Title: siRNA Targeting Connexin 43
Number: 7,521,191
Filed: March 30, 2007
Lead Inventor: Anastasia Khvorova, Dharmacon (Thermo Fisher Scientific)
"Efficient sequence-specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology," the patent's abstract states. "By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene-silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed including those directed to connexin 43 (gap junction protein alpha 1)."
Title: Compositions and Methods for siRNA Inhibition of HIF-1 Alpha
Number: 7,521,431
Filed: Oct. 31, 2003
Lead Inventor: Samuel Reich, University of Pennsylvania (Opko Health)
"RNA interference using small interfering RNAs [targeting] HIF-1 alpha mRNA [inhibits] expression of the HIF-1 alpha gene," the patent's abstract states. "As HIF-1 alpha is a transcriptional regulator of VEGF, expression of VEGF is also inhibited. Control of VEGF production through siRNA-mediated down-regulation of HIF-1 alpha can be used to inhibit angiogenesis, particularly in diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and many types of cancer."
Title: Methods and Compositions for Controlling Efficacy of RNA Silencing
Number: 20090098614
Filed: June 13, 2008
Lead Inventor: Phillip Zamore, University of Massachusetts Medical School
"Based at least in part on an understanding of the mechanisms by which small RNAs (e.g., naturally occurring miRNAs) mediate RNA silencing in plants, rules have been established for determining, for example, the degree of complementarity required between an RNAi-mediating agent and its target, i.e., whether mismatches are tolerated, the number of mismatches tolerated, [or] the effect of the position of the mismatches," the patent application's abstract states. "Such rules are useful, in particular, in the design of improved RNAi-mediating agents which allow for more exact control of the efficacy of RNA silencing."
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Title: Construction of Pool of Interfering Nucleic Acids Covering Entire RNA Target Sequence and Related Compositions
Number: 20090099043
Filed: Nov. 21, 2008
Inventor: York Yuan Yuan Zhu
The invention, the patent application's abstract states, comprises "a PCR-based high-throughput method for preparing [a] full-sites siRNA polynucleotide pool." The method specifically involves "DNase I random digestion; Loop-1 phosphate linker ligation; single PCR amplification; a type III restriction/modification enzyme digestion; blunt ending; Loop-2 phosphate linker ligation; double primer PCR; FokI digestion; and cloning into an siRNA expression vector," according to the abstract.
The invention "enables the use of a type III restriction/modification enzyme linkers-mediated PCR method for high-throughput [preparation of] an siRNA polynucleotide pool, in which the functional length of siRNAs can be controllably distributed from 19 [to] 23 [base pairs], thus completely [mimicking] the natural siRNA length diversity, specially suitable for RNAi therapeutic targets screening," the abstract adds.
Title: Interfering RNAs Against the Promoter Region of p53
Number: 20090099109
Filed: Feb. 22, 2008
Lead Inventor: David Shames, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
The invention, the patent application's abstract states, "relates to the inhibition of p53 transcription by interfering with the activity of a p53 promoter using inhibitory double-stranded RNAs. Use of these inhibitory RNAs in the treatment of cancers also is disclosed."
Titles: Methods and Compositions for the Treatment of Eye Disorders with Increased Intraocular Pressure
Numbers: 20090099114, 20090099113, 20090099112, 20090099111
Filed: July 9, 2008
Lead Inventor: Ana Jimenez, Sylentis
The inventions, the patent applications' abstracts state, relate to "methods and compositions that decrease intraocular pressure of the eye. The compositions … comprise short interfering nucleic acid molecules … that decrease expression of genes associated with production or drainage of intraocular fluid. The compositions … can be used in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of an eye conditions displaying increased IOP such as glaucoma, infection, inflammation, uveitis, and diabetic retinopathy," the abstracts add. "The methods … comprise the administration to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of one or more siNAs."
Title: RNA Interference-Mediated Inhibition of Myc and or Myb Gene Expression Using Short Interfering Nucleic Acid
Number: 20090099115
Filed: July 17, 2008
Lead Inventor: James McSwiggen, Sirna Therapeutics (Merck)
"This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating Myc and/or Myb gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid molecules," the patent application's abstract states. "This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of Myc and/or Myb gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the … invention features small nucleic acid molecules … and methods used to modulate the expression of Myc and/or Myb genes. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the treatment of cancer and other diseases and disorders."
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Title: RNA Interference-Mediated Inhibition of Fos Gene Expression Using Short Interfering Nucleic Acid
Number: 20090099116
Filed: Aug. 4, 2008
Lead Inventor: James McSwiggen, Sirna Therapeutics (Merck)
"This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating c-Fos gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid molecules," the patent application's abstract states. "This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of c-Fos gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the … invention features small nucleic acid molecules … and methods used to modulate the expression of c-Fos genes. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the treatment of cancer, proliferative diseases or conditions, inflammatory diseases or conditions, allergic diseases or conditions, infectious diseases or conditions, autoimmune diseases or conditions, or transplantation/allograft rejection in a subject or organism."
Title: RNA Interference-Mediated Inhibition of Myostatin Gene Expression Using Short Interfering Nucleic Acid
Number: 20090099117
Filed: Aug. 4, 2008
Lead Inventor: James McSwiggen, Sirna Therapeutics (Merck)
"This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating myostatin gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid molecules," the patent application's abstract states. "This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of myostatin gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the … invention features small nucleic acid molecules … and methods used to modulate the expression of myostatin genes."
Title: RNA Interference-Mediated Inhibition of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase Gene Expression Using Short Interfering Nucleic Acid
Number: 20090099118
Filed: Aug. 15, 2008
Lead Inventor: James McSwiggen, Sirna Therapeutics (Merck)
"This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating stearoyl-CoA desaturase gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid molecules," the patent application's abstract states. "This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of stearoyl-CoA desaturase gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the … invention features small nucleic acid molecules … and methods used to modulate the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase genes."
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Title: RNA Interference-Mediated Inhibition of RAS Gene Expression Using Short Interfering Nucleic Acid
Number: 20090099119
Filed: Aug. 15, 2008
Lead Inventor: James McSwiggen, Sirna Therapeutics (Merck)
"This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating RAS … gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid molecules," the patent application's abstract states. "This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of RAS … gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the … invention features small nucleic acid molecules … and methods used to modulate the expression of RAS genes such as K-RAS, H-RAS, and/or N-RAS."
Title: RNA Interference-Mediated Inhibition of Muscarinic Colinergic Receptor Gene Expression Using Short Interfering Nucleic Acid
Number: 20090099120
Filed: Sept. 3, 2008
Lead Inventor: James McSwiggen, Sirna Therapeutics (Merck)
The invention, the patent application's abstract states, "relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression of genes associated with respiratory and pulmonary disease, such as cholinergic muscarinic receptor genes, using short interfering nucleic acid molecules. This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of cholinergic muscarinic receptor genes or other genes involved in pathways of cholinergic muscarinic receptor gene expression … using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the … invention features small nucleic acid molecules … methods used to modulate the expression of M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor or cholinergic receptor muscarinic 3."
Title: RNA Interference-Mediated Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 Gene Expression Using Short Interfering Nucleic Acid
Number: 20090099121
Filed: Sept. 4, 2008
Lead Inventor: James McSwiggen, Sirna Therapeutics (Merck)
"This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating matrix metalloproteinase gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid molecules," the patent application's abstract states. "This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the … invention features small nucleic acid molecules … methods used to modulate the expression of MMP13 genes."
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Title: Antisense microRNA and Uses Therefore
Number: 20090099123
Filed: Aug. 1, 2008
Lead Inventor: Stephen Safe, Texas A&M University
The patent application, its abstract states, claims "methods to suppress specificity-protein activity in a cell associated with a cell-proliferative disease. The methods are effective to inhibit a microRNA in the cell using an antisense microRNA oligonucleotide, which results in an increase in expression of a specificity-protein suppressor gene thereby inducing [specificity protein] degradation, apoptosis or growth arrest by releasing inhibitors of G2/M (Myt-1), or inhibition. Also provided are methods of treating a cancer using the antisense microRNA oligonucleotide," including one targeting microRNA-27a.
Title: Short Interfering RNA as an Antiviral Agent for Hepatitis C
Number: 20090099124
Filed: Dec. 2, 2008
Lead Inventor: Sumedha Jayasena, Amgen
"Hepatitis C virus is a major cause of chronic liver disease and affects over 270 million individuals worldwide," the patent application's abstract states. "The HCV genome is a single-stranded RNA that functions as both a messenger RNA and replication template, making it an attractive target for the study of RNA interference. Double-stranded short interfering RNA molecules designed to target the HCV genome are disclosed" in the application.