Lipid formulated dsRNA targeting the PCSK9 gene

1. A method for reducing LDLc (low density lipoprotein cholesterol) levels in a mammal in need of treatment comprising administering a composition to the mammal, the composition comprising a nucleic acid lipid particle comprising a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of a human PCSK9 gene in a cell, wherein:

the nucleic acid lipid particle comprises a lipid formulation comprising 45-65 mol % of a cationic lipid, 5 mol % to about 10 mol %, of a non-cationic lipid, 25-40 mol % of a sterol, and 0.5-5 mol % of a PEG or PEG-modified lipid and the cationic lipid comprises MC3 (((6Z,9Z,28Z,31Z)-heptatriaconta-6,9,28,31-tetraen-19-yl 4-(dimethylamino)butanoate),

the dsRNA consists of a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein the sense strand consists of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1227 and the antisense strand consists of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1228.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a dose containing between 0.25 mg/kg and 4 mg/kg dsRNA is administered to the mammal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dsRNA is administered at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg, 0.02 mg/kg, 0.03 mg/kg, 0.04 mg/kg, 0.05 mg/kg, 0.06 mg/kg, 0.07 mg/kg, 0.08 mg/kg, 0.09 mg/kg , 0.10 mg/kg, 0.11 mg/kg, 0.12 mg/kg, 0.13 mg/kg, 0.14 mg/kg, 0.15 mg/kg, 0.16 mg/kg, 0.17 mg/kg, 0.18 mg/kg, 0.19 mg/kg, 0.20 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kg, 0.4 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.6 mg/kg, 0.7 mg/kg, 0.8 mg/kg, 0.9 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 1.1 mg/kg, 1.2 mg/kg, 1.3 mg/kg, 1.4 mg/kg, 1.5 mg/kg, 2.0 mg/kg, 3.0 mg/kg, 5.0 mg/kg 10 mg/kg 20 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, or 50 mg/kg, per single dose.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dsRNA is administered at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lipid formulation is selected from the group consisting of:

LNP11

MC3/DSPC/Cholesterol/PEG-DMG

50/10/38.5/1.5

LNP14

MC3/DSPC/Cholesterol/PEG-DMG

40/15/40/5

LNP15

MC3/DSPC/Cholesterol/PEG-DSG/GalNAc-PEG-DSG

50/10/35/4.5/0.5

LNP16

MC3/DSPC/Cholesterol/PEG-DMG

50/10/38.5/1.5

LNP17

MC3/DSPC/Cholesterol/PEG-DSG

50/10/38.5/1.5

LNP18

MC3/DSPC/Cholesterol/PEG-DMG

50/10/38.5/1.5

LNP19

MC3/DSPC/Cholesterol/PEG-DMG

50/10/35/5

LNP20

MC3/DSPC/Cholesterol/PEG-DPG

50/10/38.5/1.5 .

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each strand is modified as follows to include a 2′-O-methyl ribonucleotide as indicated by a lower case letter “c” or “u” and a phosphorothioate as indicated by a lower case letter “s”:

the dsRNA consists of a sense strand consisting of

SEQ ID NO: 1229

(5′- uucuAGAccuGuuuuGcuuTsT -3′)

and an antisense strand consisting of

SEQ ID NO: 1230

(5′- AAGcAAAAcAGGUCuAGAATsT-3′).

8. The method of claim 1 , the composition further comprising a lipoprotein.

9. The method of claim 1 , the composition further comprising apolipoprotein E (ApoE).

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dsRNA is conjugated to a lipophile.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the lipophile is cholesterol.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human having a disease and condition that can be modulated by down regulating PCSK9 gene expression.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human having a lipid imbalance, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, or hypertriglyceridemia.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human in need of LDL lowering, LDL lowering without lowering of HDL, ApoB lowering, or total cholesterol lowering.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered via topical, pulmonary, oral, or parenteral means.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered by intravenous infusion or injection.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein a second compound is co-administered with the dsRNA, wherein the second compound is selected from the group consisting of an agent for treating hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis or dyslipidemia.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein a second compound is co-administered with the dsRNA, wherein the second compound comprises a statin.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered once daily.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered at not more than 1, 2, 3, or 4 week intervals.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered at a first dose followed by administering at least one subsequent dose once a week, wherein the subsequent dose is lower than the first dose.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the subsequent dose is administered once a week for four weeks.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein administration of the first dose decreases total cholesterol levels by about 15-60%.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration results in suppression of PCSK9 expression by 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% as assayed in the liver.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration results in a decrease of LDLc levels by at least 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 60% as compared to pretreatment levels.

26. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a PCSK9 expression level, a LDLc level, an ApoB level, or a total cholesterol level in the mammal.