NEW YORK, May 20-The antisense chemistry company Hybridon said today that it has been issued a U.S. patent for its class of novel circular oligonucleotides.
These oligonucleotides are designed so that a functional domain and a protective domain are linked together in a circular structure. As the functional domain binds to its target mRNA, the circular structure opens to inhibit target protein expression.
According to Hybridon, this structure improves stability and decreases non-specific interactions.
This second-generation technology is being developed for a range of antisense applications, including target validation, antinses drugs and diagnostic probes.
Hybridon's patent was issued by the U.S. Patent and Trade Office on May 7.