# Patent

## Title
Modified TGF-beta2 oligonucleotides

## Abstract

The invention refers to an oligonucleotide consisting of 10 to 18 nucleotides of selected regions of the TGF-beta2 nucleic acid sequence, which comprises modified nucleotides such as LNA, ENA, polyalkylene oxide-, 2′-fluoro, 2′-O-methoxy and/or 2′-O-methyl modified nucleotides. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such oligonucleotide, wherein the composition or the oligonucleotide is used in the prevention and/or treatment of a malignant and/or benign tumor, an immunologic disease, fibrosis, or an ophthalmic disease such as dry eye, glaucoma or posterior capsular opacification (PCO).

## Background
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the priority of PCT/EP2014/056232, filed on Mar. 27, 2014, which claims priority to European Patent Application No. 13161474,5, filed on Mar. 27, 2013, European Patent Application No, 13173078.0, filed on Jun. 30, 2013, and European Patent Application No. 13199838.7, filed on Dec. 30, 2013, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated in total by reference.
SEQUENCE LISTING
This application incorporates by reference the Sequence Listing contained in an ASCII text file named “362346_00027_SegList.txt” submitted via EFS-Web. The text file was created on Sep. 24, 2015, and is 12 kb in size.
The invention is directed to oligonucleotides consisting of 10 to 18 nucleotides hybridizing with the TGF-beta2 nucleic acid sequence, the TGF-beta1 or TGF-beta3 nucleic acid sequence, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises a modified nucleotide such as LNA, ENA, polyalkylene oxide-, 2′-fluoro, 2′-O-methoxy and/or 2′-O-methyl modified nucleotides.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is a protein that controls proliferation, cellular differentiation, and other functions in most cells. It is a type of cytokine which plays amongst others a role in immunity, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and AIDS.
TGF-beta is a secreted protein that exists in at least three isoforms (TGF-beta-1, TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3) encoded by different genes but sharing strong sequence and structure homologies. TGF-beta acts as an antiproliferative factor in normal epithelial cells and at early stages of oncogenesis. However, later in tumor development TGF-beta can become tumor promoting through mechanisms including the induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that is thought to contribute to tumor progression, invasion and metastasis (see “Glycoproteomic analysis of two mouse mammary cell lines during transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition” 7th space.com.2009-01-08. Retrieved: 2009-01-29).
In normal (epithelial) cells, TGF-beta stops the cell cycle at the G1 stage (and stops cell proliferation), induce differentiation, or promote apoptosis. When a cell is transformed into a cancer cell, TGF-beta no longer suppresses cell proliferation, which is often the result of mutations in the signaling pathway, and cancer cells proliferate. Proliferation of stromal fibroblasts is also induced by TGF-beta. Both cells increase their production of TGF-beta. This TGF-beta acts on the surrounding stromal cells, immune cells, endothelial, smooth-muscle cells, and tumor microenvironment (see Pickupet al., “The roles of TGFβ in the tumour microenvironment”, Nature Reviews Cancer (2013), 13: 788-799). Thereby, it promotes angiogenesis, and by suppressing proliferation and activation of immune cells it causes immunosuppression.
TGF-beta1-deficient mice die from cardiac, pulmonary, and gastric inflammation, suggesting that TGF-beta has a vital role in suppressing the activation and proliferation of inflammatory cells. Smad3 is one of the key elements in TGF-beta dependent downstream signling pathways. Smad3-deficient mice develop chronic mucosal infections due to impairment of T-cell activation and mucosal immunity, suggesting a key role for TGF-beta in these processes. With respect to cancer, the production and secretion of TGF-beta by certain cancer cells suppress the activities of infiltrating immune cells, thereby helping the tumor escape host immunosurveillance. This immunosuppressive effect may be another important mechanism by which TGF-beta stimulates the growth of late-stage tumors (see Blobe G C et al., May 2000, “Role of transforming growth factor beta in human disease”, N. Engl. J. Med. 342 (18), 1350-1358). TGF-beta also converts effector T-cells, which normally attack cancer with an inflammatory (immune) reaction, into regulatory (suppressor) T-cells, which turn off the inflammatory reaction.
Further, TGF-beta is one of the most potent regulators of the production and deposition of extracellular matrix. It stimulates the production and affects the adhesive properties of the extracellular matrix by two major mechanisms. First, TGF-beta stimulates fibroblasts and other cells to produce extracellular-matrix proteins and cell-adhesion proteins, including collagen, fibronectin, and integrins. Second, TGF-beta decreases the production of enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix, including collagenase, heparinase, and stromelysin, and increases the production of proteins that inhibit enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix, including plasminogen-activator inhibitor type 1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease. The net effect of these changes is to increase the production of extracellular-matrix proteins and either to increase or to decrease the adhesive properties of cells in a cell-specific manner. In many cancer cells the production of TGF-beta is increased, which increases the invasiveness of the cells by increasing their proteolytic activity and promoting their binding to cell-adhesion molecules (see Blobe GC et al., May 2000, “Role of transforming growth factor beta in human disease”, N. Engl. J. Med. 342 (18), 1350-1358).
Thus, therapeutic agents which are able to influence TGF-beta expression and activity, respectively, are essential in particular for use in preventing and/or treating TGF-beta linked diseases. EP 1008649 and EP 0695354, for example, disclose oligonucleotides hybridizing with the mRNA of TGF-beta1 and/or TGF-beta2, and which are suitable to be used for manufacturing pharmaceutical compositions for example for preventing and/or treating cancer. None of these oligonucleotides comprises modifications such as LNA, ENA etc.
WO 2003/85110, WO 2005/061710, and WO 2008/138904 for example refer to oligonucleotides comprising modifications of the nucleotides, which are directed to the inhibition of HIF-1A, Bcl-2 and HER3, respectively, and usable in the treatment of cancer.
Criteria for the selection of oligonucleotides are mainly the length of the oligonucleotide, the GC-percentage, the tendency for hairpin formation, dimerization and the melting temperature (Tm). In general, high Tm (melting temperature) is preferred. Furthermore, the oligonucleotides must be specific for the target mRNA and shall not hybridize to non-target mRNAs in order to decrease potential off-target effects.
Hence, there is a high scientific and medical need for therapeutic agents, which reduce or inhibit TGF-beta expression and/or activity. Particularly, there is a long-standing need for oligonucleotides such as antisense oligonucleotides, which specifically interact and thus, reduce or inhibit the expression of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, and/or TGF-beta3, as well as oligonucleotides, which specifically inhibit TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2, or TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta3, or TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3, without causing any (severe) side effects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention refers to oligonucleotides consisting of 10 to 18 nucleotides of the TGF-beta2 nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 (see FIG. 1) wherein one or more nucleotide(s) of the oligonucleotide is/are modified. Preferred oligonucleotides comprising or consisting of one of SEQ ID NO. 2 to 20 are presented in Table 1. These oligonucleotides are highly effective in the reduction and inhibition of TGF-beta2 expression and activity, respectively.
Preferred oligonucleotides of the present invention are ASPH47, ASPH190, ASPH191, ASPH192, ASPH193, ASPH194, ASPH195, ASPH196, ASPH197, ASPH198, ASPH199, ASPH200, ASPH201, and ASPH202, ASPH202, ASPH204, ASPH205, ASPH206, ASPH207, ASPH208, ASPH209, ASPH210, ASPH211, ASPH212, ASPH213, ASPH214, ASPH215, ASPH216, ASPH217, ASPH218, ASPH219, ASPH220, ASPH221, ASPH222, and ASPH223 respectivley.
Modifications of one or more nucleotides of the oligonucleotides of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of LNA, ENA, polyalkylene oxide such as triethylene glycol (TEG), 2′-fluoro, 2′-O-methoxy and 2′-O-methyl. The modifications are preferably located at the 5′- and/or 3′- end of the oligonucleotide. An oligonucleotide comprising such modified nucleotide is a modified oligonucleotide.
Modified nucleotides are for example arranged in a row, one directly next to the other, or in different patterns, where one or more unmodified nucleotides follow a modified nucleotide. For example an oligonucleotide starts with one or more modified nucleotides followed by one or more, e.g., one, two, three or four, unmodified or unlocked nucleotides followed again by one or more modified nucleotides. In one embodiment both ends of the oligonucleotide comprise an identical pattern of modified and unmodified or unlocked nucleotides. In another embodiment, the pattern of modifications at the 3′- and 5′- end differ including that one end does not comprise a modified nucleotide. Preferably the modified oligonucleotides comprise a series of 8 or 9 unlocked nucleotides.
Alternatively, a nucleotide at any other position in the oligonucleotide is modified, or at least one nucleotide at the 5′-and/or 3′-end of the oligonucleotide and at any other position in the oligonucleotide. The oligonucleotides comprise either one type of modification, or one or more different modifications. Optionally, at least one phosphate linkage between two consecutive nucleotides (modified or unmodified) of the oligonucleotide is a phosphorothioate or a methylphosphonate. In a preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotides of the present invention are phosphorothioates.
All the oligonucleotides of the different embodiments are for use in a method of the prevention and/or treatment of a malignant or a benign tumor, an immunologic disease, fibrosis (e.g., idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, renal fibrosis, kidney fibrosis), cirrhosis (e.g., liver cirrhosis), scleroderma or related dermatologic diseases, or an eye disease such as glaucoma or posterior capsular opacification (PCO), a CNS disease, hair loss etc.



FIGURES
FIG. 1 shows the nucleic acid sequence of the the human TGF-beta2 mRNA (NM_003238.3).
FIG. 2 presents examples of nucleotide modifications.
FIG. 3 shows the inhibition of the expression of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3 mRNA in human Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cells and mouse RenCa renal cell carcinoma cells. Panc-1 cells and RenCa cells were treated with different modified oligonucleotides at a dose of 1.1 μM in the absence of any transfection reagent (gymnotic transfection or unassisted transfection or gymnotic delivery), and inhibition of the TGF-beta1 (black columns), TGF-beta2 (white columns), and TGF-beta3 (striped columns) mRNA expression was measured after 72 h. FIG. 3 refers to the results for the modified oligonucleotides ASPH190, ASPH191, ASPH192, ASPH193, ASPH194, ASPH195, ASPH196, ASPH197, ASPH198, ASPH199, ASPH200, ASPH201, ASPH202, ASPH203, ASPH204, ASPH205, ASPH206, ASPH207, ASPH208, ASPH209, ASPH210, ASPH211, ASPH212, ASPH213, ASPH214, ASPH215, ASPH216, ASPH217, ASPH218, ASPH219, ASPH220, ASPH221, ASPH222, and ASPH223, respectively. FIG. 3a presents the inhibitory effect of these TGF-beta oligonucleotides in Panc-1 cells and FIG. 3b in RenCa cells.
FIG. 4 depicts the inhibiting effect of oligonucleotides of the present invention on the expression of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 protein. Human Panc-1 cells were transfected with 20, 6.67, 2.22, 0.74, 0.25, 0.08 or 0.009 μM of the modified oligonucleotide ASPH47 (FIG. 4a). Negative control is the scrambled oligonucleotide (scrLNA) of SEQ ID No. 22 (FIG. 4b) in concentrations of 40, 13.33, 4.44, 1.48, 0.49, 0.16, 0.05, or 0.02 μM. TGF-beta1 (diamonds) and TGF-beta2 (squares) protein levels in cell supernatants were determined by ELISA.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention is directed to oligonucleotides, in particular antisense oligonucleotides, which comprise at least one modified nucleotide and are suitable to interact with TGF-beta mRNA, preferably with TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, and/or TGF-beta3. The oligonucleotides comprise or consist of 10 to 18, nucleotides of the TGF-beta2 nucleic acid according to SEQ ID NO. 1. Most preferred the oligonucleotide comprises or consists of 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 nucleotides. The oligonucleotide is a single or double stranded RNA or DNA, including siRNA, microRNA, apatmer or spiegelmer. Preferably, the oligonucleotide is an antisense oligonucleotide.
Preferred oligonucleotides of the present invention are ASPH47, ASPH190, ASPH191, ASPH192, ASPH193, ASPH194, ASPH195, ASPH196, ASPH197, ASPH198, ASPH199, ASPH200, ASPH201, and ASPH202, ASPH203, ASPH204, ASPH205, ASPH206, ASPH207, ASPH208, ASPH209,ASPH210, ASPH211, ASPH212, ASPH213, ASPH214, ASPH215, ASPH216, ASPH217, ASPH218, ASPH219, ASPH220, ASPH221, ASPH222, and ASPH223 respectivley. The antisense oligonucleotides of the present invention can be described differently, e.g., ASPH47, ASPH0047, ASPH_47 or ASPH_0047 referring to the same oligonucleotide.
A nucleotide forms the building block of an oligonucleotide, and is for example composed of a nucleobase (nitrogenous base, e.g., purine or pyrimidine), a five-carbon sugar (e.g., ribose, 2-deoxyribose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, allose, altorse, glucose, mannose, gulose, idose, galactose, talose or stabilized modifications of those sugars), and one or more phosphate groups. Examples of modified phosphate groups are phosphorothioate or methylphosphonate. Each compound of the nucleotide is modifiable, and is naturally or non-naturally occurring. The latter are for example locked nucleic acid (LNA), a 2′-O, 4′-C-ethylene-bridged nucleic acid (ENA), polyalkylene oxide- (such as triethylene glycol (TEG)), 2′-fluoro, 2′-O-methoxy and 2′-O-methyl modified nucleotides as described for example by Freier & Altmann (Nucl. Acid Res., 1997, 25, 4429-4443) and Uhlmann (Curr. Opinion in Drug & Development (2000, 3 (2): 293-213), which are shown in FIG. 2.
A LNA is a modified RNA nucleotide, wherein the ribose moiety is modified with an extra bridge connecting the 2′ oxygen and 4′ carbon (2′-4′ribonucleoside). The bridge “locks” the ribose in the 3′-endo (North) conformation, which is often found in the A-form duplexes. LNA nucleosides and nucleotides, respectively, comprise for example the forms of thio-LNA, oxy-LNA, or amino-LNA, in alpha-D- or beta-L-configuration, and are mixable and combineable, respectively, with DNA or RNA residues in the oligonucleotide.
The oligonucleotides of the present invention, i.e., modified oligonucleotides, comprise at least one modified nucleotide, preferably LNA and/or ENA, at the 5′- and/or 3′-end of the oligonucleotide. In a preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotide comprises 1, 2, 3, or 4 LNAs or ENAs at the 5′-end, and 1, 2, 3, or 4 LNAs or ENAs at the 3′-end. In another preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotide comprises 1, 2, 3, or 4 LNAs or ENAs at the 5′-end or 3′-end, and a polyalkylene oxide such as TEG at the 3′- or 5′-end. The modified oligonucleotides show a significantly increased inhibition on TGF-beta expression and activity, respectively, which results in an improved prevention and/or treatment of a malignant or benign tumor, an immunologic disease, fibrosis, eye disease such as dry eye, glaucoma or posterior capsular opacification (PCO), CNS disease hair loss etc. The oligonucleotides of the present invention target TGF-beta linked diseases either by hybridization with TGF-beta mRNA, preferably TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, or TGF-beta3.
Preferably two or more oligonucelotides are combined, wherein at least one oligonucleotide specifically inhibits TGF-beta1 and at least one oligonucleotide specifically inhibits TGF-beta2, or wherein at least one oligonucleotide specifically inhibits TGF-beta1 and at least one oligonucleotide specifically inhibits TGF-beta3, or wherein at least one oligonucleotide specifically inhibits TGF-beta2 and at least one oligonucleotide specifically inhibits TGF-beta3, or wherein at least one oligonucleotide specifically inhibits TGF-beta1, at least one oligonucleotide specifically inhibits TGF-beta2, and at least one oligonucleotide specifically inhibits TGF-beta3. The oligonucleotide of the present invention most preferably inhibits the expression and/or activity of TGF-beta2 mRNA.
In another embodiment, one oligonucleotide inhibits two TGF-beta isoforms such as TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2, TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3, or TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta3. An oligonucleotide inhibiting the expression of two or all three isoforms—TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, and TGF-beta3—is defined as pan-specific oligonucleotide.
In a further embodiment three or more oligonucleotides are combined, wherein at least one oligonucleotide specifically inhibits TGF-beta1, another oligonucleotide specifically inhibits TGF-beta2, and a further oligonucleotide specifically inhibits TGF-beta3, and optionally one or more additional oligonucleotides inhibiting TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2 or TGF-beta3.
The oligonucleotides of the present invention have for example an IC50 in the range of 0.1 to 20 μM, preferably in the range of 0.2 to 15 μM, more preferably in the range of 0.4 to 10 μM, and even more preferred in the range of 0.5 to 5 μM.
The present invention further refers to a pharmaceutical composition comprising an oligonucleotide according to the invention as active ingredient. The pharmaceutical composition comprises at least one oligonucleotide of the present invention and optionally further an antisense compound, an antibody, a chemotherapeutic compound, an anti-inflammatory compound, an antiviral compound and/or an immuno-modulating compound. Pharmaceutically acceptable binding agents and adjuvants are optionally comprised by the pharmaceutical composition.
In one embodiment, the oligonucleotide and the pharmaceutical composition, respectively, is formulated as dosage unit in form of a solution comprising binders, excipients, stabilizers etc.
The oligonucleotide and/or the pharmaceutical composition is administrable via different routes. These routes of administration include, but are not limited to, electroporation, epidermal, impression into skin, intra-arterial, intra-articular, intracranial, intradermal, intra-lesional, intra-muscular, intranasal, intra-ocular, intrathecal, intracameral, intraperitoneal, intraprostatic, intrapulmonary, intraspinal, intratracheal, intratumoral, intravenous, intravesical, placement within cavities of the body, nasal inhalation, oral, pulmonary inhalation (e.g., by inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer), subcutaneous, subdermal, topical (including ophthalmic and to mucous membranes including vaginal and rectal delivery), or transdermal.
For parenteral, subcutaneous, intradermal or topical administration the oligonucleotide and/or the pharmaceutical composition include for example a sterile diluent, buffers, regulators of toxicity and antibacterials. In a preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotide or pharmaceutical composition is prepared with carriers that protect against degradation or immediate elimination from the body, including implants or microcapsules with controlled release properties. For intravenous administration the preferred carriers are for example physiological saline or phosphate buffered saline. An oligonucleotide and/or a pharmaceutical composition comprising such oligonucleotide for oral administration includes for example powder or granule, microparticulate, nanoparticulate, suspension or solution in water or non-aqueous media, capsule, gel capsule, sachet, tablet or minitablet. An oligonucleotide and/or a pharmaceutical composition comprising for parenteral, intrathecal, intracameral or intraventricular administration includes for example sterile aqueous solutions which optionally contain buffer, diluent and other suitable additive such as penetration enhancer, carrier compound and other pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
A pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is for example liquid or solid, and is selected with the planned manner of administration in mind so as to provide for the desired bulk, consistency, etc., when combined with a nucleic acid and the other components of a given pharmaceutical composition. Typical pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to, a binding agent (e.g. pregelatinized maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, etc.); filler (e.g. lactose and other sugars, microcrystalline cellulose, pectin, gelatin, calcium sulfate, ethyl cellulose, polyacrylates or calcium hydrogen phosphate, etc.); lubricant (e.g., magnesium stearate, talcum, silica, colloidal silicon dioxide, stearic acid, metallic stearates, hydrogenated vegetable oils, corn starch, polyethylene glycols, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, etc.); disintegrate (e.g., starch, sodium starch glycolate, etc.); or wetting agent (e.g., sodium lauryl sulphate, etc.). Sustained release oral delivery systems and/or enteric coatings for orally administered dosage forms are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,704,295; 4,556,552; 4,309,406; and 4,309,404. An adjuvant is included under these phrases.
Beside being used in a method of human disease prevention and/or treatment, the oligonucleotide and/or the pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention is also used in a method for prevention and/or treatment of other subjects including veterinary animals, reptiles, birds, exotic animals and farm animals, including mammals, rodents, and the like. Mammals include for example horses, dogs, pigs, cats, or primates (for example, a monkey, a chimpanzee, or a lemur). Rodents include for example rats, rabbits, mice, squirrels, or guinea pigs.
The oligonucleotide or the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention is used in a method for the prevention and/or treatment of many different diseases, preferably benign or malignant tumors, immunologic diseases, bronchial asthma, heart disease, fibrosis (e.g., liver fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, kidney cirrhosis, scleroderma), diabetes, wound healing, disorders of the connective tissue (e.g., in heart, blood vessel, bone, joint, eye such as the Marfan or Loeys-Dietz syndrome), psoriasis, eye diseases (e.g., glaucoma, posterior capsular opacification (PCO), retinoblastoma, choroidcarcinoma, macular degeneration, such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular endma, or cataract), CNS disease (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease), coronary atherosclerosis (coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery or hair loss. A tumor is for example selected from the group of solid tumors, blood born tumors, leukemias, tumor metastasis, hemangiomas, acoustic neuromas, neurofibromas, trachomas, pyogenic granulomas, astrocytoma such as anaplastic astrocytoma, acoustic neuroma, blastoma, Ewing's tumor, craniopharyngloma, ependymoma, medulloblastoma, glioma, glioblastoma, hemangloblastoma, Hodgkins-lymphoma, medullablastoma, leukaemia, melanoma such as primary and/or metastatic melanoma, mesothelioma, myeloma, neuroblastoma, neurofibroma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, pinealoma, retinoblastoma, sarcoma, seminoma, trachomas, Wilm's tumor, bile duct carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, brain tumor, breast cancer, bronchogenic carcinoma, carcinoma of the kidney, cervical cancer, choriocarcinoma, cystadenocarcinome, embryonal carcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, esophageal cancer, cervical carcinoma, colon carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, endometrial cancer, gallbladder cancer, gastric cancer, head cancer, liver carcinoma, lung carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, neck cancer, non-small-cell bronchogenic/lung carcinoma, ovarian cancer, pancreas carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinoma, prostate cancer, small intestine carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, rectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma (RCC, e.g., clear cell RCC, papillary RCC, chromophobe RCC), oncocytoma kidney cancer, transitional cell kidney cancer, skin cancer, small-cell bronchogenic/lung carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, testicular carcinoma, and uterine cancer. The oligonucleotide or the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is not only used in a method for the prevention and/or treatment of a tumor, but likewise on a metastasis.
The present invention is preferably directed to an oligonucleotide for use in a method for prevention and/or treatment of ophthalmic diseases such as, but not limited to, retinoblastoma, choroidcarcinoma, glaucoma, posterior capsular opacification, dry eye, macular degeneration, e.g., age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular endma, cataract, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, Marfan or Loeys-Dietz syndrome.
The antisense oligonucleotides of the present invention are characterized in that they show an unexpected low toxicity and thus, are well tolerated by different organisms. They oligonucleotides show a reasonable distribution in the organism, wherein highest concentrations are measured in the kidney, liver, skin and spleen.
The present invention provides numerous oligonucleotides, which are highly efficient in the reduction and inhibition, respectively, of TGF-beta, in particular TGF-beta2 mRNA expression due to the specific selection of the sequence of the oligonucleotide and the modification of the nucleotide. The following Table 1 shows numerous preferred modified oligonucleotides according to the present invention (modified nucleosides are indicated in bold letters). Each oligonucleotide is defined as ASPH and a number, which is defined by a specific sequence and modification of the nucleosides:













SEQ





ID





NO.
Sequence
Modification
ASPH


















2
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
LNA 4 + 4
47 or 193



CC




 


3
AGTATTTGGTCTCC
LNA 3 + 3
190 or





M12-ASPH47


 


4
AAGTATTTGGTCTC
LNA 3 + 3
191 or M9-





ASPH47


 


5
AAGTATTTGGTCTCC
LNA 3 + 3
192 or M8-





ASPH47


 


6
AGTATTTGGTCTCC
LNA 2 + 3
194


 


6
AGTATTTGGTCTCC
1LNA + 1N + 1LNA + 
195




8N + 3LNA



 


6
AGTATTTGGTCTCC
3LNA + 8N + 1LNA + 
196




1N + 1LNA



 


6
AGTATTTGGTCTCC
LNA 3 + 2
197


 


6
AAGTATTTGGTCTC
LNA 4 + 2
198


 


7
AGTATTTGGTCTCCA
3LNA + 8N + 1LNA + 
199




1N + 2LNA



 


7
AGTATTTGGTCTCCA
3LNA + 8N + 2LNA + 
200




1N + 1LNA



 


7
AGTATTTGGTCTCCA
2LNA + 1N + 1LNA + 
201




8N + 3LNA



 


7
AGTATTTGGTCTCCA
1LNA + 1N + 2LNA + 
202




8N + 3LNA



 


7
AGTATTTGGTCTCCA
LNA 3 + 2
203


 


7
AGTATTTGGTCTCCA
LNA 2 + 3
204


 


7
AGTATTTGGTCTCCA
LNA 2 + 4
205


 


8
AAGTATTTGGTCTCC
3LNA + 8N + 1LNA + 
206




1N + 2LNA



 


8
AAGTATTTGGTCTCC
3LNA + 8N + 2LNA + 
207




1N + 1LNA



 


8
AAGTATTTGGTCTCC
2LNA + 1N + 1LNA + 
208




8N + 3LNA



 


8
AAGTATTTGGTCTCC
1LNA + 1N + 2LNA + 
209




8N + 3LNA



 


8
AAGTATTTGGTCTCC
LNA 3 + 2
210


 


8
AAGTATTTGGTCTCC
LNA 2 + 3
211


 


2
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
LNA 3 + 3
212



CC




 


2
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
LNA 2 + 2
213



CC




 


2
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
1LNA + 2N + 2LNA + 
214



CC
8N + 3LNA



 


2
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
1LNA + 3N + 1LNA + 
215



CC
8N + 3LNA



 


2
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
1LNA + 2N + 2LNA + 
216



CC
8N + 4LNA



 


2
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
1LNA + 2N + 2LNA + 
217



CC
8N + 1LNA + 1N + 





2LNA



 


2
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
1LNA + 1N + 3LNA + 
218



CC
8N + 3LNA



 


2
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
1LNA + 1N + 2LNA + 
219



CC
8N + 3LNA



 


2
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
1LNA + 2N + 3LNA + 
220



CC
8N + 2LNA



 


2
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
1LNA + 2N + 3LNA + 
221



CC
8N + 1LNA + 1N + 





1LNA



 


2
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
LNA 3 + TEG
222



CC-TEG




 


2
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
LNA 4 + TEG
223



CC-TEG




 


9
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
LNA 4 + 3
M1-ASPH47



C




 


10
CAAAGTATTTGGTCT
LNA 4 + 2
M2-ASPH47


 


11
CAAAGTATTTGGTC
LNA 4 + 1
M3-ASPH47


 


12
AAAGTATTTGGTCTC 
LNA 3 + 4
M4-ASPH47



C




 


13
AAAGTATTTGGTCTC 
LNA 3 + 3
M5-ASPH47


 


14
AAAGTATTTGGTCT
LNA 3 + 2
M6-ASPH47


 


15
AAAGTATTTGGTC
LNA 3 + 1
M7-ASPH47


 


16
AAGTATTTGGTCT
LNA 2 + 2
M10-ASPH47


 


17
AAGTATTTGGTC
LNA 2 + 1
M11-ASPH47


 


18
AGTATTTGGTCTC
LNA 1 + 3
M13-ASPH47


 


19
AGTATTTGGTCT
LNA 1 + 2
M14-ASPH47


 


20
AGTATTTGGTC
LNA 1 + 1
M15-ASPH47









Table 1 shows the nucleic acid sequences of selected oligonucleotides of the present invention as well as the modifications of the nucleotides, wherein LNA 4+4 means 4×LNAs at the 5′- and 3′-end of the oligonucleotide are modified, wherein LNA 4+3 means 4×LNAs at the 5′-end and 3×LNAs at the 3′-end of the oligonucleotide are modified, wherein LNA 3+4 means 3×LNAs at the 5′-end and 4×LNAs at the 3′-end of the oligonucleotide are modified, wherein LNA 3+3 means 3×LNAs at the 5′- and 3′-end of the oligonucleotide are modified, wherein LNA 3+2 means 3×LNAs at the 5′-end and 2×LNAs at the 3′-end of the oligonucleotide are modified, wherein LNA 2+3 means 2×LNAs at the 5′-end and 3×LNAs at the 3′-end of the oligonucleotide are modified, wherein LNA 2+2 means 2×LNAs at the 5′- and 3′-end of the oligonucleotide are modified. Alternatively, some oligonucleotides comprise ENA 4+4, i.e., 4×ENA at the 5′- and 3′- end of the oligonucleotide are modified, or ENA 3+3, i.e., 3×ENA at the 5′- and 3′- end of the oligonucleotide are modified. Further oligonucleotides comprise 2′O-meth 4+4, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises 4×2′O-methyl modified nucleotides at the 5′- and 3′-end of the oligonucleotide, or comprises 2′ fluoro 4+4, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises 4×2′ fluoro modified nucleotides at the 5′- and 3′-end. Oligonucleotides comprising LNA 3+TEG comprise 3×LNAs at the 5′-end and one triethylene glycol (TEG) at the 3′-end of the oligonucleotide. Some oligonucleotides comprise LNAs which are not arranged in a row but are separated by an unlocked (unmodified) nucleoside having for example the sequences 1LNA+1N+1LNA+8N+3LNA, 3LNA+8N+1LNA+1N+1LNA, 3LNA+8N+1LNA+1N+2LNA, 3LNA+8N+2LNA+1N+1LNA, 2LNA+1N+1LNA+8N+3LNA, 1LNA+1N+2LNA+8N+3LNA, 1LNA+2N+2LNA+8N+3LNA, 1LNA+3N+1LNA+8N+3LNA, 1LNA+2N+2LNA+8N+4LNA, 1LNA+2N+2LNA+8N+1LNA+1N+2LNA, 1LNA+1N+3LNA+8N+3LNA, 1LNA+1N+2LNA+8N+3LNA, 1LNA+2N+3LNA+8N+2LNA, or 1LNA+2N+3LNA+8N+1LNA+1N+1LNA, wherein “N” is a nucleoside without locked modification. LNA nucleosides are indicated in the sequence in bold letters, and triethylene glycol is abbreviated as TEG in this table. “ASPH” in combination with a number refers to the different oligonucleotides and their different modifications as described in Table 1. The antisense oligonucleotides of the present invention can be described differently, e.g., ASPH47, ASPH0047, ASPH_47 or ASPH_0047 referring to the same oligonucleotide. These modified oligonucleotides were tested e.g. in experiments shown in the following examples.
For the purpose of clarity and a concise description, features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.
The following examples will serve to further illustrate the present invention without, at the same time, however, constituting any limitation thereof. On the contrary, it is to be clearly understood that the scope of the present invention refers to various other embodiments, modifications, and equivalents thereof which, after reading the description herein, may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.
EXAMPLES
In the following examples, the effect of the oligonucleotides listed in Table 1 has been tested in view of the reduction and inhibition, respectively, of TGF-beta1 and/or TGF-beta2 expression. SEQ ID NO. 21 (T-LNA: CGGCATGTCTATTTTGTA, wherein 3×nucleotides at the 5′- and 3′-end are LNAs) and SEQ ID NO. 22 (scr-LNA: CGTTTAGGCTATGTACTT, wherein 3×nucleotides at the 5′- and 3′-end are LNAs) are used as control oligonucleotides, wherein SEQ ID NO. 22 (negative control) is the scrambled form of SEQ ID NO. 21 (positive control). The cells were either transfected in the presence of a transfecting agent (e.g., Lipofectamine), or in the absence of any transfecting agent (which is defined as gymnotic transfection or unassisted transfection or gymnotic delivery). In case of gymnotic delivery, the entry of the oligonucleotide into the cell solely depends on the interaction of the oligonucleotide with the cell (no agent supports the entry). Therefore, gymnotic delivery is considered to reflect better conditions of the in vivo settings.
Example 1
Either human Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cells (FIG. 3a) or mouse RenCa renal cell carcinoma cells (FIG. 3b) were treated with 1.1 μM of ASPH190, ASPH191, ASPH192, ASPH 193, ASPH 194, ASPH 195, ASPH 196, ASPH 197, ASPH 198, ASPH 199, ASPH200, ASPH201, ASPH202, ASPH203, ASPH204, ASPH205, ASPH206, ASPH207, ASPH208, ASPH209, ASPH210, ASPH211, ASPH212, ASPH213, ASPH214, ASPH215, ASPH216, ASPH217, ASPH218, ASPH219, ASPH220, ASPH221, ASPH222, or ASPH223 in the absence of a transfecting agent (gymnotic transfection or gymnotic delivery). The expression of TGF-beta1 (black column), TGF-beta2 (white column) and TGF-beta3 (striped column) mRNA was determined 72 h after transfection. Significant reduction of the expression of TGF-beta2 mRNA is demonstrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b. The negative control is scrambled LNA (scr LNA) of SEQ ID No. 22.
Example 2
Human Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cells were treated with 10 μM, 3.3 μM, 1.1 μM, 0.37 μM, and 0.12 μM of ASPH47, M1-ASPH47, M2-ASPH47, M3-ASPH47, M4-ASPH47, M5-ASPH47, M6-ASPH47, M7-ASPH47, M8-ASPH47, M9-ASPH47, M10-ASPH47, M11-ASPH47, M12-ASPH47, M13-ASPH47, M14-ASPH47, or M15-ASPH47 in the absence of a transfecting agent (gymnotic transfection or gymnotic delivery). The inhibitory effect of the modified oligonucleotides on expression of TGF-beta2 mRNA was determined 72 h after treatment start. TGF-beta2 values were normalized to GAPDH and oligonucleotide concentrations resulting in 50% reduction of TGF-beta2 mRNA (=IC50 values) were calculated. Under gymnotic transfection experimental conditions, the oligonucleotides enter the cells and strongly inhibit the expression of TGF-beta2 mRNA. The results of the experiments are shown in Table 2:














oligos
IC50 (μM)









M1_ASPH_0047
0.3 



M2_ASPH_0047
0.49



M3_ASPH_0047
1.75



M4_ASPH_0047
0.95



M5_ASPH_0047
0.85



M6_ASPH_0047
1.49



M7_ASPH_0047
n.a.



M8_ASPH_0047
0.89



M9_ASPH_0047
1.05



M10_ASPH_0047
7.75



M11_ASPH_0047
n.a.



M12_ASPH_0047
1.58



M13_ASPH_0047
1.91



M14_ASPH_0047
n.a.



M15_ASPH_0047
n.a.



ASPH_0047
 0.348










All the modified oligonucleotides show an IC50 in the submicromolar to lower submicromolar range, showing that they have extremely high potency even without the requirement of a transfection reagent.
Example 3
Human Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cells were transfected with 20, 6.67, 2.22, 0.74, 0.25, 0.08 or 0.009 μM of the modified oligonucleotide ASPH47, and results are shown in FIG. 4a. Negative control is the scrambled oligonucleotide (scr LNA) of SEQ ID No. 22 (FIG. 4b). Cells were transfected in the absence of a transfecting agent (gymnotic transfection or gymnotic delivery). The oligonucleotides were added to the cells for 3 days, which were incubated at 37 ° C. Thereafter medium was exchanged with fresh oligonucleotide containing medium and cells were incubated for further 4 days at 37° C. TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 protein levels in cell supernatants were determined by ELISA. ASPH47 specifically inhibits the expression of TGF-beta2 in a dose-dependent manner and does not show target inhibiting effect on TGF-beta1 (FIG. 4a). The scrLNA of SQE ID No. 22 does not show any inhibiting effect on the expression of TGF-beta1 or TGF-beta2, even if the concentrations were doubled (40, 13.33, 4.44, 1.48, 0.49, 0.16, 0.05, or 0.02 μM) in comparison to the individual concentrations of ASPH47. Results for TGF-beta1 are indicated in diamonds, and results for TGF-beta2 in squares in FIGS. 4a and 4b.

## Claims

1. A method of inhibiting and/or treating a malignant and/or benign tumor, an immunologic disease, fibrosis, or an ophthalmic disease comprising: administering a pharmaceutical composition to a subject in need thereof, said pharmaceutical composition comprising:
an antisense oligonucleotide, wherein said antisense oligonucleotide comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO.17, and SEQ ID NO. 18 wherein said antisense oligonucleotide is 10 to 18 nucleotides in length and wherein one or more nucleotide(s) of the oligonucleotide is/are modified.

2. A method of inhibiting and/or treating a malignant and/or benign tumor, an immunologic disease, fibrosis, or an ophthalmic disease comprising: administering a pharmaceutical composition to a subject in need thereof, said pharmaceutical composition comprising:
an antisense oligonucleotide, wherein said antisense oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of AGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 3), AAGTATTTGGTCTC (SEQ ID NO. 4), AAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 5), CAAAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 2), AGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 6), AGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 6), AGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 6), AGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 6), AAGTATTTGGTCTC (SEQ ID NO. 6), AGTATTTGGTCTCCA (SEQ ID NO. 7), AGTATTTGGTCTCCA (SEQ ID NO. 7), AGTATTTGGTCTCCA (SEQ ID NO. 7), AGTATTTGGTCTCCA (SEQ ID NO. 7), AGTATTTGGTCTCCA (SEQ ID NO. 7), AGTATTTGGTCTCCA (SEQ ID NO. 7), AGTATTTGGTCTCCA (SEQ ID NO. 7), AAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 8), AAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 8), AAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 8), AAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 8), AAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 8), AAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 8), CAAAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 2), CAAAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 2), CAAAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 2), CAAAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 2), CAAAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 2), CAAAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 2), CAAAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 2), CAAAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 2), CAAAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 2), CAAAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 2), CAAAGTATTTGGTCTCC-TEG (SEQ ID NO. 2), CAAAGTATTTGGTCTCC-TEG (SEQ ID NO. 2), CAAAGTATTTGGTCTC (SEQ ID NO. 9), CAAAGTATTTGGTCT (SEQ ID NO. 10), CAAAGTATTTGGTC (SEQ ID NO. 11), AAAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 12), AAAGTATTTGGTCTC (SEQ ID NO. 13), AAAGTATTTGGTCT (SEQ ID NO. 14), AAAGTATTTGGTC (SEQ ID NO. 15), AAGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 5), AAGTATTTGGTCTC (SEQ ID NO. 4), AAGTATTTGGTCT (SEQ ID NO. 16), AAGTATTTGGTC (SEQ ID NO. 17), AGTATTTGGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO. 3), AGTATTTGGTCTC (SEQ ID NO. 18), AGTATTTGGTCT (SEQ ID NO. 19), and AGTATTTGGTC (SEQ ID NO. 20);
wherein the nucleotides in bold are LNA-modified nucleotides.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is directed to inhibiting and/or treating a malignant and/or benign tumor, and wherein the tumor is at least one of solid tumors, blood born tumors, leukemias, tumor metastasis, hemangiomas, acoustic neuromas, neurofibromas, trachomas, pyogenic granulomas, psoriasis, astrocytoma, acoustic neuroma, blastoma, Ewing's tumor, craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, medulloblastoma, glioma, hemangloblastoma, Hodgkins-lymphoma, medullablastoma, leukaemia, mesothelioma, neuroblastoma, neurofibroma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, pinealoma, retinoblastoma, sarcoma, seminoma, trachomas, Wilm's tumor, bile duct carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, brain tumor, breast cancer, bronchogenic carcinoma, carcinoma of the kidney, cervical cancer, choriocarcinoma, cystadenocarcinome, embryonal carcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, esophageal cancer, cervical carcinoma, colon carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, endometrial cancer, gallbladder cancer, gastric cancer, head cancer, liver carcinoma, lung carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, neck cancer, non-small-cell bronchogenic/lung carcinoma, ovarian cancer, pancreas carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinoma, prostata cancer, small intestine carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, rectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma, skin cancer, small-cell bronchogenic/lung carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, testicular carcinoma, or uterine cancer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is directed to inhibiting and/or treating ophthalmic disease and wherein the ophthalmic disease is selected from the group consisting of glaucoma, posterior capsular opacification, dry eye, macular degeneration, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular endma, cataract, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndrome.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the method is directed to inhibiting and/or treating ophthalmic disease and wherein the ophthalmic disease is selected from the group consisting of glaucoma, posterior capsular opacification, dry eye, macular degeneration, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular endma, cataract, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndrome.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the method is directed to inhibiting and/or treating a malignant and/or benign tumor, and wherein the tumor is at least one of solid tumors, blood born tumors, leukemias, tumor metastasis, hemangiomas, acoustic neuromas, neurofibromas, trachomas, pyogenic granulomas, psoriasis, astrocytoma, acoustic neuroma, blastoma, Ewing's tumor, craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, medulloblastoma, glioma, hemangloblastoma, Hodgkins-lymphoma, medullablastoma, leukaemia, mesothelioma, neuroblastoma, neurofibroma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, pinealoma, retinoblastoma, sarcoma, seminoma, trachomas, Wilm's tumor, bile duct carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, brain tumor, breast cancer, bronchogenic carcinoma, carcinoma of the kidney, cervical cancer, choriocarcinoma, cystadenocarcinome, embryonal carcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, esophageal cancer, cervical carcinoma, colon carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, endometrial cancer, gallbladder cancer, gastric cancer, head cancer, liver carcinoma, lung carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, neck cancer, non-small-cell bronchogenic/lung carcinoma, ovarian cancer, pancreas carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinoma, prostata cancer, small intestine carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, rectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma, skin cancer, small-cell bronchogenic/lung carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, testicular carcinoma, or uterine cancer.