Compositions and methods for inhibiting expression of anti-apoptotic genes

US7473525B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Alnylam Europe AG · US

Inventors

• Roland Kreutzer · Weidenberg, DE
• Stefan Limmer · Neudrossenfeld, DE
• Hans-Peter Vornlocher · Bayreuth, DE
• Philipp Hadwiger · Kulmbach, DE
• Anke Geick · Bayreuth, DE
• Matthias Ocker · Erlangen, DE
• Christoph Herold · Erlangen, DE
• Detlef Schuppan · Mainz, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 7, 2003
• Grant date: Jan 6, 2009
• Expiry date: Apr 13, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N2310/53
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of an anti-apoptotic gene, comprising a complementary RNA strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 25 nucleotides in length and which is substantially identical to at least a part of an apoptotic gene, such as a Bcl gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by the expression of an anti-apoptotic gene using the pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting the expression of an anti-apoptotic gene in a cell.