POLYION COMPLEX CAPABLE OF EFFICIENTLY DELIVERING MRNA INTO LIVING BODY, AND DRUG AND METHOD FOR TREATING ARTHROPATHY IN WHICH SAID COMPLEX IS USED
The present invention provides a polyion complex which can efficiently deliver mRNA into a living body as well as a therapeutic agent and a therapeutic method of arthropathy in which the polyion complex is used. For example, there is provided a polyion complex comprising a cationic polymer and mRNA, wherein the cationic polymer is a polymer comprising a cationic unnatural amino acid as a monomer unit and the cationic unnatural amino acid is an amino acid having a group represented by —(NH—(CH 2 ) 2 ) p —NH 2 , wherein p is 2, 3 or 4, as a side chain.
1 : A polyion complex comprising a cationic polymer and mRNA,
wherein the cationic polymer is a polymer comprising a cationic unnatural amino acid as a monomer unit and the cationic unnatural amino acid is an amino acid having a group represented by —(NH—(CH 2 ) 2 ) p —NH 2 , wherein p is 2, 3 or 4, as a side chain.
2 : The polyion complex according to claim 1 , wherein the cationic polymer is a block copolymer with polyethylene glycol.
3 : The polyion complex according to claim 1 , wherein the cationic polymer is represented by formula (I):
wherein
R 1 is polyethylene glycol and may be linked to an amino acid neighboring the polyethylene glycol through a linker,
R 2 is methylene or ethylene,
R 3 is a group represented by —(NH—(CH 2 ) 2 ) p —NH 2 , and p is 2, 3 or 4,
R 4 is hydrogen, a protecting group, a hydrophobic group, or a polymerizable group,
X is a cationic natural amino acid,
n is any integer from 2 to 5000,
n 1 is any integer from 0 to 5000,
n 3 is any integer from 0 to 5000,
n−n 1 −n 3 is an integer equal to or greater than 0, and
though the repeating units in the formula are shown in a particular order for convenience of description, the repeating units may be present in any order and the repeating units may be present at random, and each of the repeating units may be the same or different.
4 : A pharmaceutical composition for treating arthropathy, comprising the polyion complex according to claim 1 ,
wherein the mRNA is an mRNA of a factor promoting joint formation.
5 : The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 4 , wherein p is 3 or 4.
6 : The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 5 , wherein p is 4.
7 : The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 4 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for administration once every 2 days or once every 3 days.
8 : The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 5 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for administration once every 7 days.
9 : The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 4 , wherein the arthropathy is osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
10 : A delivery agent suitable for use in delivering mRNA into cells, comprising the polyion complex according to claim 3 , wherein p is 3 or 4.
11 : The delivery agent according to claim 10 , wherein p is 4.