Methods and compositions for the specific inhibition of transthyretin (TTR) by double-stranded RNA

1. A double stranded nucleic acid (dsNA) comprising first and second nucleic acid strands comprising RNA, wherein said first strand is 15-66 nucleotides in length and said second strand of said dsNA is 20-66 nucleotides in length, wherein said second oligonucleotide strand is complementary to a target transthyretin mRNA sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1992 and 1994 along at least 20 nucleotides of said second oligonucleotide strand length to reduce transthyretin target mRNA expression when said double stranded nucleic acid is introduced into a mammalian cell, wherein said second strand comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 456 and 458, wherein said dsNA comprises a modified nucleotide.

2. The dsNA of claim 1 , comprising a duplex region selected from the group consisting of at least 25 base pairs, 19-21 base pairs, and 21-25 base pairs.

3. The dsNA of claim 1 , wherein the 3′ end of the first strand and the 5′ end of the second strand are joined by a polynucleotide sequence comprising ribonucleotides, deoxyribonucleotides or both, optionally wherein the polynucleotide sequence comprises a tetraloop sequence.

4. The dsNA of claim 1 , comprising a pair of first strand/second strand sequences selected from the group consisting of TTR-255 and TTR-257 of Table 2.

5. The dsNA of claim 1 , wherein said modified nucleotide is selected from the group consisting of 2′-O-methyl, 2′-methoxyethoxy, 2′-fluoro, 2′-allyl, 2′-O-[2-(methylamino)-2-oxoethyl], 4′-thio, 4′-CH 2 —O-2′-bridge, 4′-(CH 2 ) 2 —O-2′-bridge, 2′-LNA, 2′-amino and 2′-O—(N-methlycarbamate).

6. The dsNA of claim 1 , a wherein said modified nucleotide is selected from the group consisting of a deoxyribonucleotide, a dideoxyribonucleotide, an acyclonucleotide, a 3′-deoxyadenosine (cordycepin), a 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT), a 2′,3′-dideoxyinosine (ddI), a 2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-thiacytidine (3TC), a 2′,3′-didehydro-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine (d4T), a monophosphate nucleotide of 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT), a 2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-thiacytidine (3TC) and a monophosphate nucleotide of 2′,3′-didehydro-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine (d4T), a 4-thiouracil, a 5-bromouracil, a 5-iodouracil, a 5-(3-aminoallyl)-uracil, a 2′-O-alkyl ribonucleotide, a 2′-O-methyl ribonucleotide, a 2′-amino ribonucleotide, a 2′-fluoro ribonucleotide, and a locked nucleic acid.

7. The dsNA of claim 1 , comprising a phosphate backbone modification selected from the group consisting of a phosphonate, a phosphorothioate and a phosphotriester.

8. The dsNA claim 1 , wherein said dsNA is attached to a moiety selected from the group consisting of a GalNAc moiety, a cholesterol and a cholesterol targeting ligand.

9. A method for reducing expression of a target transthyretin gene in a mammalian cell, comprising contacting a mammalian cell in vitro with a dsNA of claim 1 in an amount sufficient to reduce expression of a target transthyretin mRNA in said cell.

10. A method for reducing expression of a target transthyretin mRNA in a mammal, comprising administering a dsNA of claim 1 to a mammal in an amount sufficient to reduce expression of a target transthyretin mRNA in the mammal.

11. A method for treating or preventing a transthyretin-associated disease or disorder in a subject comprising administering to said subject in need thereof an amount of a dsNA of claim 1 sufficient to treat or prevent said disease or disorder in said subject.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said disease or disorder is amyloidosis.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said subject is human.

14. A formulation comprising the dsNA of claim 1 , wherein said dsNA is present in an amount effective to reduce target transthyretin mRNA levels when dsNA is introduced into a mammalian cell in vitro by an amount (expressed by %) selected from the group consisting of at least 10%, at least 50% and at least 80-90%.

15. A formulation comprising the dsNA of claim 1 , wherein said dsNA is present in an amount effective to reduce target transthyretin mRNA levels when said dsNA is introduced into a cell of a mammalian subject by an amount (expressed by %) selected from the group consisting of at least 10%, at least 50% and at least 80-90%.

16. A double stranded nucleic acid (dsNA) comprising first and second nucleic acid strands comprising RNA, wherein said first strand is 15-66 nucleotides in length and said second strand of said dsNA is 20-66 nucleotides in length, wherein said second oligonucleotide strand is complementary to a target transthyretin mRNA sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1992 and 1994 along at least 20 nucleotides of said second oligonucleotide strand length to reduce transthyretin target mRNA expression when said double stranded nucleic acid is introduced into a mammalian cell, wherein said first strand comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 72 and 74, wherein said dsNA comprises a modified nucleotide.

17. The dsNA of claim 16 , wherein the 3′ end of the first strand and the 5′ end of the second strand are joined by a polynucleotide sequence comprising ribonucleotides, deoxyribonucleotides or both, optionally wherein the polynucleotide sequence comprises a tetraloop sequence.

18. The dsNA of claim 16 , comprising a pair of first strand/second strand sequences of TTR-255 of Table 2.

19. The dsNA of claim 16 , wherein said modified nucleotide is selected from the group consisting of 2′-O-methyl, 2′-methoxyethoxy, 2′-fluoro, 2′-allyl, 2′-O-[2-(methylamino)-2-oxoethyl], 4′-thio, 4′-CH 2 —O-2′-bridge, 4′-(CH 2 ) 2 —O-2′-bridge, 2′-LNA, 2′-amino and 2′-O—(N-methlycarbamate).

20. The dsNA of claim 16 , wherein said modified nucleotide is selected from the group consisting of a deoxyribonucleotide, a dideoxyribonucleotide, an acyclonucleotide, a 3′-deoxyadenosine (cordycepin), a 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT), a 2′,3′-dideoxyinosine (ddI), a 2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-thiacytidine (3TC), a 2′,3′-didehydro-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine (d4T), a monophosphate nucleotide of 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT), a 2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-thiacytidine (3TC) and a monophosphate nucleotide of 2′,3′-didehydro-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine (d4T), a 4-thiouracil, a 5-bromouracil, a 5-iodouracil, a 5-(3-aminoallyl)-uracil, a 2′-O-alkyl ribonucleotide, a 2′-O-methyl ribonucleotide, a 2′-amino ribonucleotide, a 2′-fluoro ribonucleotide, and a locked nucleic acid.

21. The dsNA of claim 16 , comprising a phosphate backbone modification selected from the group consisting of a phosphonate, a phosphorothioate and a phosphotriester.

22. The dsNA claim 16 , wherein said dsNA is attached to a moiety selected from the group consisting of a GalNAc moiety, a cholesterol and a cholesterol targeting ligand.

23. A method for reducing expression of a target transthyretin gene in a mammalian cell comprising contacting a mammalian cell in vitro with a dsNA of claim 16 in an amount sufficient to reduce expression of a target transthyretin mRNA in said cell.

24. A method for reducing expression of a target transthyretin mRNA in a mammal, comprising administering a dsNA of claim 16 to a mammal in an amount sufficient to reduce expression of a target transthyretin mRNA in the mammal.

25. A method for treating or preventing a transthyretin-associated disease or disorder in a subject comprising administering to said subject in need thereof an amount of a dsNA of claim 16 sufficient to treat or prevent said disease or disorder in said subject.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein said disease or disorder is amyloidosis.

27. The method of claim 25 , wherein said subject is human.

28. A formulation comprising the dsNA of claim 16 , wherein said dsNA is present in an amount effective to reduce target transthyretin mRNA levels when dsNA is introduced into a mammalian cell in vitro by an amount (expressed by %) selected from the group consisting of at least 10%, at least 50% and at least 80-90%.

29. A formulation comprising the dsNA of claim 16 , wherein said dsNA is present in an amount effective to reduce target transthyretin mRNA levels when said dsNA is introduced into a cell of a mammalian subject by an amount (expressed by %) selected from the group consisting of at least 10%, at least 50% and at least 80-90%.

30. The dsNA of claim 16 , comprising a duplex region selected from the group consisting of at least 25 base pairs, 19-21 base pairs, and 21-25 base pairs.