong
- Early Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jing-Tao Wu
- Early Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maja M Janas
- Early Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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39
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Biscans A, Caiazzi J, McHugh N, Hariharan V, Muhuri M, Khvorova A. Docosanoic acid conjugation to siRNA enables functional and safe delivery to skeletal and cardiac muscles. Mol Ther 2021; 29:1382-1394. [PMID: 33348054 PMCID: PMC8058398 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Oligonucleotide therapeutics hold promise for the treatment of muscle- and heart-related diseases. However, oligonucleotide delivery across the continuous endothelium of muscle tissue is challenging. Here, we demonstrate that docosanoic acid (DCA) conjugation of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) enables efficient (~5% of injected dose), sustainable (>1 month), and non-toxic (no cytokine induction at 100 mg/kg) gene silencing in both skeletal and cardiac muscles after systemic injection. When designed to target myostatin (muscle growth regulation gene), siRNAs induced ~55% silencing in various muscle tissues and 80% silencing in heart, translating into a ~50% increase in muscle volume within 1 week. Our study identifies compounds for RNAi-based modulation of gene expression in skeletal and cardiac muscles, paving the way for both functional genomics studies and therapeutic gene modulation in muscle and heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabelle Biscans
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA; Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
| | - Jillian Caiazzi
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA; Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
| | - Nicholas McHugh
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA; Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
| | - Vignesh Hariharan
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA; Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
| | - Manish Muhuri
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA; Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA; VIDE Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA; Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA.
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40
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Akabane-Nakata M, Erande ND, Kumar P, Degaonkar R, Gilbert JA, Qin J, Mendez M, Woods LB, Jiang Y, Janas M, O’Flaherty DK, Zlatev I, Schlegel M, Matsuda S, Egli M, Manoharan M. siRNAs containing 2'-fluorinated Northern-methanocarbacyclic (2'-F-NMC) nucleotides: in vitro and in vivo RNAi activity and inability of mitochondrial polymerases to incorporate 2'-F-NMC NTPs. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:2435-2449. [PMID: 33577685 PMCID: PMC7969009 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We recently reported the synthesis of 2'-fluorinated Northern-methanocarbacyclic (2'-F-NMC) nucleotides, which are based on a bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane scaffold. Here, we analyzed RNAi-mediated gene silencing activity in cell culture and demonstrated that a single incorporation of 2'-F-NMC within the guide or passenger strand of the tri-N-acetylgalactosamine-conjugated siRNA targeting mouse Ttr was generally well tolerated. Exceptions were incorporation of 2'-F-NMC into the guide strand at positions 1 and 2, which resulted in a loss of the in vitro activity. Activity at position 1 was recovered when the guide strand was modified with a 5' phosphate, suggesting that the 2'-F-NMC is a poor substrate for 5' kinases. In mice, the 2'-F-NMC-modified siRNAs had comparable RNAi potencies to the parent siRNA. 2'-F-NMC residues in the guide seed region position 7 and at positions 10, 11 and 12 were well tolerated. Surprisingly, when the 5'-phosphate mimic 5'-(E)-vinylphosphonate was attached to the 2'-F-NMC at the position 1 of the guide strand, activity was considerably reduced. The steric constraints of the bicyclic 2'-F-NMC may impair formation of hydrogen-bonding interactions between the vinylphosphonate and the MID domain of Ago2. Molecular modeling studies explain the position- and conformation-dependent RNAi-mediated gene silencing activity of 2'-F-NMC. Finally, the 5'-triphosphate of 2'-F-NMC is not a substrate for mitochondrial RNA and DNA polymerases, indicating that metabolites should not be toxic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Namrata D Erande
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Pawan Kumar
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Rohan Degaonkar
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jason A Gilbert
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - June Qin
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Martha Mendez
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Lauren Blair Woods
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Yongfeng Jiang
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Maja M Janas
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Derek K O’Flaherty
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ivan Zlatev
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Mark K Schlegel
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Shigeo Matsuda
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Martin Egli
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Muthiah Manoharan
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675 West Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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41
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Varley AJ, Desaulniers JP. Chemical strategies for strand selection in short-interfering RNAs. RSC Adv 2021; 11:2415-2426. [PMID: 35424193 PMCID: PMC8693850 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra07747j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are double stranded RNAs capable of potent and specific gene silencing through activation of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. The potential of siRNA drugs has recently been highlighted by the approval of multiple siRNA therapeutics. These successes relied heavily on chemically modified nucleic acids and their impact on stability, delivery, potency, and off-target effects. Despite remarkable progress, clinical trials still face failure due to off-target effects such as off-target gene dysregulation. Each siRNA strand can downregulate numerous gene targets while also contributing towards saturation of the RNAi machinery, leading to the upregulation of miRNA-repressed genes. Eliminating sense strand uptake effectively reduces off-target gene silencing and helps limit the disruption to endogenous regulatory mechanisms. Therefore, our understanding of strand selection has a direct impact on the success of future siRNA therapeutics. In this review, the approaches used to improve strand uptake are discussed and effective methods are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Varley
- Faculty of Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology Oshawa Ontario L1G 0C5 Canada +1 905 721 3304 +1 905 721 8668 (ext. 3621)
| | - Jean-Paul Desaulniers
- Faculty of Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology Oshawa Ontario L1G 0C5 Canada +1 905 721 3304 +1 905 721 8668 (ext. 3621)
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42
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Holm A, Løvendorf MB, Kauppinen S. Development of siRNA Therapeutics for the Treatment of Liver Diseases. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2282:57-75. [PMID: 33928570 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1298-9_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapeutics holds the promise to treat a wide range of human diseases that are currently incurable using conventional therapies. Most siRNA therapeutic efforts to date have focused on the treatment of liver diseases due to major breakthroughs in the development of efficient strategies for delivering siRNA drugs to the liver. Indeed, the development of lipid nanoparticle-formulated and GalNAc-conjugated siRNA therapeutics has resulted in recent FDA approvals of the first siRNA-based drugs, patisiran for the treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis and givosiran for the treatment of acute hepatic porphyria, respectively. Here, we describe the current strategies for delivering siRNA drugs to the liver and summarize recent advances in clinical development of siRNA therapeutics for the treatment of liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Holm
- Center for RNA Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Sakari Kauppinen
- Center for RNA Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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43
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Xin N, Lian Y, Lv Y, Wang Y, Huang XQ, Zhao CQ. Markovnikov-addition of H-phosphonates to terminal alkynes under metal- and solvent-free conditions. RSC Adv 2021; 11:24991-24994. [PMID: 35481042 PMCID: PMC9036860 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra04306d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthesis of α-vinylphosphonates from terminal alkynes and H-phosphonates as only the Markovnikov-regioisomer under metal- and solvent-free conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Xin
- Institution of Functional Organic Molecules and Materials
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and Novel Cell Technology
- Liaocheng University
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Liaocheng
| | - Yongjian Lian
- Institution of Functional Organic Molecules and Materials
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and Novel Cell Technology
- Liaocheng University
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Liaocheng
| | - Yongzheng Lv
- Institution of Functional Organic Molecules and Materials
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and Novel Cell Technology
- Liaocheng University
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Liaocheng
| | | | - Xian-Qiang Huang
- Institution of Functional Organic Molecules and Materials
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and Novel Cell Technology
- Liaocheng University
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Liaocheng
| | - Chang-Qiu Zhao
- Institution of Functional Organic Molecules and Materials
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and Novel Cell Technology
- Liaocheng University
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Liaocheng
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44
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Weingärtner A, Bethge L, Weiss L, Sternberger M, Lindholm MW. Less Is More: Novel Hepatocyte-Targeted siRNA Conjugates for Treatment of Liver-Related Disorders. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 21:242-250. [PMID: 32590173 PMCID: PMC7321783 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
N-acetyl-galactosamine (GalNAc) conjugation enhances liver specificity for therapeutic oligonucleotides. Here we report on a novel design with improved activity and stability compared with a triantennary design. We applied a versatile monovalent serinol-GalNAc conjugation strategy. First, 1-4 serial serinol-linked GalNAc units were conjugated to terminal positions of small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules. In primary hepatocytes, 5' antisense GalNAc conjugates were inactive, whereas 3' antisense and 3' or 5' sense conjugates displayed low activity for single GalNAc units, while 2-4 serial GalNAc conjugates were all equally potent. In mice, 5' sense conjugates with 2-4 serial GalNAc units were all as potent as a triantennary GalNAc control (1 mg/kg). Second, increased spacing between two serial 5' sense-conjugated GalNAc units did not affect in vitro activity. Finally, two single GalNAc units were positioned at opposite ends of the sense strand. A single dose (0.3 mg/kg) of this novel conjugate in mice showed a 3-fold reduction of serum target protein level at day 7 and 4-fold lower serum level at day 27, relative to an equimolar dose of a triantennary GalNAc conjugate of the same siRNA. Improved tritosome stability (by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry [LC-MS] analysis) can at least partially explain the increased activity and duration of action for the novel GalNAc conjugate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Weingärtner
- Silence Therapeutics GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Lucas Bethge
- Silence Therapeutics GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lisa Weiss
- Silence Therapeutics GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Sternberger
- Silence Therapeutics GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
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45
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Biscans A, Caiazzi J, Davis S, McHugh N, Sousa J, Khvorova A. The chemical structure and phosphorothioate content of hydrophobically modified siRNAs impact extrahepatic distribution and efficacy. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:7665-7680. [PMID: 32672813 PMCID: PMC7430635 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have revolutionized the treatment of liver diseases. However, robust siRNA delivery to other tissues represents a major technological need. Conjugating lipids (e.g. docosanoic acid, DCA) to siRNA supports extrahepatic delivery, but tissue accumulation and gene silencing efficacy are lower than that achieved in liver by clinical-stage compounds. The chemical structure of conjugated siRNA may significantly impact invivo efficacy, particularly in tissues with lower compound accumulation. Here, we report the first systematic evaluation of the impact of siRNA scaffold-i.e. structure, phosphorothioate (PS) content, linker composition-on DCA-conjugated siRNA delivery and efficacy in vivo. We found that structural asymmetry (e.g. 5- or 2-nt overhang) has no impact on accumulation, but is a principal factor for enhancing activity in extrahepatic tissues. Similarly, linker chemistry (cleavable versus stable) altered activity, but not accumulation. In contrast, increasing PS content enhanced accumulation of asymmetric compounds, but negatively impacted efficacy. Our findings suggest that siRNA tissue accumulation does not fully define efficacy, and that the impact of siRNA chemical structure on activity is driven by intracellular re-distribution and endosomal escape. Fine-tuning siRNA chemical structure for optimal extrahepatic efficacy is a critical next step for the progression of therapeutic RNAi applications beyond liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabelle Biscans
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
| | - Jillian Caiazzi
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
| | - Sarah Davis
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
| | - Nicholas McHugh
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Sousa
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
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46
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Nanna AR, Kel'in AV, Theile C, Pierson JM, Voo ZX, Garg A, Nair JK, Maier MA, Fitzgerald K, Rader C. Generation and validation of structurally defined antibody-siRNA conjugates. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:5281-5293. [PMID: 32347936 PMCID: PMC7261152 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a powerful treatment strategy across a potentially broad range of diseases. Tailoring siRNAs to silence genes vital for cancer cell growth and function could be an effective treatment, but there are several challenges which must be overcome to enable their use as a therapeutic modality, among which efficient and selective delivery to cancer cells remains paramount. Attempts to use antibodies for siRNA delivery have been reported but these strategies use either nonspecific conjugation resulting in mixtures, or site-specific methods that require multiple steps, introduction of mutations, or use of enzymes. Here, we report a method to generate antibody–siRNA (1:2) conjugates (ARCs) that are structurally defined and easy to assemble. This ARC platform is based on engineered dual variable domain (DVD) antibodies containing a natural uniquely reactive lysine residue for site-specific conjugation to β-lactam linker-functionalized siRNA. The conjugation is efficient, does not compromise the affinity of the parental antibody, and utilizes chemically stabilized siRNA. For proof-of-concept, we generated DVD-ARCs targeting various cell surface antigens on multiple myeloma cells for the selective delivery of siRNA targeting β-catenin (CTNNB1). A set of BCMA-targeting DVD-ARCs at concentrations as low as 10 nM revealed significant CTNNB1 mRNA and protein knockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex R Nanna
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.,Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | | | | | | | - Zhi Xiang Voo
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Ashish Garg
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | | | | | - Christoph Rader
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
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47
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Debacker AJ, Voutila J, Catley M, Blakey D, Habib N. Delivery of Oligonucleotides to the Liver with GalNAc: From Research to Registered Therapeutic Drug. Mol Ther 2020; 28:1759-1771. [PMID: 32592692 PMCID: PMC7403466 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted delivery of oligonucleotides to liver hepatocytes using N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) conjugates that bind to the asialoglycoprotein receptor has become a breakthrough approach in the therapeutic oligonucleotide field. This technology has led to the approval of givosiran for the treatment of acute hepatic porphyria, and there are another seven conjugates in registrational review or phase 3 trials and at least another 21 conjugates at earlier stages of clinical development. This review highlights some of the recent chemical and preclinical advances in this space, leading to a large number of clinical candidates against a diverse range of targets in liver hepatocytes. The review focuses on the use of this delivery system for small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and antisense molecules that cause downregulation of target mRNA and protein. A number of other approaches such as anti-microRNAs and small activating RNAs are starting to exploit the technology, broadening the potential of this approach for therapeutic oligonucleotide intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre J Debacker
- MiNA Therapeutics, Translation & Innovation Hub, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Jon Voutila
- MiNA Therapeutics, Translation & Innovation Hub, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Matthew Catley
- MiNA Therapeutics, Translation & Innovation Hub, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - David Blakey
- MiNA Therapeutics, Translation & Innovation Hub, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK.
| | - Nagy Habib
- MiNA Therapeutics, Translation & Innovation Hub, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK; Department of Surgery & Cancer, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
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48
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Kumar P, Degaonkar R, Guenther DC, Abramov M, Schepers G, Capobianco M, Jiang Y, Harp J, Kaittanis C, Janas MM, Castoreno A, Zlatev I, Schlegel MK, Herdewijn P, Egli M, Manoharan M. Chimeric siRNAs with chemically modified pentofuranose and hexopyranose nucleotides: altritol-nucleotide (ANA) containing GalNAc-siRNA conjugates: in vitro and in vivo RNAi activity and resistance to 5'-exonuclease. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:4028-4040. [PMID: 32170309 PMCID: PMC7192627 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In this report, we investigated the hexopyranose chemical modification Altriol Nucleic Acid (ANA) within small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes that were otherwise fully modified with the 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro and 2′-O-methyl pentofuranose chemical modifications. The siRNAs were designed to silence the transthyretin (Ttr) gene and were conjugated to a trivalent N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) ligand for targeted delivery to hepatocytes. Sense and antisense strands of the parent duplex were synthesized with single ANA residues at each position on the strand, and the resulting siRNAs were evaluated for their ability to inhibit Ttr mRNA expression in vitro. Although ANA residues were detrimental at the 5′ end of the antisense strand, the siRNAs with ANA at position 6 or 7 in the seed region had activity comparable to the parent. The siRNA with ANA at position 7 in the seed region was active in a mouse model. An Oligonucleotide with ANA at the 5′ end was more stable in the presence of 5′-exonuclease than an oligonucleotide of the same sequence and chemical composition without the ANA modification. Modeling studies provide insight into the origins of regiospecific changes in potency of siRNAs and the increased protection against 5′-exonuclease degradation afforded by the ANA modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawan Kumar
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Rohan Degaonkar
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Dale C Guenther
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Mikhail Abramov
- Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guy Schepers
- Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marie Capobianco
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Yongfeng Jiang
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Joel Harp
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | | | - Maja M Janas
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Adam Castoreno
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ivan Zlatev
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Mark K Schlegel
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Piet Herdewijn
- Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Martin Egli
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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49
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Hu B, Zhong L, Weng Y, Peng L, Huang Y, Zhao Y, Liang XJ. Therapeutic siRNA: state of the art. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2020; 5:101. [PMID: 32561705 PMCID: PMC7305320 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-0207-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 608] [Impact Index Per Article: 152.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is an ancient biological mechanism used to defend against external invasion. It theoretically can silence any disease-related genes in a sequence-specific manner, making small interfering RNA (siRNA) a promising therapeutic modality. After a two-decade journey from its discovery, two approvals of siRNA therapeutics, ONPATTRO® (patisiran) and GIVLAARI™ (givosiran), have been achieved by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Reviewing the long-term pharmaceutical history of human beings, siRNA therapy currently has set up an extraordinary milestone, as it has already changed and will continue to change the treatment and management of human diseases. It can be administered quarterly, even twice-yearly, to achieve therapeutic effects, which is not the case for small molecules and antibodies. The drug development process was extremely hard, aiming to surmount complex obstacles, such as how to efficiently and safely deliver siRNAs to desired tissues and cells and how to enhance the performance of siRNAs with respect to their activity, stability, specificity and potential off-target effects. In this review, the evolution of siRNA chemical modifications and their biomedical performance are comprehensively reviewed. All clinically explored and commercialized siRNA delivery platforms, including the GalNAc (N-acetylgalactosamine)-siRNA conjugate, and their fundamental design principles are thoroughly discussed. The latest progress in siRNA therapeutic development is also summarized. This review provides a comprehensive view and roadmap for general readers working in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Hu
- School of Life Science, Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, Institute of Engineering Medicine, Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Liping Zhong
- National Center for International Biotargeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biotargeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Theranostics, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuhua Weng
- School of Life Science, Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, Institute of Engineering Medicine, Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Peng
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille (CINaM), Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Yuanyu Huang
- School of Life Science, Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, Institute of Engineering Medicine, Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yongxiang Zhao
- National Center for International Biotargeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biotargeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Theranostics, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xing-Jie Liang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, 100190, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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50
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Humphreys SC, Thayer MB, Campbell J, Chen WLK, Adams D, Lade JM, Rock BM. Emerging siRNA Design Principles and Consequences for Biotransformation and Disposition in Drug Development. J Med Chem 2020; 63:6407-6422. [PMID: 32352779 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
After two decades teetering at the intersection of laboratory tool and therapeutic reality, with two siRNA drugs now clinically approved, this modality has finally come into fruition. Consistent with other emerging modalities, initial proof-of-concept efforts concentrated on coupling pharmacologic efficacy with desirable safety profiles. Consequently, thorough investigations of siRNA absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties are lacking. Advancing ADME knowledge will aid establishment of in vitro-in vivo correlations and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships to optimize candidate selection through discovery and translation. Here, we outline the emerging siRNA design principles and discuss the consequences for siRNA disposition and biotransformation. We propose a conceptual framework for siRNA ADME evaluation, contextualizing the site of biotransformation product formation with PK-PD modulation, and end with a discussion around safety and regulatory considerations and future directions for this modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara C Humphreys
- Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism Department, Amgen Research, 1120 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Mai B Thayer
- Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism Department, Amgen Research, 1120 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Jabbar Campbell
- Neuroscience Department, Amgen Research, 360 Binney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - Wen Li Kelly Chen
- Comparative Biology and Safety Sciences Department, Amgen Research, 360 Binney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - Dan Adams
- Comparative Biology and Safety Sciences Department, Amgen Research, 360 Binney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - Julie M Lade
- Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism Department, Amgen Research, 1120 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Brooke M Rock
- Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism Department, Amgen Research, 1120 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
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