Patent ID: 8017763

Claim:
An isolated oligonucleotide agent, comprising a nucleotide sequence consisting of from 12 to 23 nucleotides in length sufficiently complementary to a microRNA target sequence, wherein the nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide agent differs by no more than 1 or 2 nucleotides from full complementary to the microRNA target sequence, wherein the microRNA target sequence has the nucleobase sequence of miR-21, and wherein the oligonucleotide has the structure (I): (5′) Q x Q z 1 (Q y ) n Q z 2 Q z 3 Q z 4 Q−(3′) (I) wherein: each Q is independently a 2′-modified nucleoside; x, z 1 , z 2 , z 3 , and z 4 are each independently where one of A and B is S while the other is O; y is n =6−17; L is wherein: X is N(CO)R 7 , or NR 7 ; each of R 1 , R 3 and R 9 , is independently, H, OH, or —CH 2 OR b , provided that at least one of R 1 , R 3 and R 9 is OH and at least one of R 1 , R 3 and R 9 is —CH 2 OR b ; R 7 is C 1 -C 20 alkyl substituted with NR c R d or NHC(O)R d ; R c is H or C 1 -C 6 alkyl; R d is a carbohydrate radical; or a steroid radical, which is optionally tethered to at least one carbohydrate radical; and R b is where one of A and B is S while the other is O.