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

The Scripps Research Institute

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.

Avi Biopharma, Inc.

Benjamin Neuman

Patrick L Iversen

David A Stein

Michael Buchmeier

Dwight D Weller

Richard Keith Bestwick

A method and oligonucleotide compound for inhibiting replication of a nidovirus in virus-infected animal cells are disclosed. The compound (i) has a nuclease-resistant backbone, (ii) is capable of uptake by the infected cells, (iii) contains between 8-25 nucleotide bases, and (iv) has a sequence capable of disrupting base pairing between the transcriptional regulatory sequences in the 5' leader region of the positive-strand viral genome and negative-strand 3&#x2032; subgenomic region. In practicing the method, infected cells are exposed to the compound in an amount effective to inhibit viral replication.

Oligonucleotide compound and method for treating nidovirus infections

The invention provides antisense antiviral compounds and methods of their use and production in inhibition of growth of viruses of the Arenaviridae family and in the treatment of a viral infection. The compounds are particularly useful in the treatment of Arenavirus infection in a mammal. The antisense antiviral compounds are substantially uncharged morpholino oligonucleotides have a sequence of 12-40 subunits, including at least 12 subunits having a targeting sequence that is complementary to a region associated with viral RNA sequences within a 19 nucleotide region of the 5'-terminal regions of the viral RNA, viral complementary RNA and/or mRNA identified by SEQ ID NO:1.

Antisense antiviral compound and method for treating arenavirus infection

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Encinitas, CA, United States of America

Benjamin Neuman