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WO2018136831A1 - Compositions de pseudo-nœuds et méthodes pour inhiber le facteur d - Google Patents

Compositions de pseudo-nœuds et méthodes pour inhiber le facteur d Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018136831A1
WO2018136831A1 PCT/US2018/014579 US2018014579W WO2018136831A1 WO 2018136831 A1 WO2018136831 A1 WO 2018136831A1 US 2018014579 W US2018014579 W US 2018014579W WO 2018136831 A1 WO2018136831 A1 WO 2018136831A1
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Prior art keywords
rna
seq
aptamer
modifications
ome modified
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PCT/US2018/014579
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English (en)
Inventor
Carl ERICKSON
Christopher P. Rusconi
Kevin G. Mclure
Matthew Levy
Arijit BHOWMICK
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Vitrisa Therapeutics, Inc.
Albert Einstein College Of Medicine, Inc.
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Publication of WO2018136831A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018136831A1/fr

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/11—DNA or RNA fragments; Modified forms thereof; Non-coding nucleic acids having a biological activity
    • C12N15/115—Aptamers, i.e. nucleic acids binding a target molecule specifically and with high affinity without hybridising therewith ; Nucleic acids binding to non-nucleic acids, e.g. aptamers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
    • A61K31/70—Carbohydrates; Sugars; Derivatives thereof
    • A61K31/7088—Compounds having three or more nucleosides or nucleotides
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/31—Chemical structure of the backbone
    • C12N2310/317—Chemical structure of the backbone with an inverted bond, e.g. a cap structure
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/32—Chemical structure of the sugar
    • C12N2310/321—2'-O-R Modification
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/32—Chemical structure of the sugar
    • C12N2310/322—2'-R Modification
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/35—Nature of the modification
    • C12N2310/351—Conjugate
    • C12N2310/3517—Marker; Tag

Definitions

  • Visual impairment is a national and global health concern that has a negative impact on physical and mental health.
  • the number of people with visual impairment and blindness is increasing due to an overall aging population.
  • Visual impairment and blindness can be caused by any one of a large number of eye diseases and disorders affecting people of all ages.
  • age-related macular degeneration AMD is an eye disorder that is currently the leading cause of vision loss in people fifty years of age or older in industrialized countries. It is estimated that by 2020, the number of people with AMD could exceed 196 million and by 2040, that number is expected to rise to 288 million.
  • AMD is a degenerative eye disease that progresses from early stages to advanced stages of the disease. Risk factors for the disease include aging, lifestyle factors such as smoking, and genetics.
  • the clearest indicator of progression to AMD is the appearance of drusen, yellow-white deposits under the retina, and it is an important component of both forms of AMD: exudative ("wet”) and non-exudative (“dry”).
  • Wet AMD causes vision loss due to abnormal blood vessel growth in the choriocapillaris through Batch's membrane.
  • geographic atrophy The most advanced form of dry AMD, known as geographic atrophy, is generally more gradual and occurs when light-sensitive cells in the macula atrophy, blurring and eliminating vision in the affected eye. While there are currently some promising treatments for wet AMD, no FDA-approved treatment exists for dry AMD or geographic atrophy.
  • STGD childhood-onset Stargardt Disease
  • Stargardt 1 a genetic, rare juvenile macular dystrophy generally associated with loss of central vision in the first two decades of life.
  • STGD has a prevalence of approximately 1/20,000 affecting approximately 30,000 people in the US.
  • STGD affects many ages, with the childhood- onset population at highest risk and most need.
  • Patients with childhood-onset STGD tend to develop early severe visual acuity loss, significantly compromised retinal function, and rapid retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell atrophy with accompanying loss of retinal function.
  • the median ages of onset and the median age at baseline examination are 8.5 (range, 3-16) and 12 years (range, 7-16), respectively.
  • STGD is an autosomal recessive genetic disease or complex heterozygous disease, caused by mutations in the ABCA4 gene.
  • the ABCA4 gene encodes the photoreceptor protein ABCA4 Transporter, which is responsible for removal of bisretinoid fluorophores, which can include N-retinylidene-N- retinyethanolamine (A2E), all-trans-retinal and related photo-oxidation products of vitamin A aldehyde which together constitute lipofuscin, from photoreceptor cells.
  • ABCA4 Transporter which is responsible for removal of bisretinoid fluorophores, which can include N-retinylidene-N- retinyethanolamine (A2E), all-trans-retinal and related photo-oxidation products of vitamin A aldehyde which together constitute lipofuscin, from photoreceptor cells.
  • Accumulation of all- trans-retinal in photoreceptor cells is believed to damage RPE cells via oxidative stress, and trigger or promote complement-mediated damage to RPE cells, leading to retinal atrophy.
  • a related disease termed Stargardt-like macular dystrophy, also known as STGD3 is inherited in a dominant autosomal manner and is due to mutations in the ELOVL4 gene.
  • ELOVL4 encodes the ELOVL4 protein, ELOVL fatty acid elongase 4. Mutations in ELOVL4 protein associated with STGD lead to mis-folding and accumulation of ELOVL4 protein aggregates in retinal cells, which impact retinal cell function, eventually leading to cell death and retinal atrophy. No treatments exist for STGD or Stargardt-like disease.
  • an aptamer having a nucleic acid sequence, wherein the aptamer forms a pseudoknot secondary structure which specifically binds to complement Factor D (fD).
  • the aptamer of the present invention forms a pseudoknot secondary structure which binds to fD, preferably with high affinity and/or high specificity.
  • the aptamer has a nucleic acid sequence that does not comprise any one of SEQ ID NOs:475-534.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding specifically binds to an exosite of fD.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding has a nucleic acid sequence containing 30-90 nucleotides.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding has an H-H type pseudoknot secondary structure. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding has a pseudoknot structure comprising up to four loops and up to three base-paired stems. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding has up to three base-paired stems, wherein each base-paired stem of the up to three base-paired stems comprises up to 15 base pairs. In some cases, an aptamer of any of the preceding has up to four loops, wherein each loop of the up to four loops comprises up to 12 nucleotides.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding has a pseudoknot secondary structure comprising, in a 5' to 3' direction, a first base-paired stem, a first loop, a second base-paired stem, a second loop, a third loop joining the first base-paired stem with a third base-paired stem, the third base-paired stem, and a fourth loop.
  • the first base-paired stem has from 2 to 12 base pairs.
  • the first base-paired stem has from 3 to 9 base pairs.
  • the first base-paired stem has 5 base pairs.
  • the first base-paired stem has 7 base pairs.
  • the first base-paired stem has one or more mismatched base pairs.
  • the second base-paired stem has from 2 to 9 base pairs. In some cases, the second base-paired stem has 6 or 7 base pairs. In some cases, the third base-paired stem has from 2 to 6 base pairs. In some cases, the third base-paired stem has 3 or 4 base pairs. In some cases, the third base-paired stem comprises a nucleic acid sequence of 5 '-NMHG-3', where N is any nucleotide; M is A or C; and H is A, C, or U. In some cases, the first loop has from 1 to 5 nucleotides. In some cases, the first loop has from 2 to 5 nucleotides. In some cases, the first loop has 2 nucleotides.
  • the first loop comprises, in a 5' to 3 ' direction, GU. In some cases, the first loop comprises, in a 5' to 3' direction, GG. In some cases, the second loop has from 2 to 9 nucleotides. In some cases, the second loop has from 4 to 6 nucleotides. In some cases, the second loop comprises, in a 5' to 3 ' direction, AGUC. In some cases, the third loop has from 2 to 12 nucleotides. In some cases, the third loop has from 3 to 14 nucleotides. In some cases, the third loop comprises one or more non-nucleotidyl spacers. In some cases, the fourth loop has 0, 1, or 2 nucleotides. In some cases, the fourth loop has a single nucleotide. In some cases, the single nucleotide is G or U.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding is an RNA aptamer or a modified RNA aptamer.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding is a DNA aptamer or a modified DNA aptamer.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding comprises at least one modified nucleotide.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding comprises a nuclease- stabilized nucleic acid backbone.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding specifically binds to fD with a K d of less than about 50nM.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding inhibits fD in an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay with an IC 50 of less than about 50nM.
  • an aptamer of any of the preceding is conjugated to a polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecule.
  • PEG polyethylene glycol
  • the PEG molecule has a molecular weight of 80 kDa or less.
  • an aptamer having a nucleic acid sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3, 10-474, and 543-556 or a nucleic acid sequence as described in Table 2, or having at least 80% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3, 10-474, and 543- 556 or a nucleic acid sequence as described in Table 2.
  • an aptamer according to any of the preceding is provided for use in a method of therapy; for use in a method of treatment that benefits from modulating fD; for use in a method of treatment that benefits from inhibiting a function associated with fD; or for use in a method for the treatment of ocular diseases.
  • an aptamer according to any of the preceding is provided and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, or diluent
  • a method for modulating complement Factor D (fD) in a biological system comprising: administering to the biological system, an aptamer according to any of the preceding, thereby modulating fD in the biological system.
  • the modulating comprises inhibiting a function associated with fD.
  • FIG. 1 depicts aspects of the alternative complement pathway.
  • FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B depict modeling of the intravitreal (IVT) inhibition of Factor D by an anti-Factor D aptamer at various IVT concentrations over time.
  • FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, and FIG. 3D depict non-limiting examples of small molecule inhibitors of fD.
  • FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4C depict predicted secondary structure for a family of pseudoknot fD aptamers directed to the fD exosite according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C, FIG. 5D, FIG. 5E, FIG. 5F, and FIG. 5G depict predicted secondary structures of various fD aptamers according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, FIG. 6C, FIG. 6D, FIG. 6E, FIG. 6F, and FIG. 6G depict predicted secondary structures of various fD aptamers according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 7 depicts the amino acid sequence of human complement Factor D, chymotrypsin numbering scheme, and fD numbering scheme.
  • FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B, and FIG. 8C depict a non-limiting example of an aptamer library sequence that may be utilized to generate anti-Factor D aptamers according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 9 depicts a non-limiting example of a method for selecting anti-Factor D aptamers according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 10 depicts measurement of K d values of enriched libraries of anti-Factor D aptamers according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 11 depicts binding analysis of anti-Factor D aptamers by flow cytometry according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 12 depicts measurement of K d values of anti -Factor D aptamers according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 13 depicts a competition binding assay according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 14 depicts examples of data obtained from an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 15 depicts examples of data obtained from a fD esterase activity assay according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 16 depicts examples of data obtained from a competition binding assay according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 17 depicts examples of data obtained from a direct binding assay according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B depict examples of data obtained from an alternative complement dependent hemolysis assay according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 19 depicts a non-limiting example of an aptamer minimization experiment in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 20 depicts non-limiting examples of fD aptamers in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 21 depicts a non-limiting example of results obtained from SPR complex assembly in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 22 depicts a non-limiting example of dose-dependent inhibition of
  • the disclosure herein provides methods and compositions for the treatment of ocular diseases or disorders.
  • the methods and compositions include the use of an anti-fD pseudoknot aptamer for, e.g., the treatment of ocular diseases or disorders
  • the ocular disease is macular degeneration.
  • macular degeneration is age-related macular degeneration.
  • age-related macular degeneration is dry age-related macular degeneration.
  • dry age-related macular degeneration is advanced dry age- related macular degeneration (i.e., geographic atrophy).
  • the ocular disease is wet age-related macular degeneration.
  • the ocular disease is Stargardt disease.
  • the methods and compositions involve the inhibition of the alternative complement pathway. In some cases, the methods and compositions involve the inhibition of a function associated with Factor D (fD). In some cases, the methods and compositions involve the inhibition of a function associated with fD for the treatment of ocular diseases. In some cases, the methods and compositions involve the inhibition of a function associated with fD for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration or geographic atrophy. In some cases, the methods and compositions involve the inhibition of a function associated with fD for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration. In some cases, the methods and
  • compositions involve the inhibition of a function associated with fD for the treatment of Stargardt disease.
  • compositions may include oligonucleotides that selectively bind to and modulate an activity associated with fD.
  • the oligonucleotide may include oligonucleotides that selectively bind to and modulate an activity associated with fD.
  • compositions of the disclosure inhibit a function associated with fD.
  • the oligonucleotide compositions may bind directly to an exosite of fD or to a region of fD that includes the exosite site.
  • the oligonucleotides are aptamers, such as RNA aptamers or DNA aptamers.
  • the aptamers of the disclosure may have secondary structures.
  • the secondary structures may include a pseudoknot secondary structure which generally includes one or more loops and one or more stems.
  • aptamers having pseudoknot structures for modulating fD are described herein.
  • sequence identity refers to an exact nucleotide-to-nucleotide or amino acid- to-amino acid correspondence of two polynucleotides or polypeptide sequences, respectively.
  • techniques for determining sequence identity include determining the nucleotide sequence of a polynucleotide and/or determining the amino acid sequence encoded thereby, and comparing these sequences to a second nucleotide or amino acid sequence.
  • Two or more sequences can be compared by determining their "percent identity .”
  • the percent identity of two sequences, whether nucleic acid or amino acid sequences is the number of exact matches between two aligned sequences divided by the length of the longer sequence and multiplied by 100. Percent identity may also be determined, for example, by comparing sequence information using the advanced BLAST computer program, including version 2.2.9, available from the National Institutes of Health.
  • the BLAST program is based on the alignment method of Karlin and Altschul, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:2264-2268 (1990) and as discussed in Altschul, et al., J. Mol. Biol.
  • the BLAST program defines identity as the number of identical aligned symbols (generally nucleotides or amino acids), divided by the total number of symbols in the shorter of the two sequences. The program may be used to determine percent identity over the entire length of the proteins being compared. Default parameters are provided to optimize searches with short query sequences in, for example, with the blastp program.
  • the program also allows use of an SEG filter to mask-off segments of the query sequences as determined by the SEG program of Wootton and Federhen, Computers and Chemistry 17: 149-163 (1993). Ranges of desired degrees of sequence identity are approximately 80% to 100% and integer values therebetween. Typically, the percent identities between a disclosed sequence and a claimed sequence are at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 98%.
  • aptamer refers to an oligonucleotide and/or nucleic acid analogues that can bind to a specific target molecule. Aptamers can include RNA, DNA, modified RNA, modified DNA, any nucleic acid analogue, and/or combinations thereof.
  • Aptamers can be single-stranded oligonucleotides. In some cases, aptamers may comprise more than one nucleic acid strand (e.g., two or more nucleic acid strands). Without wishing to be bound by theory, aptamers are thought to bind to a three-dimensional structure of a target molecule. Aptamers may be monomelic (composed of a single unit) or multimeric (composed of multiple units). Multimeric aptamers can be homomeric (composed of multiple identical units) or heteromeric (composed of multiple non-identical units). Aptamers herein may be described by their primary structures which may refer to the linear nucleotide sequence of the aptamer.
  • aptamers herein will generally be described from the 5' end to the 3' end, unless otherwise stated. Additionally or alternatively, aptamers herein may be described by their secondary structures which may refer to the combination of single- stranded regions and base pairing interactions within the aptamer.
  • the term "pseudoknot” as used herein may refer to the secondary structure of an aptamer of the disclosure.
  • An aptamer having a pseudoknot secondary structure may have at least two stem-loop structures in which the stems are non-nested relative to each other.
  • An aptamer may have a secondary structure having at least two complementary regions of the same nucleic acid strand that base-pair to form a double helix (referred to herein as a "stem"). Generally, these complementary regions are complementary when read in the opposite direction.
  • the term “stem” as used herein may refer to either of the complementary nucleotide regions individually or may encompass a base-paired region containing both complementary regions, or a portion thereof.
  • the term “stem” may refer to the 5' side of the stem, that is, the stem sequence that is closer to the 5' end of the aptamer; additionally or alternatively, the term “stem” may refer to the 3 ' side of the stem, that is, the stem sequence that is closer to the 3' end of the aptamer. In some cases, the term “stem” may refer to the 5' side of the stem and the 3' side of the stem, collectively.
  • the term “base-paired stem” is generally used herein to refer to both complementary stem regions collectively. A base-paired stem may be perfectly complementary meaning that 100% of its base pairs are Watson-Crick base pairs.
  • a base-paired stem may also be “partially complementary.”
  • the term “partially complementary stem” refers to a base-paired stem that is not entirely made up of Watson-Crick base pairs but does contain base pairs (either Watson-Crick base pairs or G-U/U-G wobble base pairs) at each terminus.
  • a partially complementary stem contains both Watson-Crick base-pairs and G-U/U- G wobble base pairs.
  • a partially complementary stem is exclusively made up of G-U/U-G wobble base pairs.
  • a partially complementary stem may contain mis-matched base pairs and/or unpaired bases in the region between the base pairs at each terminus of the stem; but in such cases, the mis-matched base pairs and/or unpaired bases make up at most 50% of the positions between the base pairs at each terminus of the stem.
  • a stem as described herein may be referred to by the position, in a 5' to 3' direction on the aptamer, of the 5' side of the stem (i.e., the stem sequence closer to the 5' terminus of the aptamer), relative to the 5' side of additional stems present on the aptamer.
  • stem 1 may refer to the stem sequence that is closest to the 5' terminus of the aptamer, its complementary stem sequence, or both stem sequences collectively.
  • stem 2 may refer to the next stem sequence that is positioned 3 ' relative to SI, its complementary stem sequence, or both stem sequences collectively
  • Each additional stem may be referred to by its position, in a 5' to 3' direction, on the aptamer, as described above.
  • S3 may be positioned 3' relative to S2 on the aptamer
  • S4 may be positioned 3'relative to S3 on the aptamer
  • first stem is used to refer to a stem in the aptamer, irrespective of its location.
  • a first stem may be SI, S2, S3, S4 or any other stem in the aptamer.
  • a stem may be adjacent to an unpaired region.
  • An unpaired region may be present at a terminus of the aptamer or at an internal region of the aptamer.
  • loop generally refers to an internal unpaired region of an aptamer.
  • the term “loop” may refer to any unpaired region of an aptamer that is flanked on both the 5' end and the 3 ' end by a stem region.
  • a loop sequence may be adjacent to a single base-paired stem, such that the loop and stem structure together resemble a hairpin.
  • the primary sequence of the aptamer contains a first stem sequence adjacent to the 5' end of the loop sequence and a second stem sequence adjacent to the 3 ' end of the loop sequence; and the first and second stem sequences are complementary to each other.
  • each terminus of a loop is adjacent to first and second stem sequences that are not complementary.
  • a loop as described herein may be referred to by its position, in a 5' to 3' direction, on the aptamer.
  • loop 1 may refer to a loop sequence that is positioned most 5' on the aptamer.
  • loop 2 may refer to a loop sequence that is positioned 3 ' relative to LI
  • loop 3 may refer to a loop sequence that is positioned 3 ' relative to L2.
  • Each additional loop may be referred to by its position, in a 5' to 3 ' direction, on the aptamer, as described above.
  • L4 may be positioned 3 ' relative to L3 on the aptamer
  • L5 may be positioned 3'relative to L4 on the aptamer
  • first loop is used to refer to a loop in the aptamer, irrespective of its location.
  • a first loop may be LI, L2, L3, L4 or any other loop in the aptamer.
  • an aptamer when an aptamer includes more than one stem and/or more than one loop, the stems and loops are numbered consecutively in ascending order from the 5' end to the 3 ' end of the primary nucleotide sequence.
  • exosite may refer to a protein domain or region of a protein that is capable of binding to another protein.
  • the exosite may also be referred to herein as a "secondary binding site", for example, a binding site that is remote from or separate from a primary binding site (e.g., an active site).
  • primary and secondary binding sites may overlap. Binding of a molecule to an exosite may cause a physical change in the protein (e.g., a conformational change).
  • the activity of a protein may be dependent on occupation of the exosite.
  • the exosite may be distinct from an allosteric site.
  • the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may bind to the exosite of fD or to part of the exosite of fD, or may bind to a region of fD that includes the exosite. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may bind to the exosite of fD or to part of the exosite of fD, or may bind to a region of fD that includes the exosite. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may block or occlude the exosite such that the natural substrate of fD is prevented from accessing the exosite. In such cases, the
  • oligonucleotide may block access to the exosite without directly binding the exosite (e.g., may bind to a region of fD other than the exosite in such a way that the exosite is sterically occluded).
  • catalytic cleft refers to a domain of an enzyme in which a substrate molecule binds to and undergoes a chemical reaction.
  • the active site may include amino acid residues that form temporary bonds with the substrate (e.g., a binding site) and amino acid residues that catalyze a reaction of that substrate (e.g., catalytic site).
  • the active site may be a groove or pocket (e.g., a cleft) of the enzyme which can be located in a deep tunnel within the enzyme or between the interfaces of multimeric enzymes.
  • epitope refers to the part of an antigen (e.g., a substance that stimulates an immune system to generate an antibody against) that is specifically recognized by the antibody.
  • the antigen is a protein or peptide and the epitope is a specific region of the protein or peptide that is recognized and bound by an antibody.
  • the aptamers described herein bind to a region of fD that is an epitope for an anti-fD antibody or antibody fragment thereof, wherein the anti-fD antibody inhibits a function associated with fD.
  • the aptamer binding region of fD overlaps with at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or 100% of the epitope for an anti-fD antibody or the binding site of another fD-inhibiting molecule.
  • a polypeptide can be any protein, peptide, protein fragment or component thereof.
  • a polypeptide can be a protein naturally occurring in nature or a protein that is ordinarily not found in nature.
  • a polypeptide can consist largely of the standard twenty protein-building amino acids or it can be modified to incorporate non-standard amino acids.
  • a polypeptide can be modified, typically by the host cell, by e.g., adding any number of biochemical functional groups, including phosphorylation, acetylation, acylation, formylation, alkylation, methylation, lipid addition (e.g.
  • Polypeptides can undergo structural changes in the host cell such as the formation of disulfide bridges or proteolytic cleavage.
  • the peptides described herein may be therapeutic peptides utilized for e.g., the treatment of a disease.
  • subject and “patient” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a vertebrate, preferably a mammal, more preferably a human. Mammals include, but are not limited to, murines, simians, humans, farm animals, sport animals, and pets.
  • the complement system is a part of the innate immune system that enhances the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear pathogens from an organism. Although the system is not adaptable and does not change over the course of an individual's lifetime, it can be recruited and brought into action by the adaptive immune system.
  • the complement system consists of a number of small proteins found in the blood, in general synthesized by the liver, and normally circulating as inactive precursors (pro-proteins). When stimulated by one of several triggers, proteases in the system cleave specific proteins to release cytokines and initiate an amplifying cascade of further cleavages. The end result of this complement activation or complement fixation cascade is massive amplification of the response and activation of the cell-killing membrane attack complex. Over 30 proteins and protein fragments make up the complement system, including serum proteins, serosal proteins, and cell membrane receptors.
  • the alternative complement pathway is a rapid, antibody-independent route for complement system activation and amplification.
  • the alternative pathway comprises several components: C3, Factor B (fB), and fD.
  • fB Factor B
  • Activation of the alternative pathway occurs when C3b, a proteolytic cleavage form of C3, is bound to an activating surface agent such as a bacterium.
  • fB is then bound to C3b, and cleaved by fD to yield the C3 convertase C3bBb.
  • Amplification of C3 convertase activity occurs as additional C3b is produced and deposited.
  • the amplification response is further aided by the binding of the positive regulator protein properdin (Factor P), which stabilizes the active convertase against degradation, extending its half-life from 1-2 minutes to 18 minutes.
  • the C3 convertase further assembles into a C5 convertase (C3b3bBb).
  • This complex subsequently cleaves complement component C5 into two components: the C5a polypeptide (9 kDa) and the C5b polypeptide (170 kDa).
  • the C5a polypeptide binds to a 7 transmembrane G- protein coupled receptor, which was originally associated with leukocytes and is now known to be expressed on a variety of tissues including hepatocytes and neurons.
  • the C5a molecule is the primary chemotactic component of the human complement system and can trigger a variety of biological responses including leukocyte chemotaxis, smooth muscle contraction, activation of intracellular signal transduction pathways, neutrophil-endothelial adhesion, cytokine and lipid mediator release and oxidant formation.
  • the alternative complement pathway is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of a variety of ischemic, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases including age-related macular degeneration, geographic atrophy, Stargardt disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma.
  • components of the alternative complement pathway may be important targets for the treatment of these diseases.
  • AMD Age-related macular degeneration
  • AMD is a chronic and progressive eye disease that is the leading cause of irreparable vision loss in the United States, Europe, and Japan.
  • AMD is characterized by the progressive deterioration of the central portion of the retina referred to as the macula.
  • the clearest indicator of progression to AMD is the appearance of drusen, yellow- white deposits under the retina, which are plaques of material that are derived from the metabolic waste products of retinal cells.
  • the appearance of drusen is an important component of both forms of AMD: exudative ("wet") and non-exudative ("dry”).
  • drusen The presence of numerous, intermediate-to-large drusen is associated with the greatest risk of progression to late-stage disease, characterized by geographic atrophy and/or neovascularization.
  • geographic atrophy The majority of patients with wet AMD experience severe vision loss in the affected eye within months to two years after diagnosis of the disease, although vision loss can occur within hours or days.
  • Dry AMD is more gradual and occurs when light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly atrophy, gradually blurring central vision in the affected eye. Vision loss is exacerbated by the formation and accumulation of drusen and sometimes the deterioration of the retina, although without abnormal blood vessel growth and bleeding.
  • Geographic atrophy is a term used to refer to advanced dry AMD.
  • FIG. 1 depicts a potential role for the alternative complement pathway in the pathogenesis of geographic atrophy.
  • multiple factors may lead to activation of the alternative complement pathway, including the appearance of drusen in the eye, immune dysfunction, and genetic differences that predispose individuals to complement activation.
  • amplification of C3 convertase activity may occur as additional C3b is produced and deposited.
  • C3 convertase activity may lead to inflammation and opsonization.
  • the C3 convertase may further assemble into a C5 convertase (C3b3bBb) which may lead to cell death through formation of the Membrane Attack Complex.
  • the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to treat AMD. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to treat wet AMD. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to treat geographic atrophy. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to stop, slow, or reverse the progression of wet AMD or geographic atrophy. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to treat symptoms associated with wet AMD or geographic atrophy.
  • STGD Stargardt Disease
  • ABCA4 Transporter which is responsible for removal of bisretinoid fluorophores, which can include N-retinylidene-N- retinyethanolamine (A2E), all-trans-retinal and related photo-oxidation products of vitamin A aldehyde which together constitute lipofuscin from photoreceptor cells. Accumulation of all- trans-retinal in photoreceptor cells is believed to damage RPE cells via oxidative stress, and trigger or promote complement-mediated damage to RPE cells, leading to retinal atrophy.
  • A2E N-retinylidene-N- retinyethanolamine
  • STGD is characterized by the progressive deterioration of the central portion of the retina referred to as the macula, generally beginning in the first two decades of life.
  • the clearest indicator of progression of STGD is the appearance of drusen, yellow-white deposits under the retina, which are plaques of material that are derived from the metabolic waste products of retinal cells, including all-trans-retinal and other vitamin A-related metabolites.
  • the onset of STGD is typically between the ages of 6-20 years, with early symptoms including difficulties in reading and adjusting to light. Patients with childhood-onset STGD tend to develop early severe visual acuity loss, significantly compromised retinal function, and rapid retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell atrophy with accompanying loss of retinal function.
  • RPE retinal pigment epithelial
  • the median ages of onset and the median age at baseline examination are 8.5 (range, 3-16) and 12 years (range, 7- 16), respectively. Patients with adult-onset disease are more likely to preserve visual acuity for a longer time and show slighter retinal dysfunction. Accumulation of all-trans-retinal in photoreceptor cells leads to inflammation, oxidative stress, deposition of auto-fluorescent lipofuscin pigments in the retinal pigment epithelium and retinal atrophy. Lipofuscin deposits (drusen), and oxidative products, trigger the alternative complement pathway into an
  • ELOVL4 encodes the ELOVL4 protein, ELOVL fatty acid elongase 4.
  • ELOVL4 protein associated with STGD leads to mis-folding and accumulation of ELOVL4 protein aggregates in retinal cells, which impact retinal cell function, eventually leading to cell death and retinal atrophy.
  • Complement pathway activation is also thought to play a role in Stargardt-like disease, and therefore inhibitors of complement, particularly complement factor D, are anticipated to stop or slow the progression of vision loss in individuals with Stargardt-like disease.
  • the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to treat Stargardt or Stargardt-like disease. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to stop, slow, or reverse the progression of Stargardt or Stargardt-like disease. In some cases, the oligonucleotide compositions of the disclosure may be used to treat symptoms associated with Stargardt or Stargardt-like disease.
  • the methods and compositions described herein utilize one or more aptamers for the treatment of an ocular disease. In some cases, the methods and compositions described herein utilize one or more aptamers for modulating an activity associated with fD.
  • aptamer refers to oligonucleotide molecules that bind to a target (e.g., a protein) with high affinity and specificity through non-Watson-Crick base pairing interactions.
  • a target e.g., a protein
  • the aptamers described herein are non-naturally occurring oligonucleotides (i.e., synthetically produced) that are isolated and used for the treatment of a disorder or a disease.
  • Aptamers can bind to essentially any target molecule including, without limitation, proteins, oligonucleotides, carbohydrates, lipids, small molecules, and even bacterial cells.
  • the aptamers described herein are oligonucleotides that bind to proteins of the alternative complement pathway. Whereas many naturally occurring oligonucleotides, such as mRNA, encode information in their linear base sequences, aptamers generally do not encode information in their linear base sequences. Further, aptamers can be distinguished from naturally occurring oligonucleotides in that binding of aptamers to target molecules is dependent upon secondary and tertiary structures of the aptamer.
  • Aptamers may be suitable as therapeutic agents and may be preferable to other therapeutic agents because: 1) aptamers may be fast and economical to produce because aptamers can be developed entirely by in vitro processes; 2) aptamers may have low toxicity and may lack an immunogenic response; 3) aptamers may have high specificity and affinity for their targets; 4) aptamers may have good solubility; 5) aptamers may have tunable pharmacokinetic properties; 6) aptamers may be amenable to site-specific conjugation of PEG and other carriers; and 7) aptamers may be stable at ambient temperatures.
  • Aptamers as described herein may include any number of modifications that can affect the function or affinity of the aptamer.
  • aptamers may be unmodified or they may contain modified nucleotides to improve stability, nuclease resistance or delivery characteristics.
  • modifications may include chemical substitutions at the sugar and/or phosphate and/or base positions, for example, at the 2' position of ribose, the 5 position of pyrimidines, and the 8 position of purines, various 2'-modified pyrimidines and modifications with 2'-amino (2'- H 2 ), 2'-fluoro (2'-F), and/or 2'-0-methyl (2'-OMe) substituents.
  • aptamers described herein comprise a 2'-OMe and/or a 2'F modification to increase in vivo stability.
  • the aptamers described herein contain modified nucleotides to improve the affinity and specificity of the aptamers for a specific epitope, exosite or active site. Examples of modified nucleotides include those modified with guanidine, indole, amine, phenol, hydroxymethyl, or boronic acid.
  • pyrimidine nucleotide triphosphate analogs or CE-phosphoramidites may be modified at the 5 position to generate, for example, 5- benzylaminocarbonyl-2'-deoxyuridine (BndU); 5-[N-(phenyl-3-propyl)carboxamide]-2'- deoxyuridine (PPdU); 5-(N-thiophenylmethylcarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine (ThdU); 5-(N-4- fluorobenzylcarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine (FBndU); 5-(N-(l -naphthylmethyl)carboxamide)- 2'-deoxyuridine (NapdU); 5 -(N-2-naphthylmethylcarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine (2NapdU); 5- ( -l-naphthylethylcarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine ( EdU); 5-(N-2- naph
  • Modifications of the aptamers contemplated in this disclosure include, without limitation, those which provide other chemical groups that incorporate additional charge, polarizability, hydrophobicity, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction, and functionality to the nucleic acid aptamer bases or to the nucleic acid aptamer as a whole. Modifications to generate
  • oligonucleotide populations that are resistant to nucleases can also include one or more substitute internucleotide linkages, altered sugars, altered bases, or combinations thereof.
  • modifications include, but are not limited to, 2'-position sugar modifications, 5-position pyrimidine modifications, 8-position purine modifications, modifications at exocyclic amines, substitution of 4-thiouridine, substitution of 5-bromo or 5-iodo-uracil; backbone modifications, phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate, or alkyl phosphate modifications, methylations, and unusual base-pairing combinations such as the isobases isocytidine and isoguanosine.
  • Modifications can also include 3' and 5' modifications such as capping, e.g., addition of a 3'-3'- dT cap to increase exonuclease resistance.
  • Aptamers of the disclosure may generally comprise nucleotides having ribose in the ⁇ -D- ribofuranose configuration. In some cases, 100% of the nucleotides present in the aptamer have ribose in the ⁇ -D-ribofuranose configuration. In some cases, at least 50% of the nucleotides present in the aptamer have ribose in the ⁇ -D-ribofuranose configuration.
  • At least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%), at least 90%, or 100% of the nucleotides present in the aptamer have ribose in the ⁇ -D- ribofuranose configuration.
  • the length of the aptamer can be variable. In some cases, the length of the aptamer is less than 100 nucleotides. In some cases, the length of the aptamer is greater than 10 nucleotides. In some cases, the length of the aptamer is between 10 and 90 nucleotides.
  • the aptamer can be, without limitation, about 10, about 15, about 20, about 25, about 30, about 35, about 40, about 45, about 50, about 55, about 60, about 65, about 70, about 75, about 80, about 85, or about 90 nucleotides in length.
  • a polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer chain is covalently bound to the aptamer, referred to herein as PEGylation.
  • PEGylation may increase the half-life and stability of the aptamer in physiological conditions.
  • the PEG polymer is covalently bound to the 5' end of the aptamer.
  • the PEG polymer is covalently bound to the 3' end of the aptamer.
  • the PEG polymer is covalently bound to specific site on a nucleobase within the aptamer, including the 5-position of a pyrimidine or 8-position of a purine.
  • an aptamer described herein may be conjugated to a PEG having the general formula, H-(0-CH 2 -CH 2 ) n -OH.
  • an aptamer described herein may be conjugated to a methoxy-PEG (mPEG) of the general formula, CH 3 0-(CH 2 -CH 2 -0)n-H.
  • the aptamer is conjugated to a linear chain PEG or mPEG.
  • the linear chain PEG or mPEG may have an average molecular weight of up to about 30 kD.
  • Multiple linear chain PEGs or mPEGs can be linked to a common reactive group to form multi-arm or branched PEGs or mPEGs.
  • more than one PEG or mPEG can be linked together through an amino acid linker (e.g., lysine) or another linker, such as glycerine.
  • the aptamer is conjugated to a branched PEG or branched mPEG.
  • Branched PEGs or mPEGs may be referred to by their total mass (e.g., two linked 20kD mPEGs have a total molecular weight of 40kD).
  • Branched PEGs or mPEGs may have more than two arms.
  • Multi-arm branched PEGs or mPEGs may be referred to by their total mass (e.g. four linked 10 kD mPEGs have a total molecular weight of 40 kD).
  • an aptamer of the present disclosure is conjugated to a PEG polymer having a total molecular weight from about 5 kD to about 200 kD, for example, about 5 kD, about 10 kD, about 20 kD, about 30 kD, about 40 kD, about 50 kD, about 60 kD, about 70 kD, about 80 kD, about 90 kD, about 100 kD, about 1 10 kD, about 120 kD, about 130 kD, about 140 kD, about 150 kD, about 160 kD, about 170 kD, about 180 kD, about 190 kD, or about 200 kD.
  • the aptamer is conjugated to a PEG having a total molecular weight from about
  • the reagent that may be used to generate PEGylated aptamers is a branched PEG N-Hydroxysuccinimide (mPEG- HS) having the general formula:
  • the branched PEGs can be linked through any appropriate reagent, such as an amino acid (e.g., lysine or glycine residues).
  • the reagent used to generate PEGylated aptamers is [N 2 - (monomethoxy 20K polyethylene glycol carbamoyl)-N 6 -(monomethoxy 20K polyethylene glycol carbamoyl)] -lysine N-hydroxysuccinimide having the formula:
  • PEG architecture may provide a compound with reduced viscosity compared to a similar aptamer conjugated to a two-armed or single-arm linear PEG.
  • the reagent used to generate PEGylated aptamers has the formula:
  • X is N-hydroxysuccinimide and the PEG arms are of different molecular weights
  • a 40 kD PEG of this architecture may be composed of 2 arms of 5 kD and 4 arms of7.5 kD.
  • Such PEG architecture may provide a compound with reduced viscosity compared to a similar aptamer conjugated to a two-armed PEG or a single-arm linear PEG.
  • the reagent that may be used to generate PEGylated aptamers is a non- branched mPEG-Succinimidyl Propionate (mPEG-SPA), having the general formula:
  • the reactive ester may be -0-CH 2 - CH 2 -CO 2 -NHS.
  • the reagent that may be used to generate PEGylated aptamers may include a branched PEG linked through glycerol, such as the SunbrightTM series from NOF Corporation, Japan.
  • Non-limitin examples of these reagents include:
  • the reagents may include a non-branched mPEG Succinimidyl alpha- methylbutanoate (mPEG-SMB) having the general formula:
  • the reactive ester may be 0-CH 2 .CH 2- CH(CH 3 )-C0 2 -NHS.
  • the PEG reagents may include nitrophenyl carbonate-linked PEGs, having the general formula:
  • the reagents used to generate PEGylated aptamers may include PEG with thiol-reactive groups that can be used with a thiol-modified linker.
  • PEG PEG with thiol-reactive groups that can be used with a thiol-modified linker.
  • One non-limiting example may include reagents having the following general structure: where mPEG is about 10 kD, about 20 kD or about 30 kD.
  • Another non-limiting example may include reagents having the following general structure:
  • Branched PEGs with thiol reactive groups that can be used with a thiol-modified linker, as described above, may include reagents in which the branched PEG has a total molecular weight of about 40 kD or about 60 kD (e.g., where each mPEG is about 20 kD or about 30 kD).
  • the reagents used to generated PEGylated aptamers may include reagents having the following structure:
  • the reaction is carried out between about pH 6 and about pH 10, or between about pH 7 and pH 9 or about pH 8.
  • the reagents used to generate PEGylated aptamers may include reagents having the following structure:
  • the reagents used to generate PEGylated aptamers may include reagents having the following structure:
  • the aptamer is associated with a single PEG molecule. In other cases, the aptamer is associated with two or more PEG molecules.
  • the aptamers described herein may be bound or conjugated to one or more molecules having desired biological properties. Any number of molecules can be bound or conjugated to aptamers, non-limiting examples including antibodies, peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, enzymes, polymers, drugs, small molecules, gold nanoparticles, radiolabels, fluorescent labels, dyes, haptens (e.g., biotin), other aptamers, or nucleic acids (e.g., siRNA). In some cases, aptamers may be conjugated to molecules that increase the stability, the solubility or the bioavailability of the aptamer. Non-limiting examples include polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers, carbohydrates and fatty acids.
  • PEG polyethylene glycol
  • molecules that improve the transport or delivery of the aptamer may be used, such as cell penetration peptides.
  • cell penetration peptides can include peptides derived from Tat, penetratin, polyarginine peptide Argg sequence, Transportan, VP22 protein from Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), antimicrobial peptides such as Buforin I and SynB, polyproline sweet arrow peptide molecules, Pep-1 and MPG.
  • the aptamer is conjugated to a lipophilic compound such as cholesterol, dialkyl glycerol, diacyl glycerol, or a non-immunogenic, high molecular weight compound or polymer such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or other water-soluble pharmaceutically acceptable polymers including, but not limited to, polyaminoamines
  • a lipophilic compound such as cholesterol, dialkyl glycerol, diacyl glycerol, or a non-immunogenic, high molecular weight compound or polymer such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or other water-soluble pharmaceutically acceptable polymers including, but not limited to, polyaminoamines
  • PAMAM polysaccharides such as dextran, or polyoxazolines (POZ).
  • the molecule to be conjugated can be covalently bonded or can be associated through non-covalent interactions with the aptamer of interest.
  • the molecule to be conjugated is covalently attached to the aptamer.
  • the covalent attachment may occur at a variety of positions on the aptamer, for example, to the exocyclic amino group on the base, the 5- position of a pyrimidine nucleotide, the 8-position of a purine nucleotide, the hydroxyl group of the phosphate, or a hydroxyl group or other group at the 5' or 3 ' terminus.
  • the covalent attachment is to the 5' or 3' hydroxyl group of the aptamer.
  • the aptamer can be attached to another molecule directly or with the use of a spacer or linker.
  • a lipophilic compound or a non-immunogenic, high molecular weight compound can be attached to the aptamer using a linker or a spacer.
  • linkers and attachment chemistries are known in the art.
  • 6- (trifluoroacetamido)hexanol (2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropyl)phosphoramidite can be used to add a hexylamino linker to the 5' end of the synthesized aptamer.
  • linker phosphoramidites may include: TFA-amino C4 CED phosphoramidite having the structure:
  • 5'-amino modifier 5 having the structure:
  • DMT 4,4'-Dimethoxytrityl and 5' thiol-modifier C6 having the structure:
  • the 5'-thiol modified linker may be used, for example, with PEG-maleimides, PEG- vinylsulfone, PEG-iodoacetamide and PEG-orthopyridyl-disulfide.
  • the aptamer may be bonded to the 5'-thiol through a maleimide or vinyl sulfone functionality.
  • the aptamer formulated according to the present disclosure may also be modified by encapsulation within a liposome.
  • the aptamer formulated according to the present disclosure may also be modified by encapsulation within a micelle.
  • Liposomes and micelles may be comprised of any lipids, and in some cases the lipids may be phospholipids, including phosphatidylcholine.
  • the aptamers described herein are designed to inhibit a function associated with an alternative complement pathway enzyme.
  • an anti-fD aptamer is used to inhibit a function associated with fD (e.g., inhibit the catalytic activity of fD).
  • the aptamers described herein are designed to prevent an interaction or binding of two or more proteins of the alternative complement pathway.
  • an aptamer binds to fD and prevents binding of the complex C3bBb to fD.
  • the aptamers described herein may bind to a region of fD that is recognized by an antibody or antibody fragment thereof that inhibits a function associated with fD.
  • the antibody or antibody fragment thereof that inhibits a function associated with fD has an amino acid sequence of heavy chain variable region of: EVQLVQSGPELKKPGASVKVSCKASGYTFTNYGMNWVRQA
  • DKTHT (SEQ ID NO: 7) and an amino acid sequence of light chain variable region of:
  • FIG. 2 depicts modeling of the intravitreal (IVT) inhibition of Factor D by an anti -Factor
  • FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B demonstrate IVT inhibition of Factor D at various IVT concentrations of an anti-Factor D aptamer.
  • Effective inhibition of TVT Factor D inhibition was modeled using a standard 2 compartment model, assuming reported IVT half-lives for Fabs (7 days, LUCENTIS ® ) and PEGylated aptamers (10 days, MACUGEN ® ) and 1 : 1 inhibition of Factor D by each therapy at the relevant IVT concentrations (IC 50 data). As depicted in FIG.
  • FIG. 2A depicts the predicted IVT drug concentration (nM) of a PEGylated aptamer (dotted line) and an anti-Factor D antibody (solid line) over the number of weeks post IVT injection.
  • the aptamers described herein may bind to a region of fD that is recognized by a small molecule inhibitor that inhibits a function associated with fD, non-limiting examples including dichloroisocoumarin or any one of the compounds depicted in FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, and FIG. 3D.
  • the aptamers described herein may bind to a region of fD that is recognized by a peptide inhibitor that inhibits a function associated with fD.
  • an aptamer of the disclosure comprises one of the following sequences described in Table 1 or Table 2.
  • GAGGCAUUAGUCAGCCGAAGUCUGGUGUCU NO: 43 CAGUUUGUUUACGGUCGGCUGCGU
  • GAGUCAUAAGUCCACCGAAGUCUUUUGGCU NO: 54 CUGUUUUCUCCAGGUCGGUGGCUG
  • GAGGCAUUAGGCCGGCGAAGUUUAAUGGCU NO: 207 CAGGAAUCCUAUGUUCGGGGGCAU
  • GAGAUU AGGCC ACC GGAGUCUAAUGCCUC G NO: 215 GACGUAUUCAGUUCGGUGGCUG
  • CAGUCAUUAGGGCGUAGAAGUCUAAUGUCU NO: 230 AGAGUGUUCUCCGUUCUGCGCCGG

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Abstract

La présente invention concerne des méthodes et des compositions permettant d'inhiber la voie alterne du complément. Les méthodes et les compositions impliquent l'utilisation d'aptamères pour inhiber le Facteur D du complément. L'invention concerne en outre des aptamères anti-Facteur D pour le traitement de la dégénérescence maculaire sèche liée à l'âge, de l'atrophie géographique, de la dégénérescence maculaire humide liée à l'âge ou de la maladie de Stargardt. Dans certains cas, les compositions comprennent des aptamères ayant une structure secondaire de pseudo-nœud pour l'inhibition de fD.
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US10174325B2 (en) 2016-01-20 2019-01-08 Vitrisa Therapeutics, Inc. Compositions and methods for inhibiting Factor D
US10428330B2 (en) 2017-01-20 2019-10-01 Vitrisa Therapeutics, Inc. Stem-loop compositions and methods for inhibiting factor D
WO2022142894A1 (fr) * 2020-12-31 2022-07-07 北京键凯科技股份有限公司 Arn interférant pour inhiber l'expression de cfd, son procédé de préparation et son application

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10174325B2 (en) 2016-01-20 2019-01-08 Vitrisa Therapeutics, Inc. Compositions and methods for inhibiting Factor D
US11274307B2 (en) 2016-01-20 2022-03-15 396419 B.C. Ltd. Compositions and methods for inhibiting factor D
US10428330B2 (en) 2017-01-20 2019-10-01 Vitrisa Therapeutics, Inc. Stem-loop compositions and methods for inhibiting factor D
US11466276B2 (en) 2017-01-20 2022-10-11 396419 B.C. Ltd. Stem-loop compositions and methods for inhibiting factor D
WO2022142894A1 (fr) * 2020-12-31 2022-07-07 北京键凯科技股份有限公司 Arn interférant pour inhiber l'expression de cfd, son procédé de préparation et son application

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