Vitamin-Mediated Cell Delivery of Oligonucleotides an Attractive Approach for Therapeutic Applications
Link Technologies Ltd, a specialist oligonucleotide reagent manufacturer, has announced the availability of a novel vitamin modifier, which has shown in initial tests to have the potential of improving cell delivery of oligonucleotides.
The new reagent, 5’-Niacin-CE Phosphoramidite, is easily incorporated during solid phase oligo synthesis. The niacin-based modifier from Link offers several advantages compared with the use of conventional lipophilic delivery agents, including reduced risk of in vivo toxicity, and removes the necessity of cleaving the delivery reagent once in the cell. These benefits make vitamins, including niacin, an attractive method for the delivery of therapeutic oligonucleotides, such as siRNA, into cells.
Although lipophilic modifier reagents have been shown to enhance cell penetration, vitamin-mediated cell delivery offers a distinct advantage due to the fact that vitamins are required, but not produced by cells. As such, it is believed that interaction with a specific binding protein is required before the vitamin-oligo conjugate is internalised. Not only does this enhance delivery and overcome the risk of toxicity, as the vitamin-based reagents are recognised by the cell, but it also offers some exciting potential for cell targeting.
Derived from niacin, an essential vitamin heavily involved in the biosynthesis of NAD and NADH, Link’s new vitamin modifier, 5’-Niacin-CE Phosphoramidite, is significantly less hydrophobic and less bulky than existing delivery agents. Whereas large lipophilic modifiers can supress an oligo’s function in vivo and therefore require cleaving, which is difficult to control, it is expected that with vitamin-based modifiers, intracellular cleavage of modifiers is not necessary. Potentially, this will lead to a reduction in required dosage of the therapeutic oligonucleotide, importantly minimising the risk of drug toxicity and side effects to the patient.
Catherine McKeen, Head of Technology Commercialisation, explained: “The ability to incorporate vitamin modifiers during oligo synthesis opens up significant potential to utilise a range of vitamin-oligonucleotide conjugates as a means of enhanced cellular uptake of therapeutic oligonucleotides. 5’-Niacin-CE Phosphoramidite is the second vitamin-based reagent in Link’s portfolio, alongside our tocopherol modifiers, and we will continue to add to this range.”
As an ISO 9001:2008 certified company, Link provides the novel modifier reagent in quantities ranging from milligramme to multi-gramme bulk scale, to support entire project life-cycles. Although protected by patent, Link is making this product available for purchase with an implied licence for research-use-only (RUO) applications, ensuring that the high potential of vitamin-mediated cell delivery can be easily accessed and validated in laboratories worldwide. To promote the uptake of the technology in commercial applications, Link welcomes approaches for such licences, and is committed to negotiating attractive terms to prospective commercial partners.
Related News
-
News Patients vs Pharma – who will the Inflation Reduction Act affect the most?
The Inflation Reduction Act brought in by the Biden administration in 2022 aims to give better and more equitable access to healthcare in the USA. However, pharma companies are now concerned about the other potential costs of such legislation. -
News CPHI Podcast Series: What does the changing US Pharma market mean for industry and patients alike?
In this week's episode of the CPHI Podcast Series Lucy Chard, Digital Editor for CPHI Online is joined by James Manser to discuss the political and market changes in the US pharma field. -
News CPHI Barcelona Annual Report illuminates industry trends for 2024
The CPHI Annual Survey comes into it’s 7th year to report on the predicted trends for 2024. Over 250 pharma executives were asked 35 questions, with their answers informing the industry landscape for the next year, spanning all major pharma marke... -
News Which 10 drugs are open to price negotiation with Medicare in the USA?
The Centres for Medicare & Medicaid Services, under the Biden administration in the USA, has released a list of the 10 drugs that will be open to price negotiations as part of the new legislation under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). -
News EU Medical Devices Regulation causes unintended disappearances of medical devices for children, doctors state
Doctor groups and associations have appealed to the EU to correct the EU Medical Devices Regulation law that may cause unintended shortages of essential drug and medical devices for children and rare disease patients. -
News 10 Major Drug Approvals So Far in 2023
Last year, 37 novel drugs were approved by the FDA, this was a high number for such a category, and covered many fields including oncology, demonstrating how promising further research is, and how it is only continuing to build. To date, there are alre... -
News Detecting Alzheimer's disease with a simple lateral flow test
A novel rapid diagnostic test for early-stage Alzheimer's disease has been developed using a biomarker binder from Aptamer Group along with technology from Neuro-Bio, the neurodegenerative disease experts. -
News CPHI Podcast Series: outsourcing and manufacturing trends
Listen to the CPHI Podcast Series this June to hear Gil Roth of the PBOA speak with Digital Editor Lucy Chard about the biggest trends and topics to watch in pharma outsourcing and manufacturing at the minute.
Position your company at the heart of the global Pharma industry with a CPHI Online membership
-
Your products and solutions visible to thousands of visitors within the largest Pharma marketplace
-
Generate high-quality, engaged leads for your business, all year round
-
Promote your business as the industry’s thought-leader by hosting your reports, brochures and videos within your profile
-
Your company’s profile boosted at all participating CPHI events
-
An easy-to-use platform with a detailed dashboard showing your leads and performance