Title: Triggered RNAi
Patent Number: 8,497,364
Filed: Feb. 27, 2009
Lead Inventor: Niles Pierce, California Institute of Technology
The patent, its abstract states, relates to “methods and compositions for … triggered RNAi … [which] is highly versatile because the silencing targets are independent of the detection targets. In some embodiments, methods of silencing or modulating the expression of a target gene are provided. The methods generally comprise providing an initiator to a cell comprising a detection target and a silencing target gene, wherein the detection target is different from the silencing target gene, wherein binding of the detection target to the initiator initiates formation of an inactivator double-stranded RNA. The inactivator dsRNA can silence or modulate the expression of the silencing target gene.”
Title: Nucleic Acid Compounds with Conformationally Restricted Monomers and Uses Thereof
Application Number: 20130190383
Filed: April 26, 2011
Lead Inventor: Narendra Vaish, Marina Biotech
The invention comprises “single-stranded and multi-stranded nucleic acid compounds having one or more double-stranded regions that regulate the function or expression of nucleic acid molecules expressed in a cell or a cell regulatory system dependent upon a nucleic acid,” the patent application’s abstract states. “The disclosure provides a range of nucleic acid compounds having one or more conformationally restricted nucleomonomers. Certain nucleic acid compounds may have one or more conformationally restricted nucleomonomers and one or more hydroxymethyl substituted nucleomonomers. The nucleic acid compounds are useful in various therapeutic modalities.”
Title: In Vivo Polynucleotide Delivery Conjugates Having Enzyme-sensitive Linkages
Application Number: 20130190484
Filed: March 15, 2013
Lead Inventor: David Rozema, Arrowhead Research
The invention relates to “compositions for delivery of RNA interference polynucleotides to cells in vivo,” according to the patent application’s abstract. “The compositions comprise amphipathic membrane active polyamines reversibly modified with enzyme cleavable dipeptide-amidobenzyl-carbonate masking agents. Modification masks membrane activity of the polymer while reversibility provides physiological responsiveness. The reversibly modified polyamines are further covalently linked to an RNAi polynucleotide or co-administered with a targeted RNAi polynucleotide-targeting molecule conjugate.”
Title: Method of Regulating Gene Expression
Application Number: 20130191935
Filed: Jan. 9, 2013
Lead Inventor: Bryan Cullen, Duke University
The invention relates to “gene expression and, in particular, to a method of inhibiting the expression of a target gene and to constructs suitable for use in such a method,” the patent application’s abstract states. The application specifically claims the use of a DNA construct that produces a mature microRNA that inhibits a target gene.