Antisense expression vectors may be covered by patents. There are some examples of antisense RNA expression vectors inhibiting the complementary target, but there are many more examples in which this approach fails. Inhibition at the protein level is initially dependent upon the protein half-life. For proteins with long half-lives, the inhibition at the protein level lags behind the RNA inhibition. Sequitur's long term inhibition strategy allows for high levels of inhibition of stable proteins.
Animal studies are much more complex than cell culture.
We provide 0.2 micron filtered oligomers in PBS for animal trials. We believe that efficient antisense in animals may require intracellular delivery systems. Unfortunately, Sequitur's Oligofectins, like other cationic lipids are not likely to function well in animals. We are collaborating with Inex Pharmaceuticals to encapsulate Sequitur's oligomers in Inex's lipid based intracellular lipid delivery systems that function in animals. I. Send Sequitur target gene sequences, and we will select 3-6 antisense sequences and one control sequence.