Lipids, lipid compositions, and methods of using them

Abstract

Disclosed are formulation and optimization protocols for delivery of therapeutically effective amounts of biologically active agents to liver, tumors, and / or other cells or tissues. Also provided are compositions and uses for cationic lipid compounds of formula (I).The invention also relates to compositions and uses for stealth lipids of formula (XI).Also provided are processes for making such compounds, compositions, and formulations, plus methods and uses of such compounds, compositions, and formulations to deliver biologically active agents to cells and / or tissues.

Description

[0001]This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 284,787, filed 23 Dec. 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to cationic lipid compounds, stealth lipid compounds and to compositions comprising such compounds. The invention also relates to processes for making such compounds and compositions, and to methods and uses of such compounds and compositions, e.g., to deliver biologically active agents to cells and tissues. The invention describes optimized pKa ranges for cationic lipids for use in lipid formulations to deliver biologically active agents to specific cell types, including especially liver and tumors, and methods for optimizing the formulations.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0003]The delivery of biologically active agents (including therapeutically relevant compounds) to subjects is often hindered by difficulties in the compounds reachin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0418]The compounds, compositions, methods and uses may involve administration conditions suitable for reducing or inhibiting, or ameliorating a disease or disorder. In one embodiment, a therapeutically effective amount of an RNAi agent is administered to a patient in need thereof, wherein the level of target gene expression is reduced in the patient compared to an untreated patient.

[0419]In one embodiment, the expression of a target gene implicated in the disease or condition of interest is reduced by about 10%, more preferably about 20%, more preferably about 30%, more preferably about 40%, more preferably about 50%, more preferably about 60%, more preferably about 70%, more preferably about 80%, more preferably about 90%, more preferably about 95%, more preferably about 98%, and most preferably about 100% relative to an untreated patient.

Problems solved by technology

The delivery of biologically active agents (including therapeutically relevant compounds) to subjects is often hindered by difficulties in the compounds reaching the target cell or tissue.

In particular, the trafficking of many biologically active agents into living cells is highly restricted by the complex membrane systems of the cells.

These restrictions can result in the need to use much higher concentrations of biologically active agents than is desirable to achieve a result, which increases the risk of toxic effects and side effects.

One class of biologically active agents that is particularly difficult to deliver to cells is a biotherapeutic (including nucleosides, nucleotides, polynucleotides, nucleic acids and derivatives).

Viral vectors can be used to transfer genes efficiently into some cell types, but they generally cannot be used to introduce chemically synthesized molecules into cells.

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