ANTISENSE TECHNOLOGY
ANTISENSE TECHNOLOGY
An antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) is a single-stranded
deoxyribonucleotide, which is complementary to the mRNA target. The goal of the
antisense approach is the downregulation of a molecular target, usually
achieved by induction of RNase H endonuclease activity that cleaves the RNA-DNA
heteroduplex with a significant reduction of the target gene translation .
Other ASO-driven mechanisms include inhibition of 5′ cap formation, alteration
of splicing process (splice-switching), and steric hindrance of ribosomal
activity .
Drug
# There are six
FDA-approved drugs based on oligonucleotide therapy:-
(1) fomivirsen for
treatment of CMV retinitis in AIDS patients.
(2) mipomersen for treatment of familial
hypercholesterolemia.
(3) Defibrotide for treatment of veno-occlusive
disease in the liver.
(4) eteplirsen for the treatment of Duchenne
muscular dystrophy.
(5) pegaptanib for the
treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
(6) nusinersen for the management of spinal
muscular atrophy.
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