RNAi agent targeting MYD88 and use thereof

1 . A double-stranded RNAi-inducing nucleic acid molecule comprising a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein:

the sense strand is 15 to 17 nucleotides in length; at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of the sense strand are complementary to the antisense strand; the sense strand comprises at least one chemical modification; and

the antisense strand comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of (A) to (D) (5′->3′):

(A)

(SEQ ID NO: 5)

P-mUGGUCUGGAAGmUmCAmC*A*mU*mU*mC,

(B)

(SEQ ID NO: 6)

P-mUfGmGfUmCfUmGfGmAfAmGfUmCfAmC*fA*mU*fU*mC,

(C)

(SEQ ID NO: 7)

P-mUGmGUCUmGmGmAmAmGUCAC*mA*U*U*C,

and

(D)

(SEQ ID NO: 8)

P-mUGGfUfCfUGGAAGfUfCAfC*A*fU*fU*fC,

wherein * is a phosphorothioate linkage, m is 2′-O-methyl, f is 2′-fluoro, and P is a 5′-phosphate linkage.

2 . A double-stranded RNAi-inducing nucleic acid molecule comprising a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein:

the antisense strand is 19 to 21 nucleotides in length; at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of the antisense strand are complementary to the sense strand; the antisense strand comprises at least one chemical modification; and

the sense strand comprises the sequence selected from the group consisting of (a) and (b) (5′->3′):

(a)

(SEQ ID NO: 15)

mUmGUGACUUCCAGAC*mC*mA*Lp,

and

(b)

(SEQ ID NO: 10)

mUGmUGAmCmUmUmCmCAGAmC*mC*A*Lp,

wherein * is a phosphorothioate linkage, m is 2′-O-methyl, and Lp is a lipophilic moiety.

3 . The RNAi-inducing nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the RNAi-inducing nucleic acid molecule is siRNA.

4 . The RNAi-inducing nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the chemical modification is selected from:

a modification of at least one nucleotide bond into a phosphorothioate bond;

a modification in which an —OH group at a 2′ carbon position of a sugar structure in a nucleotide is substituted with —OCH 3 (methoxy); or

an introduction of a lipophilic moiety at a 3′-end of the sense strand, the lipophilic moiety being selected from the group consisting of cholesterol, tocopherol, stearic acid, retinoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), palmitic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and a long-chain fatty acid of at least 10 carbon atoms.

5 . The RNAi-inducing nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the RNAi-inducing nucleic acid molecule has an asymmetric double strand structure, and a 5′-end of the antisense strand and a 3′-end of the sense strand form a blunt end.

6 . The RNAi-inducing nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the RNAi-inducing nucleic acid molecule inhibits expression of myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88).

7 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating age-related macular degeneration, comprising the RNAi-inducing nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 or 2 as an active ingredient.

8 . A method of treating age-related macular degeneration in a patient, the method comprising administering the pharmaceutical composition of claim 7 by intravitreal administration to the eye of the subject.