SMN2 gene; Nusinersen is an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that targets the SMN2 pre-mRNA, promoting exon 7 inclusion to increase functional SMN protein production in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). [1]

By inhibiting the intronic splicing silencer in SMN2, the SMN-ASO nusinersen raises SMN levels and facilitates the inclusion of exon 7 and the production of FL-SMN2 transcripts [2].

In a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, infants with infantile-onset SMA received nusinersen (12 mg per dose) via intrathecal injection. The treatment group showed significant improvement in motor function (measured by the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination) compared to the sham control group (37% vs. 0% responders). [1] In a mouse model of SMA, co-administration of nusinersen with an NCALD-targeting ASO further improved motor function and survival compared to nusinersen alone, suggesting synergistic effects. [2]

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In the interim analysis, a significantly higher percentage of infants in the nusinersen group than in the control group had a motor-milestone response (21 of 51 infants [41%] vs. 0 of 27 [0%], P<0.001), and this result prompted early termination of the trial. In the final analysis, a significantly higher percentage of infants in the nusinersen group than in the control group had a motor-milestone response (37 of 73 infants [51%] vs. 0 of 37 [0%]), and the likelihood of event-free survival was higher in the nusinersen group than in the control group (hazard ratio for death or the use of permanent assisted ventilation, 0.53; P=0.005). The likelihood of overall survival was higher in the nusinersen group than in the control group (hazard ratio for death, 0.37; P=0.004), and infants with a shorter disease duration at screening were more likely than those with a longer disease duration to benefit from nusinersen. The incidence and severity of adverse events were similar in the two groups. Conclusions: Among infants with spinal muscular atrophy, those who received nusinersen were more likely to be alive and have improvements in motor function than those in the control group. Early treatment may be necessary to maximize the benefit of the drug. (Funded by Biogen and Ionis Pharmaceuticals; ENDEAR ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02193074 .).[1]

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pinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease causing the most frequent genetic childhood lethality. Recently, nusinersen, an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that corrects SMN2 splicing and thereby increases full-length SMN protein, has been approved by the FDA and EMA for SMA therapy. However, the administration of nusinersen in severe and/or post-symptomatic SMA-affected individuals is insufficient to counteract the disease. Therefore, additional SMN-independent therapies are needed to support the function of motoneurons and neuromuscular junctions. We recently identified asymptomatic SMN1-deleted individuals who were protected against SMA by reduced expression of neurocalcin delta (NCALD). NCALD reduction is proven to be a protective modifier of SMA across species, including worm, zebrafish, and mice. Here, we identified Ncald-ASO3-out of 450 developed Ncald ASOs-as the most efficient and non-toxic ASO for the CNS, by applying a stepwise screening strategy in cortical neurons and adult and neonatal mice. In a randomized-blinded preclinical study, a single subcutaneous low-dose SMN-ASO and a single intracerebroventricular Ncald-ASO3 or control-ASO injection were presymptomatically administered in a severe SMA mouse model. NCALD reduction of >70% persisted for about 1 month. While low-dose SMN-ASO rescues multiorgan impairment, additional NCALD reduction significantly ameliorated SMA pathology including electrophysiological and histological properties of neuromuscular junctions and muscle at P21 and motoric deficits at 3 months. The present study shows the additional benefit of a combinatorial SMN-dependent and SMN-independent ASO-based therapy for SMA. This work illustrates how a modifying gene, identified in some asymptomatic individuals, helps to develop a therapy for all SMA-affected individuals.[2]

Background: Spinal muscular atrophy is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder that is caused by an insufficient level of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. Nusinersen is an antisense oligonucleotide drug that modifies pre-messenger RNA splicing of the SMN2 gene and thus promotes increased production of full-length SMN protein. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, phase 3 efficacy and safety trial of nusinersen in infants with spinal muscular atrophy. The primary end points were a motor-milestone response (defined according to results on the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination) and event-free survival (time to death or the use of permanent assisted ventilation). Secondary end points included overall survival and subgroup analyses of event-free survival according to disease duration at screening. Only the first primary end point was tested in a prespecified interim analysis. To control the overall type I error rate at 0.05, a hierarchical testing strategy was used for the second primary end point and the secondary end points in the final analysis.[1]

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In the mouse study, SMA model mice received nusinersen (40 μg per dose) via intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection at postnatal day 1 (P1) and P5. The ASO was dissolved in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF). [2]

In clinical trials, nusinersen was generally well tolerated, with adverse events (e.g., respiratory infections) being common in both the treatment and control groups. No dose-limiting toxicities were reported. [1]

[1]. Nusinersen versus Sham Control in Infantile-Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy. N Engl J Med. 2017 Nov 2;377(18):1723-1732.

[2]. NCALD Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy in Addition to Nusinersen further Ameliorates Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Mice. Am J Hum Genet. 2019 Jul 3;105(1):221-230.

See also: Nusinersen (note moved here).

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Drug Indications
Spinraza is indicated for the treatment of 5q spinal muscular atrophy. Therefore, there is a need to develop other SMN-independent methods to maintain the lifelong function of motor neurons and neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). The advantage of this system is that the SMN and NCALD genes will be targeted via the same system (i.e., the antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) approach). We achieved downregulation of NCALD protein levels in target tissues (over 70%) by intraventricular injection of specific Ncald-ASO in P2 mice. However, the Ncald MOE gapmer ASO used to downregulate RNA showed poorer metabolic stability compared to the SMN MOE ASO (nusinersen) which restores SMN2 splicing. While SMN-ASO was very stable after subcutaneous injection and still had a positive effect on the liver after 6 months,³¹ the effect of Ncald-ASO3 lasted for about 1 month, then disappeared after 3 months. This suggests that monthly repeated injections or further design protocols are needed to optimize the duration of action. Our results provide proof of concept that NCALD-mediated downregulation of ASO in the central nervous system is possible and that a single pre-symptom injection of Ncald-ASO3 can improve SMA pathology and motor dysfunction in newborn animals. Although NCALD protein and its inhibitory effects are gradually downregulated in the spinal cord from P4 to 10 months of age, monthly repeated intraventricular (icv) bolus injections of Ncald-ASO3 in the first few months may further enhance its positive effects, similar to the effects in genetically modified SMA-Ncaldko/wt mice²². Future prospects of this study are to design ASOs targeting human NCALD and analyze their role in human iPSC-derived cultured motor neurons, which may be used to treat SMA patients. Finally, this work clarifies how modified genes found in some asymptomatic individuals can help develop therapies applicable to all SMA patients^[2]. Nusinersen (Spinraza®) is the first FDA-approved disease-modifying therapy for all types of SMA. It compensates for SMN1 mutations by modulating SMN2 splicing. [1] In preclinical models, combination therapy with ASO targeting NCALD may be more effective than nusinersen monotherapy. [2]

C234H340N61O128P17S17

7127.1942691803

7124.282

1258984-36-9

131801471

White to off-white solid powder

-13.7

40

167

176

457

19100

72

S=P(O)(OC[C@@H]1[C@H]([C@H]([C@H](N2C=NC3C(N)=NC=NC2=3)O1)OCCOC)OP(O)(OC[C@@H]1[C@H]([C@H]([C@H](N2C(NC(C(C)=C2)=O)=O)O1)OCCOC)OP(O)(OC[C@@H]1[C@H]([C@H]([C@H](N2C=NC3C(NC(N)=NC2=3)=O)O1)OCCOC)OP(O)(OC[C@@H]1[C@H]([C@H]([C@H](N2C(N=C(C(C)=C2)N)=O)O1)OCCOC)OP(O)(OC[C@@H]1[C@H]([C@H]([C@H](N2C(NC(C(C)=C2)=O)=O)O1)OCCOC)OP(O)(OC[C@@H]1[C@H]([C@H]([C@H](N2C=NC3C(NC(N)=NC2=3)=O)O1)OCCOC)OP(O)(OC[C@@H]1[C@H]([C@H]([C@H](N2C=NC3C(NC(N)=NC2=3)=O)O1)OCCOC)O)=S)=S)=S)=S)=S)=S)O[C@@H]1[C@@H](COP(O)(O[C@@H]2[C@@H](COP(O)(O[C@@H]3[C@@H](COP(O)(O[C@@H]4[C@@H](COP(O)(O[C@@H]5[C@@H](COP(O)(O[C@@H]6[C@@H](COP(O)(O[C@@H]7[C@@H](COP(O)(O[C@@H]8[C@@H](COP(O)(O[C@@H]9[C@@H](COP(O)(O[C@@H]%10[C@@H](COP(O)(O[C@@H]%11[C@@H](CO)O[C@H]([C@@H]%11OCCOC)N%11C(NC(C(C)=C%11)=O)=O)=S)O[C@H]([C@@H]%10OCCOC)N%10C(N=C(C(C)=C%10)N)=O)=S)O[C@H]([C@@H]9OCCOC)N9C=NC%10C(N)=NC=NC9=%10)=S)O[C@H]([C@@H]8OCCOC)N8C(N=C(C(C)=C8)N)=O)=S)O[C@H]([C@@H]7OCCOC)N7C(NC(C(C)=C7)=O)=O)=S)O[C@H]([C@@H]6OCCOC)N6C(NC(C(C)=C6)=O)=O)=S)O[C@H]([C@@H]5OCCOC)N5C(NC(C(C)=C5)=O)=O)=S)O[C@H]([C@@H]4OCCOC)N4C(N=C(C(C)=C4)N)=O)=S)O[C@H]([C@@H]3OCCOC)N3C=NC4C(N)=NC=NC3=4)=S)O[C@H]([C@@H]2OCCOC)N2C(NC(C(C)=C2)=O)=O)=S)O[C@H]([C@@H]1OCCOC)N1C=NC2C(N)=NC=NC1=2

WWFDJIVIDXJAQR-FFWSQMGZSA-N

InChI=1S/C234H340N61O128P17S17/c1-106-66-278(224(308)261-178(106)235)205-162(356-50-32-338-14)144(119(391-205)79-373-425(320,442)407-143-117(77-296)389-204(161(143)355-49-31-337-13)282-70-110(5)193(298)271-228(282)312)410-431(326,448)383-89-129-154(172(366-60-42-348-24)215(401-129)289-99-254-135-182(239)246-95-250-186(135)289)419-436(331,453)379-81-121-145(163(357-51-33-339-15)206(393-121)279-67-107(2)179(236)262-225(279)309)408-426(321,443)375-83-123-149(167(361-55-37-343-19)210(395-123)284-72-112(7)195(300)273-230(284)314)413-429(324,446)378-86-125-150(168(362-56-38-344-20)211(397-125)285-73-113(8)196(301)274-231(285)315)414-430(325,447)377-85-124-148(166(360-54-36-342-18)209(396-124)283-71-111(6)194(299)272-229(283)313)412-428(323,445)374-80-120-147(165(359-53-35-341-17)208(392-120)281-69-109(4)181(238)264-227(281)311)411-432(327,449)384-90-130-155(173(367-61-43-349-25)216(402-130)290-100-255-136-183(240)247-96-251-187(136)290)420-437(332,454)381-87-127-152(170(364-58-40-346-22)213(399-127)287-75-115(10)198(303)276-233(287)317)415-433(328,450)385-91-131-157(175(369-63-45-351-27)218(403-131)292-102-257-138-185(242)249-98-253-189(138)292)422-440(335,457)386-92-132-156(174(368-62-44-350-26)217(404-132)291-101-256-137-184(241)248-97-252-188(137)291)421-438(333,455)382-88-128-153(171(365-59-41-347-23)214(400-128)288-76-116(11)199(304)277-234(288)318)417-435(330,452)388-94-134-159(177(371-65-47-353-29)220(406-134)295-105-260-141-192(295)267-223(245)270-202(141)307)423-439(334,456)380-82-122-146(164(358-52-34-340-16)207(394-122)280-68-108(3)180(237)263-226(280)310)409-427(322,444)376-84-126-151(169(363-57-39-345-21)212(398-126)286-74-114(9)197(302)275-232(286)316)416-434(329,451)387-93-133-158(176(370-64-46-352-28)219(405-133)294-104-259-140-191(294)266-222(244)269-201(140)306)418-424(319,441)372-78-118-142(297)160(354-48-30-336-12)203(390-118)293-103-258-139-190(293)265-221(243)268-200(139)305/h66-76,95-105,117-134,142-177,203-220,296-297H,30-65,77-94H2,1-29H3,(H,319,441)(H,320,442)(H,321,443)(H,322,444)(H,323,445)(H,324,446)(H,325,447)(H,326,448)(H,327,449)(H,328,450)(H,329,451)(H,330,452)(H,331,453)(H,332,454)(H,333,455)(H,334,456)(H,335,457)(H2,235,261,308)(H2,236,262,309)(H2,237,263,310)(H2,238,264,311)(H2,239,246,250)(H2,240,247,251)(H2,241,248,252)(H2,242,249,253)(H,271,298,312)(H,272,299,313)(H,273,300,314)(H,274,301,315)(H,275,302,316)(H,276,303,317)(H,277,304,318)(H3,243,265,268,305)(H3,244,266,269,306)(H3,245,267,270,307)/t117-,118-,119-,120-,121-,122-,123-,124-,125-,126-,127-,128-,129-,130-,131-,132-,133-,134-,142-,143-,144-,145-,146-,147-,148-,149-,150-,151-,152-,153-,154-,155-,156-,157-,158-,159-,160-,161-,162-,163-,164-,165-,166-,167-,168-,169-,170-,171-,172-,173-,174-,175-,176-,177-,203-,204-,205-,206-,207-,208-,209-,210-,211-,212-,213-,214-,215-,216-,217-,218-,219-,220-,424?,425?,426?,427?,428?,429?,430?,431?,432?,433?,434?,435?,436?,437?,438?,439?,440?/m1/s1

1-[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-4-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-5-(4-amino-5-methyl-2-oxopyrimidin-1-yl)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-5-(4-amino-5-methyl-2-oxopyrimidin-1-yl)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-5-(4-amino-5-methyl-2-oxopyrimidin-1-yl)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-5-(4-amino-5-methyl-2-oxopyrimidin-1-yl)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-5-(2-amino-6-oxo-1H-purin-9-yl)-3-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-5-(2-amino-6-oxo-1H-purin-9-yl)-3-hydroxy-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)-5-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxopyrimidin-1-yl)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-5-(2-amino-6-oxo-1H-purin-9-yl)-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)-5-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxopyrimidin-1-yl)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-5-(6-aminopurin-9-yl)-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-5-(6-aminopurin-9-yl)-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)-5-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxopyrimidin-1-yl)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-5-(6-aminopurin-9-yl)-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)-5-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxopyrimidin-1-yl)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)-5-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxopyrimidin-1-yl)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)-5-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxopyrimidin-1-yl)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-5-(6-aminopurin-9-yl)-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)oxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphinothioyl]oxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-3-(2-methoxyethoxy)oxolan-2-yl]-5-methylpyrimidine-2,4-dione

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Note: Please store this product in a sealed and protected environment (e.g. under nitrogen), avoid exposure to moisture.

Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

May dissolve in DMSO (in most cases), if not, try other solvents such as H2O, Ethanol, or DMF with a minute amount of products to avoid loss of samples

Note: Listed below are some common formulations that may be used to formulate products with low water solubility (e.g. < 1 mg/mL), you may test these formulations using a minute amount of products to avoid loss of samples.

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Injection Formulation 1: DMSO : Tween 80： Saline = 10 : 5 : 85 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO stock solution → 50 μL Tween 80 → 850 μL Saline)
*Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH ₂ O to obtain a clear solution.
Injection Formulation 2: DMSO : PEG300 ：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 3: DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL Corn oil)
Example: Take the Injection Formulation 3 (DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90) as an example, if 1 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can take 100 μL 25 mg/mL DMSO stock solution and add to 900 μL corn oil, mix well to obtain a clear or suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals).

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Injection Formulation 4: DMSO : 20% SBE-β-CD in saline = 10 : 90 [i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL (20% SBE-β-CD in saline)]
*Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution.
Injection Formulation 5: 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin : Saline = 50 : 50 (i.e. 500 μL 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin → 500 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 6: DMSO : PEG300 : castor oil : Saline = 5 : 10 : 20 : 65 (i.e. 50 μL DMSO → 100 μLPEG300 → 200 μL castor oil → 650 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 7: Ethanol : Cremophor : Saline = 10： 10 : 80 (i.e. 100 μL Ethanol → 100 μL Cremophor → 800 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 8: Dissolve in Cremophor/Ethanol (50 : 50), then diluted by Saline
Injection Formulation 9: EtOH : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 900 μL Corn oil)
Injection Formulation 10: EtOH : PEG300：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline)

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Oral Formulation 1: Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na (carboxymethylcellulose sodium)
Oral Formulation 2: Suspend in 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Example: Take the Oral Formulation 1 (Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na) as an example, if 100 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can first prepare 0.5% CMC Na solution by measuring 0.5 g CMC Na and dissolve it in 100 mL ddH2O to obtain a clear solution; then add 250 mg of the product to 100 mL 0.5% CMC Na solution, to make the suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals).

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Oral Formulation 3: Dissolved in PEG400
Oral Formulation 4: Suspend in 0.2% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Oral Formulation 5: Dissolve in 0.25% Tween 80 and 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Oral Formulation 6: Mixing with food powders

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Note: Please be aware that the above formulations are for reference only. InvivoChem strongly recommends customers to read literature methods/protocols carefully before determining which formulation you should use for in vivo studies, as different compounds have different solubility properties and have to be formulated differently.

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 (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)