The comprehensive structure-activity relationships of triantennary GalNAc conjugated ASOs for enhancing potency via ASGR mediated delivery to hepatocytes is reported. Seventeen GalNAc clusters were assembled from six distinct scaffolds and attached to ASOs. The resulting ASO conjugates were evaluated in ASGR binding assays, in primary hepatocytes, and in mice. Five structurally distinct GalNAc clusters were chosen for more extensive evaluation using ASOs targeting SRB-1, A1AT, FXI, TTR, and ApoC III mRNAs. GalNAc-ASO conjugates exhibited excellent potencies (ED50 0.5-2 mg/kg) for reducing the targeted mRNAs and proteins. This work culminated in the identification of a simplified tris-based GalNAc cluster (THA-GN3), which can be efficiently assembled using readily available starting materials and conjugated to ASOs using a solution phase conjugation strategy. GalNAc-ASO conjugates thus represent a viable approach for enhancing potency of ASO drugs in the clinic without adding significant complexity or cost to existing protocols for manufacturing oligonucleotide drugs.

A novel universal linker (UnyLinker) molecule which has a conformationally rigid and chemically stable bridge head ring oxygen atom carrying a conventional 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl (DMT) and succinyl groups locked in a syn orientation has been developed to carry out oligonucleotide synthesis efficiently and smoothly. The geometry of the vicinal syn oxygen functionalized group allows fast and clean cleavage under standard aqueous ammonia deprotection conditions to afford high-quality oligonucleotides. No base modification is observed, based on the ion-pair UPLC-UV-MS (IP-HPLC-UV-MS) method with detection limit of <0.1%. A class of impurities formed by branching from the exocyclic amino group of nucleosides loaded onto a solid support has been eliminated by the use of this method. Examples demonstrating the versatile nature of this molecule are shown by syntheses of different chemistries such as 2'-deoxy, 2'-O-methyl, 2'-O-methoxyethyl, Lock nucleic acids (LNA), 2'-alpha-fluoro nucleic acids (FANA), conjugates such as 5'-phosphate monoester and biotin, and phosphate diester and phosphorothioate backbone modifications. This molecule was loaded onto several commercial solid supports and used in both gas-sparged and packed-bed automated DNA/RNA synthesizers. Large-scale syntheses (up to 700 mmol) of multiple phosphorothioate first- and second-generation antisense drugs on GE-Amersham's OligoProcess synthesizer are demonstrated further, showing that this chemistry could be used for efficient synthesis of multiple oligonucleotide drugs using a single raw material, thereby eliminating a difficult to characterize nucleoside-loaded polymer matrix used as a starting material. A mechanism for deprotection and cleavage of the linker molecule to liberate the free oligonucleotide is proposed. Characterization of the cyclic byproduct formed during release of the oligonucleotide is presented. The exo-syn configuration of the dihydroxy structure of the UnyLinker molecule is conclusively established by X-ray crystallography studies. A novel method to remove the last traces of osmium used during the synthesis of the UnyLinker molecule to reach undetectable levels (<1 ppm) is also described.

Efficient synthesis of phosphorothioate RNA (PS-RNA) is demonstrated by using phenylacetyl disulfide (PADS) in a mixture of pyridine and acetonitrile (1:1, v/v) for 3 min. Sulfurization is achieved with >99.8% stepwise efficiency. This reagent also performs efficiently during synthesis of RNA containing PS:PO mixed backbone.

Incomplete sulfurization during solid-phase synthesis of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides using phosphoramidite chemistry was identified as the cause of formation of two new classes of process-related oligonucleotide impurities containing a DMTr-C-phosphonate (DMTr=4,4'-dimethoxytrityl) moiety. Phosphite triester intermediates that failed to oxidize (sulfurize) to the corresponding phosphorothioate triester react during the subsequent acid-induced (dichloroacetic acid) detritylation with the DMTr cation or its equivalent in an Arbuzov-type reaction. This leads to formation of DMTr-C-phosphonate mono- and diesters resulting in oligonucleotides modified with a DMTr-C-phosphonate moiety located internally or at the 5'terminal hydroxy group. DMTr-C-phosphonate derivatives are not detected when optimized sulfurization conditions are employed.

Efficiency of phosphorothioate oligonucleotide syntheses could be improved by increasing the concentration of dichloroacetic acid in toluene to 10% from 3% (v/v) during the detritylation step. It was also found that dichloroacetic acid is better than dichloropropionic acid when compared at similar concentrations.

It is demonstrated that the acrylonitrile (AN) generated during the ammonolysis step of oligonucleotide manufacture selectively adds to thymine residue present in ISIS 2302 to give a full-length oligonucleotide in which thymine is replaced by an N3-cyanoethylthymine residue. Treatment of support-bound ISIS 2302 with a solution of triethylamine in CH3CN before ammonolysis is sufficient to prevent formation of this class of impurity.

It is demonstrated that phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotides can be synthesized on scales from 1 mu mol to 150 mmol using phenylacetyl disulfide (PADS) as an efficient and economical replacement for Beaucage reagent. A 0.2 M solution of PADS in a mixture of 3-picoline and acetonitrile (1:1 v/v) as solvent with 60-120 s contact time efficiently (>99.6%) sulfurizes phosphite triesters to phosphorothioate triester linkages. Phenylacetyl disulfide reagent is inexpensive and scaleable and is currently being used by us for the manufacture of antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotide active pharmaceutical ingredients (API).

It is demonstrated that mixed-sequence phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotides can be synthesized on scales from 1 μmol up to 80 mmol without using chlorinated solvents such as dichloromethane or dichloroethane, while preserving both high yield and purity of the product. A solution of dichloroacetic acid in organic solvents (e.g., toluene, xylenes, benzotrifluoride) cleanly and efficiently removes the 4,4‘-dimethoxytrityl (DMTr) group from the 5‘-terminus of the growing oligonucleotide chain during synthesis on solid support. We have therefore replaced hazardous dichloromethane, formerly used in oligonucleotide synthesis, as the solvent for DMTr-removal, with toluene.

It is demonstrated that mixed-sequence phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotides can be synthesized on scales up to 80 mmol without using chlorinated solvents like dichloromethane, while preserving both high yield and purity of the product. A solution of dichloroacetic acid in toluene cleanly and efficiently removes 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl groups from the 5′-terminus of the growing oligonucleotide chain during synthesis on solid support. Ammonium hydroxide treatment at room temperature at atmospheric pressure furnishes deprotected oligonucleotides reducing the risk that pressurized reaction glass vessels pose. To ensure facile separation of polymer beads (Primer HL 30) and oligonucleotide solution, minimum agitation of the reaction mixture is applied.

It is demonstrated that mixed-sequence phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotides can be synthesized on scales up to 80 mmol without using chlorinated solvents like dichloromethane, while preserving both high yield and purity of the product. A solution of dichloroacetic acid in toluene cleanly and efficiently removes 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl groups from the 5′-terminus of the growing oligonucleotide chain during synthesis on solid support. Ammonium hydroxide treatment at room temperature at atmospheric pressure furnishes deprotected oligonucleotides reducing the risk that pressurized reaction glass vessels pose. To ensure facile separation of polymer beads (Primer HL 30) and oligonucleotide solution, minimum agitation of the reaction mixture is applied.