Title: RNAi-Based Inhibitory Oligonucleotides. Number: 20040077082. Filed: Oct. 18, 2002. Lead Inventor: Richard Koehn, Salus Therapeutics (Genta).
According to the patent application’s abstract, the invention “discloses a class of sequence-specific oligonucleotides for use in silencing genes. Specifically, the invention includes targetable oligonucleotides composed of RNA, DNA, nucleic acid analogs, or some combination … which have a configuration such that their introduction to a solution, cell, tissue, or organism containing the target gene causes silencing of the gene to which they are targeted,” the abstract adds.
“The invention also includes methods of silencing a gene by exposing a solution, cell, tissue, or organism with a compound comprising an oligonucleotide of the invention,” the abstract states. “Additionally, the invention provides recombinant vectors comprising nucleic acid molecules that code for the targeted oligonucleotides of the invention.”