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Ye X, Holland R, Wood M, Pasetka C, Palmer L, Samaridou E, McClintock K, Borisevich V, Geisbert TW, Cross RW, Heyes J. Combination treatment of mannose and GalNAc conjugated small interfering RNA protects against lethal Marburg virus infection. Mol Ther 2023; 31:269-281. [PMID: 36114672 PMCID: PMC9840110 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Marburg virus (MARV) infection results in severe viral hemorrhagic fever with mortalities up to 90%, and there is a pressing need for effective therapies. Here, we established a small interfering RNA (siRNA) conjugate platform that enabled successful subcutaneous delivery of siRNAs targeting the MARV nucleoprotein. We identified a hexavalent mannose ligand with high affinity to macrophages and dendritic cells, which are key cellular targets of MARV infection. This ligand enabled successful siRNA conjugate delivery to macrophages both in vitro and in vivo. The delivered hexa-mannose-siRNA conjugates rendered substantial target gene silencing in macrophages when supported by a mannose functionalized endosome release polymer. This hexa-mannose-siRNA conjugate was further evaluated alongside our hepatocyte-targeting GalNAc-siRNA conjugate, to expand targeting of infected liver cells. In MARV-Angola-infected guinea pigs, these platforms offered limited survival benefit when used as individual agents. However, in combination, they achieved up to 100% protection when dosed 24 h post infection. This novel approach, using two different ligands to simultaneously deliver siRNA to multiple cell types relevant to infection, provides a convenient subcutaneous route of administration for treating infection by these dangerous pathogens. The mannose conjugate platform has potential application to other diseases involving macrophages and dendritic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Ye
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | - Richard Holland
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | - Mark Wood
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | - Chris Pasetka
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | - Lorne Palmer
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | - Eleni Samaridou
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | | | - Viktoriya Borisevich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Thomas W Geisbert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Robert W Cross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - James Heyes
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada.
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3
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Mani N, Cole AG, Phelps JR, Ardzinski A, Burns R, Chiu T, Cuconati A, Dorsey BD, Evangelista E, Fan K, Guo F, Harasym TO, Kadhim S, Kowalski R, Kultgen SG, Lee ACH, Li AH, Majeski SA, Miller A, Pasetka C, Reid SP, Rijnbrand R, Micolochick Steuer HM, Stever K, Tang S, Teng X, Wang X, Sofia MJ. Preclinical characterization of AB-506, an inhibitor of HBV replication targeting the viral core protein. Antiviral Res 2021; 197:105211. [PMID: 34826506 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2021.105211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
AB-506, a small-molecule inhibitor targeting the HBV core protein, inhibits viral replication in vitro (HepAD38 cells: EC50 of 0.077 μM, CC50 > 25 μM) and in vivo (HBV mouse model: ∼3.0 log10 reductions in serum HBV DNA compared to the vehicle control). Binding of AB-506 to HBV core protein accelerates capsid assembly and inhibits HBV pgRNA encapsidation. Furthermore, AB-506 blocks cccDNA establishment in HBV-infected HepG2-hNTCP-C4 cells and primary human hepatocytes, leading to inhibition of viral RNA, HBsAg, and HBeAg production (EC50 from 0.64 μM to 1.92 μM). AB-506 demonstrated activity across HBV genotypes A-H and maintains antiviral activity against nucleos(t)ide analog-resistant variants in vitro. Evaluation of AB-506 against a panel of core variants showed that T33N/Q substitutions results in >200-fold increase in EC50 values, while L30F, L37Q, and I105T substitutions showed an 8 to 20-fold increase in EC50 values in comparison to the wild-type. In vitro combinations of AB-506 with NAs or an RNAi agent were additive to moderately synergistic. AB-506 exhibits good oral bioavailability, systemic exposure, and higher liver to plasma ratios in rodents, a pharmacokinetic profile supporting clinical development for chronic hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagraj Mani
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA.
| | - Andrew G Cole
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Janet R Phelps
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Andrzej Ardzinski
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Robbin Burns
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Tim Chiu
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Andrea Cuconati
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Bruce D Dorsey
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Ellen Evangelista
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Kristi Fan
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Fang Guo
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Troy O Harasym
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Salam Kadhim
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Roseann Kowalski
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Steven G Kultgen
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Amy C H Lee
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Alice H Li
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Sara A Majeski
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Angela Miller
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Chris Pasetka
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Stephen P Reid
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Rene Rijnbrand
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | | | - Kim Stever
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Sunny Tang
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Xiaowei Teng
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Xiaohe Wang
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
| | - Michael J Sofia
- Arbutus Biopharma Inc., 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, PA, 18974, USA
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4
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Thi EP, Dhillon AP, Ardzinski A, Bidirici-Ertekin L, Cobarrubias KD, Cuconati A, Kondratowicz AS, Kwak K, Li AHL, Miller A, Pasetka C, Pei L, Phelps JR, Snead NM, Wang X, Ye X, Sofia MJ, Lee ACH. ARB-1740, a RNA Interference Therapeutic for Chronic Hepatitis B Infection. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:725-737. [PMID: 30403127 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Current approved nucleoside analogue treatments for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are effective at controlling viral titer but are not curative and have minimal impact on the production of viral proteins such as surface antigen (HBsAg), the HBV envelope protein believed to play a role in maintaining the immune tolerant state required for viral persistence. Novel agents are needed to effect HBV cure, and reduction of HBV antigenemia may potentiate activation of effective and long-lasting host immune control. ARB-1740 is a clinical stage RNA interference agent composed of three siRNAs delivered using lipid nanoparticle technology. In a number of cell and animal models of HBV, ARB-1740 caused HBV RNA reduction, leading to inhibition of multiple elements of the viral life cycle including HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBcAg viral proteins as well as replication marker HBV DNA. ARB-1740 demonstrated pan-genotypic activity in vitro and in vivo, targeting three distinct highly conserved regions of the HBV genome, and effectively inhibited replication of nucleoside analogue-resistant HBV variants. Combination of ARB-1740 with a capsid inhibitor and pegylated interferon-alpha led to greater liver HBsAg reduction which correlated with more robust induction of innate immune responses in a human chimeric mouse model of HBV. The preclinical profile of ARB-1740 demonstrates the promise of RNA interference and HBV antigen reduction in treatment strategies driving toward a cure for HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily P. Thi
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Ammen P. Dhillon
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Andrzej Ardzinski
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Lale Bidirici-Ertekin
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Kyle D. Cobarrubias
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Andrea Cuconati
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | | | - Kaylyn Kwak
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Alice H. L. Li
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Angela Miller
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Chris Pasetka
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Luying Pei
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Janet R. Phelps
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Nicholas M. Snead
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Xiaohe Wang
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Xin Ye
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Michael J. Sofia
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
| | - Amy C. H. Lee
- Arbutus Biopharma, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 United States
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