The invention relates to the fields of medicine and immunology. In particular, it relates to novel antisense oligonucleotides that may be used in the treatment, prevention and/or delay of Usher Syndrome type II and/or USH2A-associated non syndromic retina degeneration, especially by skipping a pseudo exon (PE40) between exon 40 and 41 in the human USH2A gene.

The present invention includes compositions and methods for the treatment of a medical condition or disease utilizing editing oligonucleotides. The editing oligonucleotides contain a an oligonucleotide strand of about 10 to about 50 nucleotides on each side of the editing moiety which may contain a sugar or linker that positions the active editing moiety in the proper location for hybridization to the target nucleic acid. The editing oligonucleotides may also contain at least one nucleotide sequence change from the targeted sequence in the genome. The method includes modifying a genomic sequence within a cell utilizing an editing oligonucleotide without additional proteins or nucleic acids to assist in the editing process. The editing oligonucleotide may comprise backbone modifications that increase the nuclease stability of the oligonucleotide as compared to unmodified oligonucleotides or oligonucleotides having three phosphorothioates on each terminus.

RNAi agents for inhibiting the expression of the alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) gene, compositions including AAT RNAi agents, and methods of use are described. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions including one or more AAT RNAi agents together with one or more excipients capable of delivering the RNAi agent(s) to a liver cell in vivo. Delivery of the AAT RNAi agent(s) to liver cells in vivo inhibits AAT gene expression and treats diseases associated with AAT deficiency such as chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, transaminitis, cholestasis, fibrosis, and fulminant hepatic failure.

The present disclosure relates to RNAi agents, for example, double stranded RNAi agents, able to inhibit HIF-2 alpha (EPAS1) gene expression. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions that include HIF-2 alpha RNAi agents and methods of use thereof. The HIF-2 alpha RNAi agents disclosed herein may be linked or conjugated to targeting ligands (such as compounds that have affinity for integrins, including alpha-v-beta-3 and alpha-v-beta-5 integrins) and pharmacokinetic (PK) enhancers, to facilitate the delivery to cells and tissues, including to clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) cells and tumors. Delivery of compositions comprising the HIF-2 alpha RNAi agents in vivo provides for inhibition of HIF-2 alpha gene expression. The HIF-2 alpha RNAi agents can be used in methods of treatment of various diseases and disorders, including ccRCC.

Described herein are methods and compositions that provide highly efficient nucleic acid amplification. In some embodiments, this allows a 3-fold or greater increase of amplification product for each amplification cycle and therefore increased sensitivity and speed over conventional PCR. Modified bases can be employed in primers to provide this base-3 or greater amplification with satisfactory PCR cycle times, which are improved, as compared to those observed in the absence of modified bases.

The current invention provides an improved oligonucleotide and its use for treating, ameliorating, preventing, delaying and/or treating a human cis-element repeat instability associated genetic neuromuscular or neurodegenerative disorder.

RNAi agents for inhibiting the expression of the alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) gene, compositions including AAT RNAi agents, and methods of use are described. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions including one or more AAT RNAi agents together with one or more excipients capable of delivering the RNAi agent(s) to a liver cell in vivo. Delivery of the AAT RNAi agent(s) to liver cells in vivo inhibits AAT gene expression and treats diseases associated with AAT deficiency such as chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, transaminitis, cholestasis, fibrosis, and fulminant hepatic failure.

The present disclosure provides oligomeric compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide having a central region comprising one or more modifications. In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides oligomeric compounds having an improved therapeutic index or an increased maximum tolerated dose.

Described herein are small molecule splicing modulator compounds that modulate splicing of mRNA, such as pre-mRNA, encoded by genes, and methods of use of the small molecule splicing modulator compounds for modulating splicing and treating diseases and conditions.

Provided are peptide nucleic acid derivatives targeting a part of the human HIF-1α pre-mRNA. The peptide nucleic acid derivatives potently induce exon skipping to yield splice variants of HIF-1α mRNA in cells, and are useful to treat indications or conditions involving the overexpression of HIF-1α.