The present invention provides RIG-I agonists. In certain embodiments, the agonists of the invention can be used to induce a type I interferon response in a cell.

One aspect of the present invention relates to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) agent capable of inhibiting the expression of a target gene. The sense strand of the dsRNA agent comprises at least one thermally destabilizing nucleotide, and at least one said thermally destabilizing nucleotide occurring at a site opposite to the seed region (positions 2-8) of the antisense strand; and the antisense strand of the dsRNA agent comprises at least two modified nucleotides that provide the nucleotide a steric bulk that is less than or equal to the steric bulk of a 2′-OMe modification, wherein said modified nucleotides are separated by 11 nucleotides in length. Other aspects of the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these dsRNA agents suitable for therapeutic use, and methods of inhibiting the expression of a target gene by administering these dsRNA agents, e.g., for the treatment of various disease conditions.

The invention relates to double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) compositions targeting the GPAM gene, as well as methods of inhibiting expression of GPAM, and methods of treating subjects that would benefit from reduction in expression of GPAM, such as subjects having a GPAM-associated disease, disorder, or condition, using such dsRNA compositions.

The invention relates to double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) compositions targeting the GPAM gene, as well as methods of inhibiting expression of GPAM, and methods of treating subjects that would benefit from reduction in expression of GPAM, such as subjects having a GPAM-associated disease, disorder, or condition, using such dsRNA compositions.

Single-stranded RNA molecules comprise one or more internal, non-nucleotide spacers, covalently linked with nucleotide portions of the molecule are provided. The single-stranded RNA molecules function as guide or antisense strands that are capable of inhibiting gene expression via an RNA interference mechanism, and thus represent single-stranded RNAi agents. The single-stranded RNAi molecules can be used in methods for a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic, target validation, genomic discovery, genetic engineering, and pharmacogenomic applications.

The present invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods for the study, diagnosis, and treatment of traits, diseases and conditions that respond to the modulation of PHD2 gene expression and/or activity, and/or modulate a beta-catenin gene expression pathway. Specifically, the invention relates to double-stranded nucleic acid molecules including small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules that are capable of mediating or that mediate RNA interference (RNAi) against PHD2 gene expression.

One aspect of the present invention relates to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) agent capable of inhibiting the expression of a target gene. The sense strand of the dsRNA agent comprises at least one thermally destabilizing nucleotide, and at least one said thermally destabilizing nucleotide occurring at a site opposite to the seed region (positions 2-8) of the antisense strand; and the antisense strand of the dsRNA agent comprises at least two modified nucleotides that provide the nucleotide a steric bulk that is less than or equal to the steric bulk of a 2′-OMe modification, wherein said modified nucleotides are separated by 11 nucleotides in length. Other aspects of the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these dsRNA agents suitable for therapeutic use, and methods of inhibiting the expression of a target gene by administering these dsRNA agents, e.g., for the treatment of various disease conditions.

The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of the PCSK9 gene (PCSK9 gene), comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of the PCSK9 gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and method for treating diseases caused by PCSK9 gene expression.

One aspect of the present invention relates to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) agent capable of inhibiting the expression of a target gene. The sense strand of the dsRNA agent comprises at least one thermally destabilizing nucleotide, and at least one said thermally destabilizing nucleotide occurring at a site opposite to the seed region (positions 2-8) of the antisense strand; and the antisense strand of the dsRNA agent comprises at least two modified nucleotides that provide the nucleotide a steric bulk that is less than or equal to the steric bulk of a 2′-OMe modification, wherein said modified nucleotides are separated by 11 nucleotides in length. Other aspects of the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these dsRNA agents suitable for therapeutic use, and methods of inhibiting the expression of a target gene by administering these dsRNA agents, e.g., for the treatment of various disease conditions.

Immunomodulating polynucleotides are disclosed. The immunomodulating polynucleotides may contain 5-modified uridine, 5-modified cytidine, a total of from 6 to 16 nucleotides, and/or one or more abasic spacers and/or internucleoside phosphotriesters. Also disclosed are conjugates containing a targeting moiety and one or more immunomodulating polynucleotides. The immunomodulating polynucleotides and conjugates may further contain one or more auxiliary moieties. Also disclosed are compositions containing the immunomodulating polynucleotides or the conjugates containing one or more stereochemically enriched internucleoside phosphorothioates. Further disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing the immunomodulating polynucleotides or the conjugates and methods of their use.