Protiva Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Arbutus Biopharma Corporation

Other

The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Adam Judge

Ian MacLachlan

James Heyes

Amy C H Lee

Ed Yaworski

Stephen P Reid

Vandana Sood

Marjorie Ann Robbins

Lorne Ralph Palmer

Mark Wood

Alan Martin

Thomas W Geisbert

Snorri S Thorgeirsson

Lisa E Hensley

Yun-Han Lee

Michael J Abrams

Lloyd B Jeffs

Richard James Holland

Edward D Yaworski

Nicholas Michael Snead

Emily P Thi

Xin Ye

Ian Maclachlan

Kieu Mong Lam

Amy C Lee

Ian Maclachan

The present invention provides novel, serum-stable lipid particles comprising one or more active agents or therapeutic agents, methods of making the lipid particles, and methods of delivering and/or administering the lipid particles. More particularly, the present invention provides serum-stable nucleic acid-lipid particles (SNALP) comprising a nucleic acid (e.g., one or more interfering RNA molecules), methods of making the SNALP, and methods of delivering and/or administering the SNALP (e.g., for the treatment of cancer). In particular embodiments, the present invention provides tumor-directed lipid particles that preferentially target solid tumors. The tumor-directed formulations of the present invention are capable of preferentially delivering a payload such as a nucleic acid to cells of solid tumors compared to non-cancerous cells.

Lipid formulations for delivery of therapeutic agents

The invention provides certain nucleic acids (e.g., double stranded siRNA molecules), as well as conjugates that comprise a targeting moiety, a double stranded siRNA, and optional linking groups. Certain embodiments also provide synthetic methods useful for preparing the conjugates. The conjugates are useful to target therapeutic double stranded siRNA to the liver and to treat liver diseases including hepatitis (e.g. hepatitis B and hepatitis D).

Targeted compositions

The present invention provides compositions comprising nucleic acid molecules, such as mRNA molecules, encapsulated within lipid particles. The compositions are useful, for example, to introduce the mRNA molecules into a human subject where they are translated to produce a polypeptide that functions to ameliorate one or more symptoms of a disease.

Compositions and methods for delivering messenger RNA

Lipid formulations for delivery of therapeutic agents to solid tumors

The present invention provides therapeutic nucleic acids such as interfering RNA (e.g., siRNA) that target the expression of genes associated with tumorigenesis and/or cell transformation, lipid particles (e.g., nucleic acid-lipid particles) comprising one or more (e.g., a cocktail) of the therapeutic nucleic acids, methods of making the lipid particles, and methods of delivering and/or administering the lipid particles, e.g., for the treatment of a cell proliferative disorder such as cancer.

Compositions and methods for silencing genes expressed in cancer

The present invention provides compositions comprising therapeutic nucleic acids (e.g., interfering RNA such as siRNA) that target Ebola virus (EBOV) gene expression and methods of using such compositions to silence EBOV gene expression. More particularly, the invention provides unmodified and chemically modified interfering RNA which silence EBOV gene expression and methods of use thereof, e.g., for preventing or treating EBOV infections caused by one or more EBOV species such as Zaire EBOV. The invention also provides serum-stable nucleic acid-lipid particles comprising one or more interfering RNA molecules, a cationic lipid, and a non-cationic lipid, which can further comprise a conjugated lipid that inhibits aggregation of particles. Methods of silencing EBOV gene expression by administering one or more interfering RNA molecules to a mammalian subject are also provided.

Compositions and methods for silencing ebola virus gene expression

The present invention provides chemically modified siRNA molecules and methods of using such siRNA molecules to silence target gene expression. Advantageously, the modified siRNA of the present invention is less immunostimulatory than its corresponding unmodified siRNA sequence and retains RNAi activity against the target sequence. The present invention also provides nucleic acid-lipid particles comprising a modified siRNA, a cationic lipid, and a non-cationic lipid, which can further comprise a conjugated lipid that inhibits aggregation of particles. The present invention further provides methods of silencing gene expression by administering a modified siRNA to a mammalian subject. Methods for identifying and/or modifying an siRNA having immunostimulatory properties are also provided.

Modified siRNA molecules and uses thereof

The present invention provides compositions comprising interfering RNA (e.g., siRNA, aiRNA, miRNA) that target polo-like kinase 1 (PLK-1) expression and methods of using such compositions to silence PLK-1 expression. More particularly, the present invention provides unmodified and chemically modified interfering RNA molecules which silence PLK-1 expression and methods of use thereof. The present invention also provides serum-stable nucleic acid-lipid particles (e.g., SNALP) comprising an interfering RNA molecule described herein, a cationic lipid, and a non-cationic lipid, which can further comprise a conjugated lipid that inhibits aggregation of particles. The present invention further provides methods of silencing PLK-1 gene expression by administering an interfering RNA molecule described herein to a mammalian subject. The present invention additionally provides methods of identifying and/or modifying PLK-1 interfering RNA having immunostimulatory properties. Methods for sensitizing a cell such as a cancer cell to the effects of a chemotherapy drug comprising sequentially delivering PLK-1 interfering RNA followed by the chemotherapy drug are also provided.

Silencing of polo-like kinase expression using interfering RNA

The present invention provides compositions and methods for the delivery of interfering RNAs such as siRNAs that silence APOB expression in cells such as liver cells. In particular, the nucleic acid-lipid particles provide efficient encapsulation of nucleic acids and efficient delivery of the encapsulated nucleic acid to cells such as liver cells in vivo. The compositions of the present invention are highly potent, thereby allowing effective knock-down of APOB at relatively low doses. In addition, the compositions and methods of the present invention are less toxic and provide a greater therapeutic index compared to compositions and methods previously known in the art.

Compositions and methods for silencing apolipoprotein B

Compositions and methods for silencing Ebola virus gene expression

The present invention provides nucleic acid-lipid particles comprising siRNA molecules that silence genes expressed in cancer (e.g., Eg5, EGFR or XIAP) and methods of using such nucleic acid-lipid particles to silence Eg5, EGFR or XIAP gene expression.

SiRNA silencing of genes expressed in cancer

Lipid formulations for nucleic acid delivery

Growing community of inventors

Vancouver, Canada

Adam Judge