RNA Codon Exchange for Reduced Immunogenicity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current RNA-based therapies face limitations due to immunogenicity issues, where exogenous RNA triggers innate immunity, leading to side effects and reduced efficacy, and existing modifications like chemically altered nucleosides can cause unintended protein synthesis or toxicity.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the reduction of cytidine and uridine content in RNA molecules by exchanging codons to maintain or enhance protein translation fidelity, using non-modified nucleotides that encode the same or similar amino acids, resulting in RNA molecules with decreased immunogenicity and increased protein production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If chemically modified nucleosides are incorporated into IVT RNA to reduce immune activation, then immunogenicity is reduced, but unintended protein synthesis or toxicity may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveimmunogenicityVSAvoidprotein translation fidelity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the nucleoside composition parameters of RNA molecules by reducing cytidine and uridine content and replacing them with adenosine and guanosine. This parameter change reduces immunogenicity while maintaining translation fidelity, as demonstrated by the reduced cytokine release and maintained protein expression levels in the patent data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates simplified RNA molecules that copy only the essential functional elements of natural RNA while eliminating immunogenic components. By using only adenosine and guanosine nucleosides, the patent produces RNA that replicates protein translation function without triggering immune responses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If high doses of IVT RNA are administered to achieve therapeutic protein levels, then protein translation efficacy is improved, but innate immune activation and toxicity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotein translation efficacyVSAvoidimmune activation and toxicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the nucleoside composition parameters of therapeutic RNA to reduce immunogenicity. This allows administration of higher RNA doses to achieve therapeutic protein levels without proportionally increasing immune activation, as the modified RNA composition decouples dose from immune response intensity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of high RNA dosing (immune activation) into a benefit by modifying nucleoside composition. The reduced immunogenicity of adenosine-guanosine-rich RNA transforms what would be a toxic high-dose scenario into a safe and effective therapeutic approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If all instances of a particular nucleoside are replaced with a chemically modified nucleoside, then immunogenicity is reduced, but binding properties of tRNAs and formation of secondary structures are altered

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveimmunogenicityVSAvoidtRNA binding properties and secondary structure formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses simple, naturally occurring adenosine and guanosine nucleosides instead of complex chemically modified nucleosides. These simple building blocks maintain natural RNA structure and function while providing the immunogenicity reduction benefit, avoiding the structural disruption caused by chemical modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the nucleoside composition by reducing cytidine and uridine content while maintaining RNA structure stability. The resulting adenosine-guanosine-rich RNA maintains proper secondary structures and tRNA binding properties, as evidenced by successful protein translation in the patent data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20230295637A1Methods for reducing RNA immunogenicity and RNA molecules with decreased immunogenicity
Publication Date: 2023.09.21 RIBOPRO BV
  • US20230295637A1 patent drawing
  • US20230295637A1 patent drawing
  • US20230295637A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for decreasing the immunogenicity of an RNA molecule and/or at least maintaining the translation efficacy thereof. The present invention further relates to an RNA molecule, which is modified as compared to a corresponding wildtype RNA molecule, wherein the exchange of codons results in the total cytidine content of the modified RNA molecule being at least 10% less than the total cytidine content of the corresponding RNA molecule transcribed from said wildtype DNA sequence. The present invention also relates to an RNA molecule, wherein the exchange of codons results in the total uridine content of the modified RNA molecule being at least 10% less than the total uridine content of the corresponding RNA molecule transcribed from said wild-type DNA sequence. Finally, the present invention relates to the use of an RNA molecule of this invention in genome editing.