Antisense oligonucleotides targeting ATXN3

Reference to a Sequence Listing Submitted via EFS-WEB The content of the ASCII text file of the sequence listing named “P35117-Sequence-Listing_103135-0269.txt” which was created on May 20, 2020, and is 612,541 bytes in size submitted electronically via EFS-Web with this U.S. National Phase application is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

This application is a U.S. Non-provisional and claims priority to European Patent Application No. 19178893.4 filed Jun. 6, 2019, and European Patent Application No. 20161173.8 filed Mar. 5, 2020, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by this reference.

The present invention relates to antisense LNA oligonucleotides (oligomers) complementary to ATXN3 pre-mRNA sequences, which are capable of inhibiting the expression of ATXN3. Inhibition of ATXN3 expression is beneficial for the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia, such as spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (Machado-Joseph disease (MJD)).

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), also known as Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), is one of nine polyglutamine expansion diseases and the most common dominantly inherited ataxia in the world. While certain symptoms in SCA3 may respond to symptomatic therapy, there is still no effective treatment for this relentlessly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease. The disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the ATXN3 gene that encodes an abnormally long polyglutamine tract in the disease protein, ATXN3 (Ataxin 3). The toxic ataxin-3 protein is associated with aggregates which are frequently observed in the brain tissue of SCA3 patients.

Moore et al. reported that antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting ATXN3 were capable of reducing levels of the pathogenic ATXN3 protein both in human disease fibroblasts and in a mouse model expressing the full-length human mutant ATXN3 gene (Moore et al., Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2017; 7:200-210). Therefore, ASO-mediated targeting of ATXN3 was suggested as therapeutic approach for SCA3.

Swayze et al. (Nucleic Acids Res. 2007; 35(2):687-700. Epub 2006 Dec. 19), reports that antisense oligonucleotides containing locked nucleic acid have the potential to improve potency but cause significant toxicity in animals (hepatotoxicity).

Toonen et al. used antisense oligonucleotides to mask predicted exonic splicing signals of ATXN3, resulting in exon 10 skipping from ATXN3 pre-mRNA. The skipping of exon 10 led to formation of a truncated ataxin-3 protein lacking the toxic polyglutamine expansion, but retaining its ubiquitin binding and cleavage function (Toonen et al., Molecular Therapy—Nucleic Acids, 2017, Volume 8: 232-242).

WO2013/138353, WO2015/017675, WO2018/089805 & WO2019/217708 disclose antisense oligonucleotides targeting human ATXN3 mRNA for use in the treatment of SCA3.

The present invention identifies regions of the ATXN3 transcript (ATXN3) for antisense inhibition in vitro or in vivo, and provides for antisense oligonucleotides, including LNA gapmer oligonucleotides, which target these regions of the ATXN3 premRNA or mature mRNA. The present invention identifies oligonucleotides which inhibit human ATXN3 which are useful in the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide, 10-30 nucleotides in length, targeting a mammalian ATXN3 (Ataxin 3) target nucleic acid, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is capable of inhibiting the expression of mammalian ATXN3 in a cell which is expressing mammalian ATXN3.

The mammalian ATXN3 target nucleic acid may be, e.g., a human, monkey or mouse ATXN3 target nucleic acid.

The invention provides for an LNA gapmer antisense oligonucleotide, 10-30 nucleotides in length, wherein said antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence 10-30 nucleotides in length, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary, to SEQ ID NO 1, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is capable of inhibiting the expression of human ATXN3 in a cell which is expressing human ATXN3.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from group consisting of the Oligonucleotide Base Sequences shown in tables 2, 4, 5 and 6, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is capable of inhibiting the expression of human ATXN3 in a cell which is expressing human ATXN3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention provides for an LNA gapmer antisense oligonucleotide which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from group consisting of the Oligonucleotide Base Sequences shown in tables 2, 4, 5 and 6, wherein the LNA gapmer antisense oligonucleotide is capable of inhibiting the expression of human ATXN3 in a cell which is expressing human ATXN3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1122, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is capable of inhibiting the expression of human ATXN3 in a cell which is expressing human ATXN3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1813, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is capable of inhibiting the expression of human ATXN3 in a cell which is expressing human ATXN3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1812, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is capable of inhibiting the expression of human ATXN3 in a cell which is expressing human ATXN3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1809, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is capable of inhibiting the expression of human ATXN3 in a cell which is expressing human ATXN3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1807, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is capable of inhibiting the expression of human ATXN3 in a cell which is expressing human ATXN3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide of the invention is an LNA gapmer antisense oligonucleotide.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides according to the invention, such as antisense oligonucleotides 12-24, such as 12-18 in length, nucleosides in length wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence comprising at least 10 contiguous nucleotides present in a sequence selected from the Oligonucleotide Base Sequences shown in tables 2, 4, 5 and 6.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides according to the invention, such as antisense oligonucleotides 12-24, such as 12-18 in length, nucleosides in length wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides present in a sequence selected from the Oligonucleotide Base Sequences shown in tables 2, 4, 5 and 6.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides according to the invention, such as antisense oligonucleotides 12-24, such as 12-18 in length, nucleosides in length wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence comprising at least 14 contiguous nucleotides present in a sequence selected from the Oligonucleotide Base Sequences shown in tables 2, 4, 5 and 6.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides according to the invention, such as antisense oligonucleotides 12-24, such as 12-18 in length, nucleosides in length wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence comprising at least 16 contiguous nucleotides present in a sequence selected from the Oligonucleotide Base Sequences shown in tables 2, 4, 5 and 6.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides according to the invention, such as antisense oligonucleotides 12-24, such as 12-18 in length, nucleosides in length wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence comprising the contiguous nucleotides present in a sequence selected from the Oligonucleotide Base Sequences shown in tables 2, 4, 5 and 6.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides according to the invention, such as antisense oligonucleotides 12-24, such as 12-18 in length, nucleosides in length wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence which is 100% identical to at least 10 contiguous nucleotides present in a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 4 to SEQ ID NO: 1089; SEQ ID Nos 1099 to 1127; and SEQ ID NO 1137-1988; SEQ ID Nos 1099 to 1127; and SEQ ID NO 1137-1988.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides according to the invention, such as antisense oligonucleotides 12-24, such as 12-18 in length, nucleosides in length wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence which is 100% identical to at least 12 contiguous nucleotides present in a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 4 to SEQ ID NO: 1089; SEQ ID Nos 1099 to 1127; and SEQ ID NO 1137-1988.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides according to the invention, such as antisense oligonucleotides 12-24, such as 12-18 in length, nucleosides in length wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence which is 100% identical to at least 14 contiguous nucleotides present in a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 4 to SEQ ID NO: 1089; SEQ ID Nos 1099 to 1127; and SEQ ID NO 1137-1988.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides according to the invention, such as antisense oligonucleotides 12-24, such as 12-18 in length, nucleosides in length wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence which is 100% identical to at least 16 contiguous nucleotides present in a sequence selected from The Oligonucleotide Base Sequences shown in tables 2, 4, 5 and 6.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides according to the invention, such as antisense oligonucleotides 12-24, such as 12-18 in length, nucleosides in length wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence which is 100% identical to a sequence selected from The Oligonucleotide Base Sequences shown in tables 2, 4, 5 and 6.

The invention provides for the antisense oligonucleotide disclosed herein, for example an antisense oligonucleotide selected from the group consisting of 1099_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1099), 1100_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1100), 1101_1′ (SEQ ID NO: 1101), 1102_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1102), 1103_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1103), 1104_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1104), 1105_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1105), 1106_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1106), 1107_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1107), 1108_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1108), 1109_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1109), 1110_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1110), 1111_1′ (SEQ ID NO: 1111), 1112_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1112), 1113_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1113), 1114_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1114), 1115_)1 (SEQ ID NO: 1115), 1116_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1116), 1117_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1117), 1118_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1118), 1119_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1119), 1120_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1120), 1121_1′ (SEQ ID NO: 1121), 1122_1 SEQ ID NO: 1122), 1123_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1123), 1124_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1124), 1125_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1125), 1126_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1126), and 1127_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1127).

The invention provides for the antisense oligonucleotide disclosed herein, for example an antisense oligonucleotide selected from the group consisting of the compounds shown in the table in example 2.

The invention provides for the antisense oligonucleotide disclosed herein, for example an antisense oligonucleotide selected from the group consisting of the compounds shown in the table in example 3.

The invention provides for the antisense oligonucleotide disclosed herein, for example an antisense oligonucleotide selected from the group consisting of the compounds shown in the table in example 4.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide selected from the group consisting of Compound No 1122_62 (SEQ ID NO: 1122), 1122_67 (SEQ ID NO: 1122), 1122_33 (SEQ ID NO: 1122), 1856_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1856), 1813_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1813), 1812_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1812), 1809_2 (SEQ ID NO: 1809), and 1607_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1607), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide of formula ACCcatattttactCTT (Compound No 1856_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1856)), wherein a capital letter represents a beta-D-oxy LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter represents a DNA nucleoside, wherein each LNA cytosine is 5-methyl cytosine, and wherein the internucleoside linkages between the nucleosides are 10 phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide of formula CTGtacacttttacaTT (Compound No 1813_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1813)), wherein a capital letter represents a beta-D-oxy LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter represents a DNA nucleoside, wherein each LNA cytosine is 5-methyl cytosine, and wherein the internucleoside linkages between the nucleosides are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide of formula TGtacacttttacatTCC (Compound No 1812_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1812)), wherein a capital letter represents a beta-D-oxy LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter represents a DNA nucleoside, wherein each LNA cytosine is 5-methyl cytosine, and wherein the internucleoside linkages between the nucleosides are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide of formula GtacacttttacattCCC (Compound No 1809_2 (SEQ ID NO: 1809)), wherein a capital letter represents a beta-D-oxy LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter represents a DNA nucleoside, wherein each LNA cytosine is 5-methyl cytosine, and wherein the internucleoside linkages between the nucleosides are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide of formula TTCttcattataccatCAA (Compound No 1607_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1607)), wherein a capital letter represents a beta-D-oxy LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter represents a DNA nucleoside, wherein each LNA cytosine is 5-methyl cytosine, and wherein the internucleoside linkages between the nucleosides are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide of formula AatCtTatttacatcTtCC (Compound No 1122_62 (SEQ ID NO: 1122)), wherein a capital letter represents a beta-D-oxy LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter represents a DNA nucleoside, wherein each LNA cytosine is 5-methyl cytosine, and wherein the internucleoside linkages between the nucleosides are 5 phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide of formula AATCttatttacatcTtCC (Compound No 1122_67 (SEQ ID NO: 1122)), wherein a capital letter represents a beta-D-oxy LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter represents a DNA nucleoside, wherein each LNA cytosine is 5-methyl 10 cytosine, and wherein the internucleoside linkages between the nucleosides are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide of formula AatCtTatttacatctTCC (Compound No 1122_33 (SEQ ID NO: 1122)), wherein a capital letter represents a beta-D-oxy LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter represents a DNA nucleoside, wherein each LNA cytosine is 5-methyl cytosine, and wherein the internucleoside linkages between the nucleosides are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The oligonucleotide of the invention as referred to or claimed herein may be in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, such as a sodium of potassium salt.

The invention provides for a conjugate comprising the oligonucleotide according to the invention, and at least one conjugate moiety covalently attached to said oligonucleotide. The invention provides for a pharmaceutical composition comprising the oligonucleotide or conjugate of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, solvent, carrier, salt and/or adjuvant.

The invention provides for an in vivo or in vitro method for modulating ATXN3 expression in a target cell which is expressing ATXN3, said method comprising administering an oligonucleotide or conjugate or pharmaceutical composition of the invention in an effective amount to said cell.

The invention provides for a method for treating or preventing a disease comprising administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an oligonucleotide, conjugate or the pharmaceutical composition of the invention to a subject suffering from or susceptible to the disease.

In some embodiments, the disease is spinocerebellar ataxia, such as spinocerebellar ataxia 3, such as Machado-Joseph disease (MJD).

The invention provides for the oligonucleotide, conjugate or the pharmaceutical composition of the invention for use in medicine.

The invention provides for the oligonucleotide, conjugate or the pharmaceutical composition of the invention for use in the treatment or prevention of spinocerebellar ataxia, such as spinocerebellar ataxia 3, such as Machado-Joseph disease (MJD).

The invention provides for the use of the oligonucleotide, conjugate or the pharmaceutical composition of the invention, for the preparation of a medicament for treatment or prevention of spinocerebellar ataxia, such as spinocerebellar ataxia 3 such as Machado-Joseph disease (MJD).

FIGURES

FIG. 1 : Drawing of compound 1122_67 (SEQ ID NO 1122).

FIG. 2 : Drawing of compound 1813_1 (SEQ ID NO 1813).

FIG. 3 : Drawing of compound 1856_1 (SEQ ID NO 1856).

FIG. 4 : Drawing of compound 1812_1 (SEQ ID NO 1812).

FIG. 5 : Drawing of compound 1809_2 (SEQ ID NO 1809).

FIG. 6 : Drawing of compound 1607_1 (SEQ ID NO 1607).

FIG. 7 : Drawing of compound 1122_62 (SEQ ID NO 1122).

FIG. 8 : Drawing of compound 1122_33 (SEQ ID NO 1122).

FIG. 9 : Stability of compound 1122_67 and 1813_1, and 5 reference compounds in a 24 hour SVPD assay.

The chemical drawings are of the protonated form of the antisense oligonucleotide, and it will be understood that each hydrogen on the sulphur atom in the phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage may independently be present of absent. In a salt form, one or more more of the hydrogens may for example be replaced with a cation, such as a metal cation, such as a sodium cation or a potassium cation.

Oligonucleotide

The term “oligonucleotide” as used herein is defined as it is generally understood by the skilled person as a molecule comprising two or more covalently linked nucleosides. Such covalently bound nucleosides may also be referred to as nucleic acid molecules or oligomers. Oligonucleotides are commonly made in the laboratory by solid-phase chemical synthesis followed by purification. When referring to a sequence of the oligonucleotide, reference is made to the sequence or order of nucleobase moieties, or modifications thereof, of the covalently linked nucleotides or nucleosides. The oligonucleotide of the invention is man-made, and is chemically synthesized, and is typically purified or isolated. The oligonucleotide of the invention may comprise one or more modified nucleosides or nucleotides.

Antisense Oligonucleotides

The term “Antisense oligonucleotide” as used herein is defined as oligonucleotides capable of modulating expression of a target gene by hybridizing to a target nucleic acid, in particular to a contiguous sequence on a target nucleic acid. The antisense oligonucleotides are not essentially double stranded and are therefore not siRNAs or shRNAs. Preferably, the antisense oligonucleotides of the present invention are single stranded. It is understood that single stranded oligonucleotides of the present invention can form hairpins or intermolecular duplex structures (duplex between two molecules of the same oligonucleotide), as long as the degree of intra or inter self-complementarity is less than 50% across of the full length of the oligonucleotide

Contiguous Nucleotide Sequence

The term “contiguous nucleotide sequence” refers to the region of the oligonucleotide which is complementary to the target nucleic acid. The term is used interchangeably herein with the term “contiguous nucleobase sequence” and the term “oligonucleotide motif sequence” also refered to as “motif sequence”. The “motif sequence” may also be referred to as the “Oligonucleotide Base Sequence”. In some embodiments all the nucleotides of the oligonucleotide constitute the contiguous nucleotide sequence. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide comprises the contiguous nucleotide sequence, such as a F-G-F′ gapmer region, and may optionally comprise further nucleotide(s), for example a nucleotide linker region which may be used to attach a functional group to the contiguous nucleotide sequence. The nucleotide linker region may or may not be complementary to the target nucleic acid. Adventurously, the contiguous nucleotide sequence is 100% complementary to the target nucleic acid.

Nucleotides

Nucleotides are the building blocks of oligonucleotides and polynucleotides, and for the purposes of the present invention include both naturally occurring and non-naturally occurring nucleotides. In nature, nucleotides, such as DNA and RNA nucleotides comprise a ribose sugar moiety, a nucleobase moiety and one or more phosphate groups (which is absent in nucleosides). Nucleosides and nucleotides may also interchangeably be referred to as “units” or “monomers”.

Modified Nucleoside

The term “modified nucleoside” or “nucleoside modification” as used herein refers to nucleosides modified as compared to the equivalent DNA or RNA nucleoside by the introduction of one or more modifications of the sugar moiety or the (nucleo)base moiety. In a preferred embodiment the modified nucleoside comprise a modified sugar moiety. The term modified nucleoside may also be used herein interchangeably with the term “nucleoside analogue” or modified “units” or modified “monomers”. Nucleosides with an unmodified DNA or RNA sugar moiety are termed DNA or RNA nucleosides herein. Nucleosides with modifications in the base region of the DNA or RNA nucleoside are still generally termed DNA or RNA if they allow Watson Crick base pairing.

Modified Internucleoside Linkages

The term “modified internucleoside linkage” is defined as generally understood by the skilled person as linkages other than phosphodiester (PO) linkages, that covalently couples two nucleosides together. The oligonucleotides of the invention may therefore comprise modified internucleoside linkages. In some embodiments, the modified internucleoside linkage increases the nuclease resistance of the oligonucleotide compared to a phosphodiester linkage. For naturally occurring oligonucleotides, the internucleoside linkage includes phosphate groups creating a phosphodiester bond between adjacent nucleosides. Modified internucleoside linkages are particularly useful in stabilizing oligonucleotides for in vivo use, and may serve to protect against nuclease cleavage at regions of DNA or RNA nucleosides in the oligonucleotide of the invention, for example within the gap region of a gapmer oligonucleotide, as well as in regions of modified nucleosides, such as region F and F′. In an embodiment, the oligonucleotide comprises one or more internucleoside linkages modified from the natural phosphodiester, such one or more modified internucleoside linkages that is for example more resistant to nuclease attack. Nuclease resistance may be determined by incubating the oligonucleotide in blood serum or by using a nuclease resistance assay (e.g. snake venom phosphodiesterase (SVPD)), both are well known in the art. Internucleoside linkages which are capable of enhancing the nuclease resistance of an oligonucleotide are referred to as nuclease resistant internucleoside linkages. In some embodiments at least 50% of the internucleoside linkages in the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are modified, such as at least 60%, such as at least 70%, such as at least 80 or such as at least 90% of the internucleoside linkages in the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are nuclease resistant internucleoside linkages. In some embodiments all of the internucleoside linkages of the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are nuclease resistant internucleoside linkages. It will be recognized that, in some embodiments the nucleosides which link the oligonucleotide of the invention to a non-nucleotide functional group, such as a conjugate, may be phosphodiester.

A preferred modified internucleoside linkage is phosphorothioate.

Phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages are particularly useful due to nuclease resistance, beneficial pharmacokinetics and ease of manufacture. In some embodiments at least 50% of the internucleoside linkages in the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are phosphorothioate, such as at least 60%, such as at least 70%, such as at least 80% or such as at least 90% of the internucleoside linkages in the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are phosphorothioate. In some embodiments all of the internucleoside linkages of the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are phosphorothioate.

Nuclease resistant linkages, such as phosphorothioate linkages, are particularly useful in oligonucleotide regions capable of recruiting nuclease when forming a duplex with the target nucleic acid, such as region G for gapmers. Phosphorothioate linkages may, however, also be useful in non-nuclease recruiting regions and/or affinity enhancing regions such as regions F and F′ for gapmers. Gapmer oligonucleotides may, in some embodiments comprise one or more phosphodiester linkages in region F or F′, or both region F and F′, which the internucleoside linkage in region G may be fully phosphorothioate. Advantageously, all the internucleoside linkages in the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide are phosphorothioate linkages.

It is recognized that, as disclosed in EP2 742 135, antisense oligonucleotide may comprise other internucleoside linkages (other than phosphodiester and phosphorothioate), for example alkyl phosphonate/methyl phosphonate internucleosides, which according to EP2 742 135 may for example be tolerated in an otherwise DNA phosphorothioate gap region.

Nucleobase

The term nucleobase includes the purine (e.g. adenine and guanine) and pyrimidine (e.g. uracil, thymine and cytosine) moiety present in nucleosides and nucleotides which form hydrogen bonds in nucleic acid hybridization. In the context of the present invention the term nucleobase also encompasses modified nucleobases which may differ from naturally occurring nucleobases, but are functional during nucleic acid hybridization. In this context “nucleobase” refers to both naturally occurring nucleobases such as adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymidine, uracil, xanthine and hypoxanthine, as well as non-naturally occurring variants. Such variants are for example described in Hirao et al (2012) Accounts of Chemical Research vol 45 page 2055 and Bergstrom (2009) Current Protocols in Nucleic Acid Chemistry Suppl. 37 1.4.1.

In a some embodiments the nucleobase moiety is modified by changing the purine or pyrimidine into a modified purine or pyrimidine, such as substituted purine or substituted pyrimidine, such as a nucleobased selected from isocytosine, pseudoisocytosine, 5-methyl cytosine, 5-thiozolo-cytosine, 5-propynyl-cytosine, 5-propynyl-uracil, 5-bromouracil 5-thiazolo-uracil, 2-thio-uracil, 2′thio-thymine, inosine, diaminopurine, 6-aminopurine, 2-aminopurine, 2,6-diaminopurine and 2-chloro-6-aminopurine.

The nucleobase moieties may be indicated by the letter code for each corresponding nucleobase, e.g. A, T, G, C or U, wherein each letter may optionally include modified nucleobases of equivalent function. For example, in the exemplified oligonucleotides, the nucleobase moieties are selected from A, T, G, C, and 5-methyl cytosine. Optionally, for LNA gapmers, 5-methyl cytosine LNA nucleosides may be used.

Modified Oligonucleotide

The term modified oligonucleotide describes an oligonucleotide comprising one or more sugar-modified nucleosides and/or modified internucleoside linkages. The term chimeric” oligonucleotide is a term that has been used in the literature to describe oligonucleotides with modified nucleosides.

Complementarity

The term “complementarity” describes the capacity for Watson-Crick base-pairing of nucleosides/nucleotides. Watson-Crick base pairs are guanine (G)-cytosine (C) and adenine (A)—thymine (T)/uracil (U). It will be understood that oligonucleotides may comprise nucleosides with modified nucleobases, for example 5-methyl cytosine is often used in place of cytosine, and as such the term complementarity encompasses Watson Crick base-paring between non-modified and modified nucleobases (see for example Hirao et al (2012) Accounts of Chemical Research vol 45 page 2055 and Bergstrom (2009) Current Protocols in Nucleic Acid Chemistry Suppl. 37 1.4.1).

The term “% complementary” as used herein, refers to the number of nucleotides in percent of a contiguous nucleotide sequence in a nucleic acid molecule (e.g. oligonucleotide) which, at a given position, are complementary to (i.e. form Watson Crick base pairs with) a contiguous sequence of nucleotides, at a given position of a separate nucleic acid molecule (e.g. the target nucleic acid or target sequence). The percentage is calculated by counting the number of aligned bases that form pairs between the two sequences (when aligned with the target sequence 5′-3′ and the oligonucleotide sequence from 3′-5′), dividing by the total number of nucleotides in the oligonucleotide and multiplying by 100. In such a comparison a nucleobase/nucleotide which does not align (form a base pair) is termed a mismatch. Preferably, insertions and deletions are not allowed in the calculation of % complementarity of a contiguous nucleotide sequence.

The term “fully complementary”, refers to 100% complementarity.

Identity

The term “Identity” as used herein, refers to the proportion of nucleotides (expressed in percent) of a contiguous nucleotide sequence in a nucleic acid molecule (e.g. oligonucleotide) which across the contiguous nucleotide sequence, are identical to a reference sequence (e.g. a sequence motif). The percentage of identity is thus calculated by counting the number of aligned bases that are identical (a match) between two sequences (e.g. in the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the compound of the invention and in the reference sequence), dividing that number by the total number of nucleotides in the aligned region and multiplying by 100. Therefore, Percentage of Identity=(Matches×100)/Length of aligned region (e.g. the contiguous nucleotide sequence). Insertions and deletions are not allowed in the calculation the percentage of identity of a contiguous nucleotide sequence. It will be understood that in determining identity, chemical modifications of the nucleobases are disregarded as long as the functional capacity of the nucleobase to form Watson Crick base pairing is retained (e.g. 5-methyl cytosine is considered identical to a cytosine for the purpose of calculating % identity).

Hybridization

The term “hybridizing” or “hybridizes” as used herein is to be understood as two nucleic acid strands (e.g. an oligonucleotide and a target nucleic acid) forming hydrogen bonds between base pairs on opposite strands thereby forming a duplex. The affinity of the binding between two nucleic acid strands is the strength of the hybridization. It is often described in terms of the melting temperature (T m ) defined as the temperature at which half of the oligonucleotides are duplexed with the target nucleic acid. At physiological conditions T m is not strictly proportional to the affinity (Mergny and Lacroix, 2003, Oligonucleotides 13:515-537). The standard state Gibbs free energy ΔG° is a more accurate representation of binding affinity and is related to the dissociation constant (K d ) of the reaction by ΔG°=−RTIn(K d ), where R is the gas constant and T is the absolute temperature. Therefore, a very low ΔG° of the reaction between an oligonucleotide and the target nucleic acid reflects a strong hybridization between the oligonucleotide and target nucleic acid. ΔG° is the energy associated with a reaction where aqueous concentrations are 1M, the pH is 7, and the temperature is 37° C. The hybridization of oligonucleotides to a target nucleic acid is a spontaneous reaction and for spontaneous reactions ΔG° is less than zero. ΔG° can be measured experimentally, for example, by use of the isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) method as described in Hansen et al., 1965 , Chem. Comm. 36-38 and Holdgate et al., 2005 , Drug Discov Today . The skilled person will know that commercial equipment is available for ΔG° measurements. ΔG° can also be estimated numerically by using the nearest neighbor model as described by SantaLucia, 1998 , Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 95: 1460-1465 using appropriately derived thermodynamic parameters described by Sugimoto et al., 1995 , Biochemistry 34:11211-11216 and McTigue et al., 2004, Biochemistry 43:5388-5405. In order to have the possibility of modulating its intended nucleic acid target by hybridization, oligonucleotides of the present invention hybridize to a target nucleic acid with estimated ΔG° values below −10 kcal for oligonucleotides that are 10-30 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments the degree or strength of hybridization is measured by the standard state Gibbs free energy ΔG°. The oligonucleotides may hybridize to a target nucleic acid with estimated ΔG° values below the range of −10 kcal, such as below −15 kcal, such as below −20 kcal and such as below −25 kcal for oligonucleotides that are 8-30 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments the oligonucleotides hybridize to a target nucleic acid with an estimated ΔG° value of −10 to −60 kcal, such as −12 to −40, such as from −15 to −30 kcal or −16 to −27 kcal such as −18 to −25 kcal.

Target Nucleic Acid

According to the present invention, the target nucleic acid is a nucleic acid which encodes a mammalian ATXN3 protein and may for example be a gene, a ATXN3 RNA, a mRNA, a pre-mRNA, a mature mRNA or a cDNA sequence. The target may therefore be referred to as an ATXN3 target nucleic acid.

In some embodiments, the target nucleic acid encodes a human ATXN3 protein, such as the human ATXN3 gene encoding the pre-mRNA sequence provided herein as SEQ ID NO 1. Thus, the target nucleic acid may be SEQ ID NO 1.

In some embodiments, the target nucleic acid encodes a mouse ATXN3 protein. Suitably, the target nucleic acid encoding a mouse ATXN3 protein comprises a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3.

In some embodiments, the target nucleic acid encodes a cynomolgus monkey ATXN3 protein. Suitably, the target nucleic acid encoding a cynomolgus monkey ATXN3 protein comprises a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2.

If employing the oligonucleotide of the invention in research or diagnostics the target nucleic acid may be a cDNA or a synthetic nucleic acid derived from DNA or RNA.

For in vivo or in vitro application, the oligonucleotide of the invention is typically capable of inhibiting the expression of the ATXN3 target nucleic acid in a cell which is expressing the ATXN3 target nucleic acid. The contiguous sequence of nucleobases of the oligonucleotide of the invention is typically complementary to the ATXN3 target nucleic acid, as measured across the length of the oligonucleotide, optionally with the exception of one or two mismatches, and optionally excluding nucleotide based linker regions which may link the oligonucleotide to an optional functional group such as a conjugate, or other non-complementary terminal nucleotides (e.g. region D′ or D″). The target nucleic acid is a messenger RNA, such as a mature mRNA or a pre-mRNA which encodes mammalian ATXN3 protein, such as human ATXN3, e.g. the human ATXN3 pre-mRNA sequence, such as that disclosed as SEQ ID NO 1, or ATXN3 mature mRNA. Further, the target nucleic acid may be a cynomolgus monkey ATXN3 pre-mRNA sequence, such as that disclosed as SEQ ID NO 1, or a cynomolgus monkey ATXN3 mature mRNA. Further, the target nucleic acid may be a mouse ATXN3 pre-mRNA sequence, such as that disclosed as SEQ ID NO 3, or mouse ATXN3 mature mRNA. SEQ ID NOs 1-3 are DNA sequences—it will be understood that target RNA sequences have uracil (U) bases in place of the thymidine bases (T).

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention targets SEQ ID NO 1.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention targets SEQ ID NO 2.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention targets SEQ ID NO 3.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention targets SEQ ID NO 1 and SEQ ID NO 2.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention targets SEQ ID NO 1 and SEQ ID NO 3.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention targets SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 2 and SEQ ID NO 3.

Target Sequence

The term “target sequence” as used herein refers to a sequence of nucleotides present in the target nucleic acid which comprises the nucleobase sequence which is complementary to the oligonucleotide of the invention. In some embodiments, the target sequence consists of a region on the target nucleic acid which is complementary to the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide of the invention.

Herein are provided numerous target sequence regions, as defined by regions of the human ATXN3 pre-mRNA (using SEQ ID NO 1 as a reference) which may be targeted by the oligonucleotides of the invention.

In some embodiments the target sequence is longer than the complementary sequence of a single oligonucleotide, and may, for example represent a preferred region of the target nucleic acid which may be targeted by several oligonucleotides of the invention.

The oligonucleotide of the invention comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence which is complementary to or hybridizes to the target nucleic acid, such as a sub-sequence of the target nucleic acid, such as a target sequence described herein.

The oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence which are complementary to a target sequence present in the target nucleic acid molecule. The contiguous nucleotide sequence (and therefore the target sequence) comprises of at least 10 contiguous nucleotides, such as 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30 contiguous nucleotides, such as from 12-25, such as from 14-18 contiguous nucleotides.

Target Sequence Regions

In an aspect, the invention provides for an antisense oligonucleotide, 10-30 nucleotides in length, wherein said antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence 10-30 nucleotides in length, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is at least 90% complementary, to a region of SEQ ID NO 1. The region of SEQ ID NO 1 to which the antisense oligonucleotide of the invention is complementary to is referred to as the target sequence region.

In some embodiments the target sequence region is AAGAGTAAAATATGGGT (SEQ ID NO 1093).

In some embodiments the target sequence region is GAATGTAAAAGTGTACAG (SEQ ID NO 1094).

In some embodiments the target sequence region is GGAATGTAAAAGTGTACA (SEQ ID NO 1095).

In some embodiments the target sequence region is GGGAATGTAAAAGTGTAC (SEQ ID NO 1096).

In some embodiments the target sequence region is TTGATGGTATAATGAAGAA (SEQ ID NO 1097).

In some embodiments the target sequence region is GGAAGATGTAAATAAGATT (SEQ ID NO 1098).

Target Cell

The term a “target cell” as used herein refers to a cell which is expressing the target nucleic acid. In some embodiments the target cell may be in vivo or in vitro. In some embodiments the target cell is a mammalian cell such as a rodent cell, such as a mouse cell or a rat cell, or a primate cell such as a monkey cell (e.g. a cynomolgus monkey cell) or a human cell. In preferred embodiments the target cell expresses human ATXN3 mRNA, such as the ATXN3 pre-mRNA, e.g. SEQ ID NO 1, or ATXN3 mature mRNA. In some embodiments the target cell expresses monkey ATXN3 mRNA, such as the ATXN3 pre-mRNA, e.g. SEQ ID NO 2, or ATXN3 mature mRNA. In some embodiments the target cell expresses mouse ATXN3 mRNA, such as the ATXN3 pre-mRNA, e.g. SEQ ID NO 3, or ATXN3 mature mRNA. The poly A tail of ATXN3 mRNA is typically disregarded for antisense oligonucleotide targeting.

Naturally Occurring Variant

The term “naturally occurring variant” refers to variants of ATXN3 gene or transcripts which originate from the same genetic loci as the target nucleic acid, but may differ for example, by virtue of degeneracy of the genetic code causing a multiplicity of codons encoding the same amino acid, or due to alternative splicing of pre-mRNA, or the presence of polymorphisms, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and allelic variants. Based on the presence of the sufficient complementary sequence to the oligonucleotide, the oligonucleotide of the invention may therefore target the target nucleic acid and naturally occurring variants thereof.

The Homo sapiens ATXN3 gene is located at chromosome 14, 92058552 . . . 92106621, complement (NC_000014.9, Gene ID 4287).

In some embodiments, the naturally occurring variants have at least 95% such as at least 98% or at least 99% homology to a mammalian ATXN3 target nucleic acid, such as a target nucleic acid selected form the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 1, 2 and 3. In some embodiments the naturally occurring variants have at least 99% homology to the human ATXN3 target nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO 1.

Modulation of Expression

The term “modulation of expression” as used herein is to be understood as an overall term for an oligonucleotide's ability to alter the amount of ATXN3 protein or ATXN3 mRNA when compared to the amount of ATXN3 or ATXN3 mRNA prior to administration of the oligonucleotide. Alternatively modulation of expression may be determined by reference to a control experiment. It is generally understood that the control is an individual or target cell treated with a saline composition or an individual or target cell treated with a non-targeting oligonucleotide (mock).

One type of modulation is an oligonucleotide's ability to inhibit, down-regulate, reduce, suppress, remove, stop, block, prevent, lessen, lower, avoid or terminate expression of ATXN3, e.g. by degradation of ATXN3 mRNA.

High Affinity Modified Nucleosides

A high affinity modified nucleoside is a modified nucleotide which, when incorporated into the oligonucleotide enhances the affinity of the oligonucleotide for its complementary target, for example as measured by the melting temperature (T m ). A high affinity modified nucleoside of the present invention preferably result in an increase in melting temperature between +0.5 to +12° C., more preferably between +1.5 to +10° C. and most preferably between +3 to +8° C. per modified nucleoside. Numerous high affinity modified nucleosides are known in the art and include for example, many 2′ substituted nucleosides as well as locked nucleic acids (LNA) (see e.g. Freier & Altmann; Nucl. Acid Res., 1997, 25, 4429-4443 and Uhlmann; Curr. Opinion in Drug Development, 2000, 3(2), 293-213).

Sugar Modifications

The oligomer of the invention may comprise one or more nucleosides which have a modified sugar moiety, i.e. a modification of the sugar moiety when compared to the ribose sugar moiety found in DNA and RNA.

Numerous nucleosides with modification of the ribose sugar moiety have been made, primarily with the aim of improving certain properties of oligonucleotides, such as affinity and/or nuclease resistance.

Such modifications include those where the ribose ring structure is modified, e.g. by replacement with a hexose ring (HNA), or a bicyclic ring, which typically have a biradicle bridge between the C2 and C4 carbons on the ribose ring (LNA), or an unlinked ribose ring which typically lacks a bond between the C2 and C3 carbons (e.g. UNA). Other sugar modified nucleosides include, for example, bicyclohexose nucleic acids (WO2011/017521) or tricyclic nucleic acids (WO2013/154798). Modified nucleosides also include nucleosides where the sugar moiety is replaced with a non-sugar moiety, for example in the case of peptide nucleic acids (PNA), or morpholino nucleic acids.

Sugar modifications also include modifications made via altering the substituent groups on the ribose ring to groups other than hydrogen, or the 2′—OH group naturally found in DNA and RNA nucleosides. Substituents may, for example be introduced at the 2′, 3′, 4′ or 5′ positions.

2′ Sugar Modified Nucleosides.

A 2′ sugar modified nucleoside is a nucleoside which has a substituent other than H or —OH at the 2′ position (2′ substituted nucleoside) or comprises a 2′ linked biradicle capable of forming a bridge between the 2′ carbon and a second carbon in the ribose ring, such as LNA (2′-4′ biradicle bridged) nucleosides.

Indeed, much focus has been spent on developing 2′ substituted nucleosides, and numerous 2′ substituted nucleosides have been found to have beneficial properties when incorporated into oligonucleotides. For example, the 2′ modified sugar may provide enhanced binding affinity and/or increased nuclease resistance to the oligonucleotide. Examples of 2′ substituted modified nucleosides are 2′-O-alkyl-RNA, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, 2′-O-methoxyethyl-RNA (MOE), 2′-amino-DNA, 2′-Fluoro-RNA, and 2′-F-ANA nucleoside. For further examples, please see e.g. Freier & Altmann; Nucl. Acid Res., 1997, 25, 4429-4443 and Uhlmann; Curr. Opinion in Drug Development, 2000, 3(2), 293-213, and Deleavey and Damha, Chemistry and Biology 2012, 19, 937. Below are illustrations of some 2′ substituted modified nucleosides.

In relation to the present invention 2′ substituted does not include 2′ bridged molecules like LNA.

Locked Nucleic Acids (LNA)

A “LNA nucleoside” is a 2′-modified nucleoside which comprises a biradical linking the C2′ and C4′ of the ribose sugar ring of said nucleoside (also referred to as a “2′-4′ bridge”), which restricts or locks the conformation of the ribose ring. These nucleosides are also termed bridged nucleic acid or bicyclic nucleic acid (BNA) in the literature. The locking of the conformation of the ribose is associated with an enhanced affinity of hybridization (duplex stabilization) when the LNA is incorporated into an oligonucleotide for a complementary RNA or DNA molecule. This can be routinely determined by measuring the melting temperature of the oligonucleotide/complement duplex.

Non limiting, exemplary LNA nucleosides are disclosed in WO 99/014226, WO 00/66604, WO 98/039352, WO 2004/046160, WO 00/047599, WO 2007/134181, WO 2010/077578, WO 2010/036698, WO 2007/090071, WO 2009/006478, WO 2011/156202, WO 2008/154401, WO 2009/067647, WO 2008/150729, Morita et al., Bioorganic & Med. Chem. Lett. 12, 73-76, Seth et al. J. Org. Chem. 2010, Vol 75(5) pp. 1569-81, and Mitsuoka et al., Nucleic Acids Research 2009, 37(4), 1225-1238, and Wan and Seth, J. Medical Chemistry 2016, 59, 9645-9667.

Further non limiting, exemplary LNA nucleosides are disclosed in Scheme 1.

Particular LNA nucleosides are beta-D-oxy-LNA, 6′-methyl-beta-D-oxy LNA such as (S)-6′-methyl-beta-D-oxy-LNA (ScET) and ENA.

A particularly advantageous LNA is beta-D-oxy-LNA.

RNase H Activity and Recruitment

The RNase H activity of an antisense oligonucleotide refers to its ability to recruit RNase H when in a duplex with a complementary RNA molecule. WO01/23613 provides in vitro methods for determining RNaseH activity, which may be used to determine the ability to recruit RNaseH. Typically an oligonucleotide is deemed capable of recruiting RNase H if it, when provided with a complementary target nucleic acid sequence, has an initial rate, as measured in pmol/l/min, of at least 5%, such as at least 10% or more than 20% of the of the initial rate determined when using a oligonucleotide having the same base sequence as the modified oligonucleotide being tested, but containing only DNA monomers with phosphorothioate linkages between all monomers in the oligonucleotide, and using the methodology provided by Example 91-95 of WO01/23613 (hereby incorporated by reference). For use in determining RHase H activity, recombinant human RNase H1 is available from Lubio Science GmbH, Lucerne, Switzerland.

Gapmer

The antisense oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof may be a gapmer. The antisense gapmers are commonly used to inhibit a target nucleic acid via RNase H mediated degradation. A gapmer oligonucleotide comprises at least three distinct structural regions a 5′-flank, a gap and a 3′-flank, F-G-F′ in the ‘5→3’ orientation. The “gap” region (G) comprises a stretch of contiguous DNA nucleotides which enable the oligonucleotide to recruit RNase H. The gap region is flanked by a 5′ flanking region (F) comprising one or more sugar modified nucleosides, advantageously high affinity sugar modified nucleosides, and by a 3′ flanking region (F′) comprising one or more sugar modified nucleosides, advantageously high affinity sugar modified nucleosides. The one or more sugar modified nucleosides in region F and F′ enhance the affinity of the oligonucleotide for the target nucleic acid (i.e. are affinity enhancing sugar modified nucleosides). In some embodiments, the one or more sugar modified nucleosides in region F and F′ are 2′ sugar modified nucleosides, such as high affinity 2′ sugar modifications, such as independently selected from LNA and 2′-MOE.

In a gapmer design, the 5′ and 3′ most nucleosides of the gap region are DNA nucleosides, and are positioned adjacent to a sugar modified nucleoside of the 5′ (F) or 3′ (F′) region respectively. The flanks may further defined by having at least one sugar modified nucleoside at the end most distant from the gap region, i.e. at the 5′ end of the 5′ flank and at the 3′ end of the 3′ flank.

Regions F-G-F′ form a contiguous nucleotide sequence. Antisense oligonucleotides of the invention, or the contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, may comprise a gapmer region of formula F-G-F′.

The overall length of the gapmer design F-G-F′ may be, for example 12 to 32 nucleosides, such as 13 to 24, such as 14 to 22 nucleosides, Such as from 14 to 17, such as 16 to 18 nucleosides.

By way of example, the gapmer oligonucleotide of the present invention can be represented by the following formulae:

F 1-8 -G 5-16 -F′ 1-8 ,such as

F 1-8 -G 7-16 -F′ 2-8

with the proviso that the overall length of the gapmer regions F-G-F′ is at least 12, such as at least 14 nucleotides in length.

Regions F, G and F′ are further defined below and can be incorporated into the F-G-F′ formula.

Gapmer—Region G

Region G (gap region) of the gapmer is a region of nucleosides which enables the oligonucleotide to recruit RNaseH, such as human RNase H1, typically DNA nucleosides. RNaseH is a cellular enzyme which recognizes the duplex between DNA and RNA, and enzymatically cleaves the RNA molecule. Suitably gapmers may have a gap region (G) of at least 5 or 6 contiguous DNA nucleosides, such as 5-16 contiguous DNA nucleosides, such as 6-15 contiguous DNA nucleosides, such as 7-14 contiguous DNA nucleosides, such as 8-12 contiguous DNA nucleotides, such as 8-12 contiguous DNA nucleotides in length. The gap region G may, in some embodiments consist of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 contiguous DNA nucleosides. One or more cytosine (C) DNA in the gap region may in some instances be methylated (e.g. when a DNA c is followed by a DNA g) such residues are either annotated as 5-methyl-cytosine ( me C). In some embodiments the gap region G may consist of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 contiguous phosphorothioate linked DNA nucleosides. In some embodiments, all internucleoside linkages in the gap are phosphorothioate linkages.

Whilst traditional gapmers have a DNA gap region, there are numerous examples of modified nucleosides which allow for RNaseH recruitment when they are used within the gap region. Modified nucleosides which have been reported as being capable of recruiting RNaseH when included within a gap region include, for example, alpha-L-LNA, C4′ alkylated DNA (as described in PCT/EP2009/050349 and Vester et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 18 (2008) 2296-2300, both incorporated herein by reference), arabinose derived nucleosides like ANA and 2′F-ANA (Mangos et al. 2003 J. AM. CHEM. SOC. 125, 654-661), UNA (unlocked nucleic acid) (as described in Fluiter et al., Mol. Biosyst., 2009, 10, 1039 incorporated herein by reference). UNA is unlocked nucleic acid, typically where the bond between C2 and C3 of the ribose has been removed, forming an unlocked “sugar” residue. The modified nucleosides used in such gapmers may be nucleosides which adopt a 2′ endo (DNA like) structure when introduced into the gap region, i.e. modifications which allow for RNaseH recruitment). In some embodiments the DNA Gap region (G) described herein may optionally contain 1 to 3 sugar modified nucleosides which adopt a 2′ endo (DNA like) structure when introduced into the gap region.

Region G—“Gap-Breaker”

Alternatively, there are numerous reports of the insertion of a modified nucleoside which confers a 3′ endo conformation into the gap region of gapmers, whilst retaining some RNaseH activity. Such gapmers with a gap region comprising one or more 3′endo modified nucleosides are referred to as “gap-breaker” or “gap-disrupted” gapmers, see for example WO2013/022984. Gap-breaker oligonucleotides retain sufficient region of DNA nucleosides within the gap region to allow for RNaseH recruitment. The ability of gapbreaker oligonucleotide design to recruit RNaseH is typically sequence or even compound specific—see Rukov et al. 2015 Nucl. Acids Res. Vol. 43 pp. 8476-8487, which discloses “gapbreaker” oligonucleotides which recruit RNaseH which in some instances provide a more specific cleavage of the target RNA. Modified nucleosides used within the gap region of gap-breaker oligonucleotides may for example be modified nucleosides which confer a 3′endo confirmation, such 2′-O-methyl (OMe) or 2′-O-MOE (MOE) nucleosides, or beta-D LNA nucleosides (the bridge between C2′ and C4′ of the ribose sugar ring of a nucleoside is in the beta conformation), such as beta-D-oxy LNA or ScET nucleosides.

As with gapmers containing region G described above, the gap region of gap-breaker or gap-disrupted gapmers, have a DNA nucleosides at the 5′ end of the gap (adjacent to the 3′ nucleoside of region F), and a DNA nucleoside at the 3′ end of the gap (adjacent to the 5′ nucleoside of region F′). Gapmers which comprise a disrupted gap typically retain a region of at least 3 or 4 contiguous DNA nucleosides at either the 5′ end or 3′ end of the gap region. Exemplary designs for gap-breaker oligonucleotides include

F 1-8 -[D 3-4 -E 1 -D 3-4 ]-F′ 1-8

F 1-8 -[D 1-4 -E 1 -D 3-4 ]-F′ 1-8

F 1-8 -[D 3-4 -E 1 -D 1-4 ]-F′ 1-8

wherein region G is within the brackets [D n -E r -D m ], D is a contiguous sequence of DNA nucleosides, E is a modified nucleoside (the gap-breaker or gap-disrupting nucleoside), and F and F′ are the flanking regions as defined herein, and with the proviso that the overall length of the gapmer regions F-G-F′ is at least 12, such as at least 14 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments, region G of a gap disrupted gapmer comprises at least 6 DNA nucleosides, such as 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 DNA nucleosides. As described above, the DNA nucleosides may be contiguous or may optionally be interspersed with one or more modified nucleosides, with the proviso that the gap region G is capable of mediating RNaseH recruitment.

Gapmer—Flanking Regions, F and F′

Region F is positioned immediately adjacent to the 5′ DNA nucleoside of region G. The 3′ most nucleoside of region F is a sugar modified nucleoside, such as a high affinity sugar modified nucleoside, for example a 2′ substituted nucleoside, such as a MOE nucleoside, or an LNA nucleoside.

Region F′ is positioned immediately adjacent to the 3′ DNA nucleoside of region G. The 5′ most nucleoside of region F′ is a sugar modified nucleoside, such as a high affinity sugar modified nucleoside, for example a 2′ substituted nucleoside, such as a MOE nucleoside, or an LNA nucleoside.

Region F is 1-8 contiguous nucleotides in length, such as 2-6, such as 3-4 contiguous nucleotides in length. Advantageously the 5′ most nucleoside of region F is a sugar modified nucleoside. In some embodiments the two 5′ most nucleoside of region F are sugar modified nucleoside. In some embodiments the 5′ most nucleoside of region F is an LNA nucleoside. In some embodiments the two 5′ most nucleoside of region F are LNA nucleosides. In some embodiments the two 5′ most nucleoside of region F are 2′ substituted nucleoside nucleosides, such as two 3′ MOE nucleosides. In some embodiments the 5′ most nucleoside of region F is a 2′ substituted nucleoside, such as a MOE nucleoside.

Region F′ is 2-8 contiguous nucleotides in length, such as 3-6, such as 4-5 contiguous nucleotides in length. Advantageously, embodiments the 3′ most nucleoside of region F′ is a sugar modified nucleoside. In some embodiments the two 3′ most nucleoside of region F′ are sugar modified nucleoside. In some embodiments the two 3′ most nucleoside of region F′ are LNA nucleosides. In some embodiments the 3′ most nucleoside of region F′ is an LNA nucleoside. In some embodiments the two 3′ most nucleoside of region F′ are 2′ substituted nucleoside nucleosides, such as two 3′ MOE nucleosides. In some embodiments the 3′ most nucleoside of region F′ is a 2′ substituted nucleoside, such as a MOE nucleoside. It should be noted that when the length of region F or F′ is one, it is advantageously an LNA nucleoside.

In some embodiments, region F and F′ independently consists of or comprises a contiguous sequence of sugar modified nucleosides. In some embodiments, the sugar modified nucleosides of region F may be independently selected from 2′-O-alkyl-RNA units, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-amino-DNA units, 2′-fluoro-DNA units, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, MOE units, LNA units, arabino nucleic acid (ANA) units and 2′-fluoro-ANA units.

In some embodiments, region F and F′ independently comprises both LNA and a 2′ substituted modified nucleosides (mixed wing design).

In some embodiments, region F and F′ consists of only one type of sugar modified nucleosides, such as only MOE or only beta-D-oxy LNA or only ScET. Such designs are also termed uniform flanks or uniform gapmer design.

In some embodiments, all the nucleosides of region F or F′, or F and F′ are LNA nucleosides, such as independently selected from beta-D-oxy LNA, ENA or ScET nucleosides.

In some embodiments, all the nucleosides of region F or F′, or F and F′ are 2′ substituted nucleosides, such as OMe or MOE nucleosides. In some embodiments region F consists of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 contiguous OMe or MOE nucleosides. In some embodiments only one of the flanking regions can consist of 2′ substituted nucleosides, such as OMe or MOE nucleosides. In some embodiments it is the 5′ (F) flanking region that consists 2′ substituted nucleosides, such as OMe or MOE nucleosides whereas the 3′ (F′) flanking region comprises at least one LNA nucleoside, such as beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides or cET nucleosides. In some embodiments it is the 3′ (F′) flanking region that consists 2′ substituted nucleosides, such as OMe or MOE nucleosides whereas the 5′ (F) flanking region comprises at least one LNA nucleoside, such as beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides or cET nucleosides. In some embodiments, all the modified nucleosides of region F and F′ are LNA nucleosides, such as independently selected from beta-D-oxy LNA, ENA or ScET nucleosides, wherein region F or F′, or F and F′ may optionally comprise DNA nucleosides (an alternating flank, see definition of these for more details). In some embodiments, all the modified nucleosides of region F and F′ are beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides, wherein region F or F′, or F and F′ may optionally comprise DNA nucleosides (an alternating flank, see definition of these for more details).

In some embodiments the 5′ most and the 3′ most nucleosides of region F and F′ are LNA nucleosides, such as beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides or ScET nucleosides.

In some embodiments, the internucleoside linkage between region F and region G is a phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage. In some embodiments, the internucleoside linkage between region F′ and region G is a phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage. In some embodiments, the internucleoside linkages between the nucleosides of region F or F′, F and F′ are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

LNA Gapmer

An LNA gapmer is a gapmer wherein either one or both of region F and F′ comprises or consists of LNA nucleosides. A beta-D-oxy gapmer is a gapmer wherein either one or both of region F and F′ comprises or consists of beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides.

In some embodiments the LNA gapmer is of formula: [LNA] 1-5 -[region G]-[LNA] 1-5 , wherein region G is as defined in the Gapmer region G definition.

MOE Gapmers

A MOE gapmers is a gapmer wherein regions F and F′ consist of MOE nucleosides. In some embodiments the MOE gapmer is of design [MOE] 1-8 -[Region G]-[MOE] 1-8 , such as [MOE] 2-7 -[Region G] 5-16 -[MOE] 2-7 , such as [MOE] 3-6 -[Region GHMOE] 3-6 , wherein region G is as defined in the Gapmer definition. MOE gapmers with a 5-10-5 design (MOE-DNA-MOE) have been widely used in the art.

Mixed Wing Gapmer

A mixed wing gapmer is an LNA gapmer wherein one or both of region F and F′ comprise a 2′ substituted nucleoside, such as a 2′ substituted nucleoside independently selected from the group consisting of 2′-O-alkyl-RNA units, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-amino-DNA units, 2′-fluoro-DNA units, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, MOE units, arabino nucleic acid (ANA) units and 2′-fluoro-ANA units, such as a MOE nucleosides. In some embodiments wherein at least one of region F and F′, or both region F and F′ comprise at least one LNA nucleoside, the remaining nucleosides of region F and F′ are independently selected from the group consisting of MOE and LNA. In some embodiments wherein at least one of region F and F′, or both region F and F′ comprise at least two LNA nucleosides, the remaining nucleosides of region F and F′ are independently selected from the group consisting of MOE and LNA. In some mixed wing embodiments, one or both of region F and F′ may further comprise one or more DNA nucleosides.

Mixed wing gapmer designs are disclosed in WO2008/049085 and WO2012/109395, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Alternating Flank Gapmers

Oligonucleotides with alternating flanks are LNA gapmer oligonucleotides where at least one of the flanks (F or F′) comprises DNA in addition to the LNA nucleoside(s). In some embodiments at least one of region F or F′, or both region F and F′, comprise both LNA nucleosides and DNA nucleosides. In such embodiments, the flanking region F or F′, or both F and F′ comprise at least three nucleosides, wherein the 5′ and 3′ most nucleosides of the F and/or F′ region are LNA nucleosides.

In some embodiments at least one of region F or F′, or both region F and F′, comprise both LNA nucleosides and DNA nucleosides. In such embodiments, the flanking region F or F′, or both F and F′ comprise at least three nucleosides, wherein the 5′ and 3′ most nucleosides of the F or F′ region are LNA nucleosides, and there is at least one DNA nucleoside positioned between the 5′ and 3′ most LNA nucleosides of region F or F′ (or both region F and F′).

Region D′ or D″ in an Oligonucleotide

The oligonucleotide of the invention may in some embodiments comprise or consist of the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide which is complementary to the target nucleic acid, such as the gapmer F-G-F′, and further 5′ and/or 3′ nucleosides. The further 5′ and/or 3′ nucleosides may or may not be fully complementary to the target nucleic acid. Such further 5′ and/or 3′ nucleosides may be referred to as region D′ and D″ herein. The addition of region D′ or D″ may be used for the purpose of joining the contiguous nucleotide sequence, such as the gapmer, to a conjugate moiety or another functional group. When used for joining the contiguous nucleotide sequence with a conjugate moiety is can serve as a biocleavable linker. Alternatively it may be used to provide exonuclease protection or for ease of synthesis or manufacture.

Region D′ and D″ can be attached to the 5′ end of region F or the 3′ end of region F′, respectively to generate designs of the following formulas D′-F-G-F′, F-G-F′-D″ or D′-F-G-F′-D″. In this instance the F-G-F′ is the gapmer portion of the oligonucleotide and region D′ or D″ constitute a separate part of the oligonucleotide.

Region D′ or D″ may independently comprise or consist of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 additional nucleotides, which may be complementary or non-complementary to the target nucleic acid. The nucleotide adjacent to the F or F′ region is not a sugar-modified nucleotide, such as a DNA or RNA or base modified versions of these. The D′ or D′ region may serve as a nuclease susceptible biocleavable linker (see definition of linkers). In some embodiments the additional 5′ and/or 3′ end nucleotides are linked with phosphodiester linkages, and are DNA or RNA. Nucleotide based biocleavable linkers suitable for use as region D′ or D″ are disclosed in WO2014/076195, which include by way of example a phosphodiester linked DNA dinucleotide. The use of biocleavable linkers in poly-oligonucleotide constructs is disclosed in WO2015/113922, where they are used to link multiple antisense constructs (e.g. gapmer regions) within a single oligonucleotide.

In one embodiment the oligonucleotide of the invention comprises a region D′ and/or D″ in addition to the contiguous nucleotide sequence which constitutes the gapmer.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the present invention can be represented by the following formulae:

F-G-F′;in particular F 1-8 -G 5-16 -F′ 2-8

D′-F-G-F′,in particular D′ 1-3 -F 1-8 -G 5-16 -F′ 2-8

F-G-F′-D″,in particular F 1-8 -G 5-16 -F′ 2-6 -D″ 1-3

D′-F-G-F′-D″,in particular D′ 1-3 -F 1-8 -G 5-16 -F′ 2-8 -D″ 1-3

In some embodiments the internucleoside linkage positioned between region D′ and region F is a phosphodiester linkage. In some embodiments the internucleoside linkage positioned between region F′ and region D″ is a phosphodiester linkage.

Conjugate

The term conjugate as used herein refers to an oligonucleotide which is covalently linked to a non-nucleotide moiety (conjugate moiety or region C or third region).

Conjugation of the oligonucleotide of the invention to one or more non-nucleotide moieties may improve the pharmacology of the oligonucleotide, e.g. by affecting the activity, cellular distribution, cellular uptake or stability of the oligonucleotide. In some embodiments the conjugate moiety modify or enhance the pharmacokinetic properties of the oligonucleotide by improving cellular distribution, bioavailability, metabolism, excretion, permeability, and/or cellular uptake of the oligonucleotide. In particular the conjugate may target the oligonucleotide to a specific organ, tissue or cell type and thereby enhance the effectiveness of the oligonucleotide in that organ, tissue or cell type. At the same time the conjugate may serve to reduce activity of the oligonucleotide in non-target cell types, tissues or organs, e.g. off target activity or activity in non-target cell types, tissues or organs.

In an embodiment, the non-nucleotide moiety (conjugate moiety) is selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, cell surface receptor ligands, drug substances, hormones, lipophilic substances, polymers, proteins, peptides, toxins (e.g. bacterial toxins), vitamins, viral proteins (e.g. capsids) or combinations thereof.

Linkers

A linkage or linker is a connection between two atoms that links one chemical group or segment of interest to another chemical group or segment of interest via one or more covalent bonds. Conjugate moieties can be attached to the oligonucleotide directly or through a linking moiety (e.g. linker or tether). Linkers serve to covalently connect a third region, e.g. a conjugate moiety (Region C), to a first region, e.g. an oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence or gapmer region F-G-F′ (region A).

In some embodiments of the invention the conjugate or oligonucleotide conjugate of the invention may optionally, comprise a linker region (second region or region B and/or region Y) which is positioned between the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence complementary to the target nucleic acid (region A or first region) and the conjugate moiety (region C or third region).

Region B refers to biocleavable linkers comprising or consisting of a physiologically labile bond that is cleavable under conditions normally encountered or analogous to those encountered within a mammalian body. Conditions under which physiologically labile linkers undergo chemical transformation (e.g., cleavage) include chemical conditions such as pH, temperature, oxidative or reductive conditions or agents, and salt concentration found in or analogous to those encountered in mammalian cells. Mammalian intracellular conditions also include the presence of enzymatic activity normally present in a mammalian cell such as from proteolytic enzymes or hydrolytic enzymes or nucleases. In one embodiment the biocleavable linker is susceptible to S1 nuclease cleavage. DNA phosphodiester containing biocleavable linkers are described in more detail in WO 2014/076195 (hereby incorporated by reference)—see also region D′ or D″ herein.

Region Y refers to linkers that are not necessarily biocleavable but primarily serve to covalently connect a conjugate moiety (region C or third region), to an oligonucleotide (region A or first region). The region Y linkers may comprise a chain structure or an oligomer of repeating units such as ethylene glycol, amino acid units or amino alkyl groups. The oligonucleotide conjugates of the present invention can be constructed of the following regional elements A-C, A-B-C, A-B-Y-C, A-Y-B-C or A-Y-C. In some embodiments the linker (region Y) is an amino alkyl, such as a C2-C36 amino alkyl group, including, for example C6 to C12 amino alkyl groups. In a preferred embodiment the linker (region Y) is a C6 amino alkyl group.

Treatment

The term ‘treatment’ as used herein refers to both treatment of an existing disease (e.g. a disease or disorder as herein referred to), or prevention of a disease, i.e. prophylaxis. It will therefore be recognized that treatment as referred to herein may, in some embodiments, be prophylactic.

The invention relates to oligonucleotides, such as antisense oligonucleotides, targeting ATXN3 expression.

The oligonucleotides of the invention targeting ATXN3 are capable of hybridizing to and inhibiting the expression of a ATXN3 target nucleic acid in a cell which is expressing the ATXN3 target nucleic acid.

The ATXN3 target nucleic acid may be a mammalian ATXN3 mRNA or premRNA, such as a human, mouse or monkey ATXN3 mRNA or premRNA. In some embodiments, the ATXN3 target nucleic acid is ATXN3 mRNA or premRNA for example a premRNA or mRNA originating from the Homo sapiens Ataxin 3 (ATXN3), RefSeqGene on chromosome 14, exemplified by NCBI Reference Sequence NM_004993.5 (SEQ ID NO 1).

The human ATXN3 pre-mRNA is encoded on Homo sapiens Chromosome 14, NC_000014.9 (92058552 . . . 92106621, complement). GENE ID=4287 (ATXN3).

The oligonucleotides of the invention are capable of inhibiting the expression of ATXN3 target nucleic acid, such as the ATXN3 mRNA, in a cell which is expressing the target nucleic acid, such as the ATXN3 mRNA (e.g. a human, monkey or mouse cell).

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotides of the invention are capable of inhibiting the expression of ATXN3 target nucleic acid in a cell which is expressing the target nucleic acid, so to reduce the level of ATXN3 target nucleic acid (e.g. the mRNA) by at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% inhibition compared to the expression level of the ATXN3 target nucleic acid (e.g. the mRNA) in the cell. Suitably the cell is selected from the group consisting of a human cell, a monkey cell and a mouse cell. In some embodiments, the cell is a SK-N-AS, A431, NCI-H23 or ARPE19 cell (for more information on these cells, see Examples). Example 1 provides a suitable assay for evaluating the ability of the oligonucleotides of the invention to inhibit the expression of the target nucleic acid. Suitably the evaluation of a compounds ability to inhibit the expression of the target nucleic acid is performed in vitro, such a gymnotic in vitro assay, for example as according to Example 1.

An aspect of the present invention relates to an antisense oligonucleotide, such as an LNA antisense oligonucleotide gapmer which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementarity, such as is fully complementary to SEQ ID NO 1, 2 or 3.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous sequence of 10-30 nucleotides, which is at least 90% complementary, such as at least 91%, such as at least 92%, such as at least 93%, such as at least 94%, such as at least 95%, such as at least 96%, such as at least 97%, such as at least 98%, or 100% complementary with a region of the target nucleic acid or a target sequence. The sequences of suitable target nucleic acids are described herein above.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention comprises a contiguous nucleotides sequence of 12-24, such as 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, or 23, contiguous nucleotides in length, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is fully complementary to a target nucleic acid having a sequence as provided in the section “Taget sequence regions” above.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide of the invention comprises a contiguous nucleotides sequence of 12-15, such as 13, or 14, 15 contiguous nucleotides in length, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is fully complementary to a target nucleic acid having a sequence as provided in the section “Taget sequence regions” above.

Typically, the antisense oligonucleotide of the invention or the contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof is a gapmer, such as an LNA gapmer, a mixed wing gapmer, or an alternating flank gapmer.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide according to the invention, comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of at least 10 contiguous nucleotides, such as at least 12 contiguous nucleotides, such as at least 13 contiguous nucleotides, such as at least 14 contiguous nucleotides, such as at least 15 contiguous nucleotides, which is fully complementary to a target nucleic acid having a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 16 to SEQ ID NO 1281.

In some embodiments the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the antisense oligonucleotide according to the invention is less than 20 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the antisense oligonucleotide according to the invention is 12-24 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the antisense oligonucleotide according to the invention is 12-22 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the antisense oligonucleotide according to the invention is 12-20 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the antisense oligonucleotide according to the invention is 12-18 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the antisense oligonucleotide according to the invention is 12-16 nucleotides in length.

Advantageously, in some embodiments all of the internucleoside linkages between the nucleosides of the contiguous nucleotide sequence are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

In some embodiments, the contiguous nucleotide sequence is fully complementary to a target nucleic acid.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide is a gapmer oligonucleotide comprising a contiguous nucleotide sequence of formula 5′-F-G-F′-3′, where region F and F′ independently comprise 1-8 sugar modified nucleosides, and G is a region between 5 and 16 nucleosides which are capable of recruiting RNaseH.

In some embodiments, the sugar modified nucleosides of region F and F′ are independently selected from the group consisting of 2′-O-alkyl-RNA, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, 2′-O-methoxyethyl-RNA, 2′-amino-DNA, 2′-fluoro-DNA, arabino nucleic acid (ANA), 2′-fluoro-ANA and LNA nucleosides.

In some embodiments, region G comprises 5-16 contiguous DNA nucleosides.

In some embodiments, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is a gapmer oligonucleotide, such as an LNA gapmer oligonucleotide.

In some embodiments, the LNA nucleosides are beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides.

In some embodiments, the internucleoside linkages between the contiguous nucleotide sequence are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

Preferred sequence motifs and antisense oligonucleotides of the present invention are shown in Table 2 and in the examples.

Oligonucleotide compound represent specific designs of a motif sequence. Typically, capital letters represent beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides, lowercase letters represent DNA nucleosides, all LNA C are 5-methyl cytosine, and 5-methyl DNA cytosines are presented by “e” or ‘c, all internucleoside linkages are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

Design refers to the gapmer design, F-G-F’, where each number represents the number of consecutive modified nucleosides, e.g. 2′ modified nucleosides (first number=5′ flank), followed by the number of DNA nucleosides (second number=gap region), followed by the number of modified nucleosides, e.g. 2′ modified nucleosides (third number=3′ flank), optionally preceded by or followed by further repeated regions of DNA and LNA, which are not necessarily part of the contiguous nucleotide sequence that is complementary to the target nucleic acid.

Motif sequences represent the contiguous sequence of nucleobases present in the oligonucleotide, also referred to as the Oligonucleotide Base Sequence.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides according to the invention, such as antisense oligonucleotides 12-24, such as 12-18 in length, nucleosides in length wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence comprising at least 12, such as at least 14, such as at least 15 contiguous nucleotides present in a of sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 4 to SEQ ID NO: 1089; SEQ ID Nos 1099 to 1127; and SEQ ID NO 1137-1988.

The antisense oligonucleotides provided herein typically comprise or consist of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 4-1089. For example, the antisense oligonucletodies are LNA gapmers comprising or consisting of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 4-1089.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide of the present invention comprises or consists of a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 4-1089. For example, the antisense oligonucleotide of the present invention is a LNA gapmer comprising or consisting of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 4-1089. Preferred compounds are listed in Table 2 above, see columns “Oligonucleotide compounds”.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides according to the invention, such as antisense oligonucleotides 12-24, such as 12-18 in length, nucleosides in length wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence comprising at least 12, such as at least 14, such as at least 15 contiguous nucleotides present in a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 1190 to SEQ ID NO: 1136.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides according to the invention, such as antisense oligonucleotides 12-24, such as 12-18 in length, nucleosides in length wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence comprising at least 12, such as at least 14, such as at least 15 contiguous nucleotides present in a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 1190 to SEQ ID NO: 1136.

The antisense oligonucleotides provided herein typically comprise or consist of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 1190-1136. For example, the antisense oligonucletodies are LNA gapmers comprising or consisting of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 1190 to SEQ ID NO: 1136.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide of the present invention comprises or consists of a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 1190-1136. For example, the antisense oligonucleotide of the present invention is a LNA gapmer comprising or consisting of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 1190 to SEQ ID NO: 1136. See the examples for exemplary oligonucleotide of the invention.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides according to the invention, such as antisense oligonucleotides 12-24, such as 12-18 in length, nucleosides in length wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence comprising at least 12, such as at least 14, such as at least 15 contiguous nucleotides present in a of sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 1137 to SEQ ID NO: 1989.

The antisense oligonucleotides provided herein typically comprise or consist of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO SEQ ID NO 1137 to SEQ ID NO: 1989. For example, the antisense oligonucletodies are LNA gapmers comprising or consisting of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 1137 to SEQ ID NO: 1989.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide of the present invention comprises or consists of a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 1137 to SEQ ID NO: 1989. For example, the antisense oligonucleotide of the present invention is a LNA gapmer comprising or consisting of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO 1137 to SEQ ID NO: 1989. See the examples for exemplary oligonucleotide of the invention.

In some embodiments, the invention refers to oligomeric compounds, capable of inhibiting the expression of ataxin3 in a cell which is expressing ataxin 3 (such as human ataxin 3), wherein the oligomeric compound comprises at least 10 contiguous nucleotides which are identical to a contiguous sequence of nucleobases present in a sequence selected from the group consisting of 4-1989.

In some embodiments, the invention refers to oligomeric compounds, capable of inhibiting the expression of ataxin3 in a cell which is expressing ataxin 3 (such as human ataxin 3), wherein the oligomeric compound comprises at least 12 contiguous nucleotides which are identical to a contiguous sequence of nucleobases present in a sequence selected from the group consisting of 4-1989.

In some embodiments, the invention refers to oligomeric compounds, capable of inhibiting the expression of ataxin3 in a cell which is expressing ataxin 3 (such as human ataxin 3), wherein the oligomeric compound comprises at least 14 contiguous nucleotides which are identical to a contiguous sequence of nucleobases present in a sequence selected from the group consisting of 4-1989.

In some embodiments, the invention refers to oligomeric compounds, capable of inhibiting the expression of ataxin3 in a cell which is expressing ataxin 3 (such as human ataxin 3), wherein the oligomeric compound comprises at least 16 contiguous nucleotides which are identical to a contiguous sequence of nucleobases present in a sequence selected from the group consisting of 4-1989.

In some embodiments, the invention refers to oligomeric compounds, capable of inhibiting the expression of ataxin3 in a cell which is expressing ataxin 3 (such as human ataxin 3), wherein the oligomeric compound comprises a contiguous nucleotides which are identical to the contiguous sequence of nucleobases shown in a sequence selected from the group consisting of 4-1989.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides selected from the group consisting of the antisense oligonucleotides listed in Table 2 in the column “Oligonucleotide compounds”, wherein a capital letter is a LNA nucleoside, and a lower case letter is a DNA nucleoside. In some embodiments all internucleoside linkages in contiguous nucleoside sequence are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. Optionally LNA cytosine may be 5-methyl cytosine. Optionally DNA cytosine may be 5-methyl cytosine. Optionally uracil may be used in place of thymine bases.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides selected from the group consisting of the antisense oligonucleotides listed in Table 2 in the column “Oligonucleotide compounds”, wherein a capital letter is a beta-D-oxy-LNA nucleoside, and a lower case letter is a DNA nucleoside. In some embodiments all internucleoside linkages in contiguous nucleoside sequence are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. Optionally LNA cytosine may be 5-methyl cytosine. Optionally DNA cytosine may be 5-methyl cytosine.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides selected from the group consisting of the antisense oligonucleotides listed in Table 2 in the column “Oligonucleotide compounds”, wherein a capital letter is a ScET LNA nucleoside, and a lower case letter is a DNA nucleoside. In some embodiments all internucleoside linkages in contiguous nucleoside sequence are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. Optionally LNA cytosine may be 5-methyl cytosine. Optionally DNA cytosine may be 5-methyl cytosine.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides selected from the group consisting of the antisense oligonucleotides listed in Table 2 in the column “Oligonucleotide compounds”, wherein a capital letter is a beta-D-oxy-LNA nucleoside, wherein all LNA cytosines are 5-methyl cytosine, and a lower case letter is a DNA nucleoside, wherein all internucleoside linkages in contiguous nucleoside sequence are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages, and optionally DNA cytosine may be 5-methyl cytosine.

The invention provides antisense oligonucleotides selected from the group consisting of the antisense oligonucleotides listed in Table 2 in the column “Oligonucleotide compounds”, wherein a capital letter is a ScET LNA nucleoside, wherein all LNA cytosines are 5-methyl cytosine, and a lower case letter is a DNA nucleoside, wherein all internucleoside linkages in contiguous nucleoside sequence are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages, and optionally DNA cytosine may be 5-methyl cytosine.

Method of Manufacture

In a further aspect, the invention provides methods for manufacturing the oligonucleotides of the invention comprising reacting nucleotide units and thereby forming covalently linked contiguous nucleotide units comprised in the oligonucleotide. Preferably, the method uses phophoramidite chemistry (see for example Caruthers et al, 1987, Methods in Enzymology vol. 154, pages 287-313). In a further embodiment the method further comprises reacting the contiguous nucleotide sequence with a conjugating moiety (ligand) to covalently attach the conjugate moiety to the oligonucleotide. In a further aspect a method is provided for manufacturing the composition of the invention, comprising mixing the oligonucleotide or conjugated oligonucleotide of the invention with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, solvent, carrier, salt and/or adjuvant.

Pharmaceutical Composition

In a further aspect, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising any of the aforementioned oligonucleotides and/or oligonucleotide conjugates or salts thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, salt and/or adjuvant.

In a further aspect, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising any of the aforementioned oligonucleotides and/or oligonucleotide conjugates or salts thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, salt or adjuvant.

A pharmaceutically acceptable diluent includes phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, sodium and potassium salts. In some embodiments the pharmaceutically acceptable diluent is sterile phosphate buffered saline. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide is used in the pharmaceutically acceptable diluent at a concentration of 50-300 μM solution.

The compounds according to the present invention may exist in the form of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to conventional acid-addition salts or base-addition salts that retain the biological effectiveness and properties of the compounds of the present invention and are formed from suitable non-toxic organic or inorganic acids or organic or inorganic bases. Acid-addition salts include for example those derived from inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphoric acid and nitric acid, and those derived from organic acids such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, methanesulfonic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, fumaric acid, and the like. Base-addition salts include those derived from ammonium, potassium, sodium and, quaternary ammonium hydroxides, such as for example, tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide. The chemical modification of a pharmaceutical compound into a salt is a technique well known to pharmaceutical chemists in order to obtain improved physical and chemical stability, hygroscopicity, flowability and solubility of compounds. It is for example described in Bastin, Organic Process Research & Development 2000, 4, 427-435 or in Ansel, In: Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems, 6th ed. (1995), pp. 196 and 1456-1457. For example, the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compounds provided herein may be a sodium salt.

Suitable formulations for use in the present invention are found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., 17th ed., 1985. For a brief review of methods for drug delivery, see, e.g., Langer (Science 249:1527-1533, 1990). WO 2007/031091 provides further suitable and preferred examples of pharmaceutically acceptable diluents, carriers and adjuvants (hereby incorporated by reference). Suitable dosages, formulations, administration routes, compositions, dosage forms, combinations with other therapeutic agents, pro-drug formulations are also provided in WO2007/031091.

Oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates of the invention may be mixed with pharmaceutically acceptable active or inert substances for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions or formulations. Compositions and methods for the formulation of pharmaceutical compositions are dependent upon a number of criteria, including, but not limited to, route of administration, extent of disease, or dose to be administered. These compositions may be sterilized by conventional sterilization techniques, or may be sterile filtered. The resulting aqueous solutions may be packaged for use as is, or lyophilized, the lyophilized preparation being combined with a sterile aqueous carrier prior to administration. The pH of the preparations typically will be between 3 and 11, more preferably between 5 and 9 or between 6 and 8, and most preferably between 7 and 8, such as 7 to 7.5. The resulting compositions in solid form may be packaged in multiple single dose units, each containing a fixed amount of the above-mentioned agent or agents, such as in a sealed package of tablets or capsules. The composition in solid form can also be packaged in a container for a flexible quantity, such as in a squeezable tube designed for a topically applicable cream or ointment.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugate of the invention is a prodrug. In particular with respect to oligonucleotide conjugates the conjugate moiety is cleaved of the oligonucleotide once the prodrug is delivered to the site of action, e.g. the target cell.

Applications

The oligonucleotides of the invention may be utilized as research reagents for, for example, diagnostics, therapeutics and prophylaxis.

In research, such oligonucleotides may be used to specifically modulate the synthesis of ATXN3 protein in cells (e.g. in vitro cell cultures) and experimental animals thereby facilitating functional analysis of the target or an appraisal of its usefulness as a target for therapeutic intervention. Typically the target modulation is achieved by degrading or inhibiting the mRNA producing the protein, thereby prevent protein formation or by degrading or inhibiting a modulator of the gene or mRNA producing the protein.

If employing the oligonucleotide of the invention in research or diagnostics the target nucleic acid may be a cDNA or a synthetic nucleic acid derived from DNA or RNA.

The present invention provides an in vivo or in vitro method for modulating ATXN3 expression in a target cell which is expressing ATXN3, said method comprising administering an oligonucleotide of the invention in an effective amount to said cell.

In some embodiments, the target cell, is a mammalian cell in particular a human cell. The target cell may be an in vitro cell culture or an in vivo cell forming part of a tissue in a mammal.

In diagnostics the oligonucleotides may be used to detect and quantitate ATXN3 expression in cell and tissues by northern blotting, in-situ hybridisation or similar techniques.

For therapeutics, an animal or a human, suspected of having a disease or disorder, which can be treated by modulating the expression of ATXN3

The invention provides methods for treating or preventing a disease, comprising administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an oligonucleotide, an oligonucleotide conjugate or a pharmaceutical composition of the invention to a subject suffering from or susceptible to the disease.

The invention also relates to an oligonucleotide, a composition or a conjugate as defined herein for use as a medicament.

The oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention is typically administered in an effective amount.

The invention also provides for the use of the oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugate of the invention as described for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a disorder as referred to herein, or for a method of the treatment of as a disorder as referred to herein.

The disease or disorder, as referred to herein, is associated with expression of ATXN3. In some embodiments disease or disorder may be associated with a mutation in the ATXN3 gene. Therefore, in some embodiments, the target nucleic acid is a mutated form of the ATXN3 sequence.

The methods of the invention are preferably employed for treatment or prophylaxis against diseases caused by abnormal levels and/or activity of ATXN3.

The invention further relates to use of an oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or a pharmaceutical composition as defined herein for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of abnormal levels and/or activity of ATXN3.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to oligonucleotides, oligonucleotide conjugates or pharmaceutical compositions for use in the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia.

Administration

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotides or pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be administered oral. In further embodiments, the oligonucleotides or pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be administered topical or enteral or parenteral (such as, intravenous, subcutaneous, intra-muscular, intracerebral, intracerebroventricular or intrathecal).

In a preferred embodiment the oligonucleotide or pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are administered by a parenteral route including intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection or infusion, intrathecal or intracranial, e.g. intracerebral or intraventricular, intravitreal administration. In one embodiment the active oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugate is administered intravenously. In another embodiment the active oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugate is administered subcutaneously.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or pharmaceutical composition of the invention is administered at a dose of 0.1-15 mg/kg, such as from 0.2-10 mg/kg, such as from 0.25-5 mg/kg. The administration can be once a week, every 2 nd week, every third week or even once a month.

Combination Therapies

In some embodiments the oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or pharmaceutical composition of the invention is for use in a combination treatment with another therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent can for example be the standard of care for the diseases or disorders described above.

Further Embodiments

The following further embodiments may be combined with the embodiments described elsewhere in the application or claims:

1. An antisense oligonucleotide, 10-30 nucleotides in length, wherein said antisense oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence 10-30 nucleotides in length, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary to SEQ ID NO 1, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is capable of inhibiting the expression of human ATXN3 in a cell which is expressing human ATXN3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 2. The antisense oligonucleotide according to embodiment 1, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is fully complementary to a region of SEQ ID NO 1, selected from the group consisting of 721-765; 786-820; 1012-1038; 1040-1080; 1186-1213; 2870-2915; 2944-2988; 3168-3206; 3210-3257; 3462-3493; 3880-3906; 3908-3977; 4094-4128; 4173-4203; 5098-5177; 5538-5560; 5690-5749; 6407-6450; 7401-7434; 7436-7521; 8609-8637; 8636-8676; 8693-8715; 9391-9414; 10943-11030; 11543-11563; 11942-11967; 12175-12204; 12206-12229; 12254-12324; 12327-12364; 12682-12708; 12739-12758; 13127-13197; 13289-13412; 13990-14031; 14041-14113; 14115-14138; 14257-14288; 14570-14612; 15778-15805; 15813-15848; 15850-15900; 16069-16115; 16187-16229; 16494-16527; 16834-16852; 16910-16956; 18012-18051; 18615-18650; 19085-19135; 20214-20241; 20554-20599; 22073-22096; 22251-22292; 22422-22447; 23196-23228; 23616-23637; 24071-24132; 24217-24383; 24486-24541; 24586-24615; 24739-24778; 24848-24888; 24975-24995; 25026-25117; 25499-25540; 27081-27233; 27771-27810; 27927-27953; 29297-29323; 29336-29445; 30705-30792; 31006-31111; 32057-32090; 33420-33470; 33792-33817; 33963-34002; 34050-34073; 34075-34103; 34523-34570; 35302-35378; 36322-36357; 36461-36500; 36786-36820; 36822-36862; 38848-38885; 40059-40091; 40149-40228; 40365-40399; 41655-41684; 41699-41720; 41773-41799; 42145-42218; 43826-43868; 45488-45508; 47371-47417; 48061-48117; 48894-48924; 48959-48996; 50076-50112; 51008-51031; 51826-51892; 53239-53301; 53688-53719; 53931-53967; 54550-54610; 55218-55258; 55269-55299; 55494-55514; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 3. The antisense oligonucleotide according to embodiment 1, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is fully complementary to a region of SEQ ID NO 1, selected from the group consisting of 43-101; 721-736; 786-808; 1682-1698; 1682-1700; 1688-1703; 1688-1702; 1787-1801; 1832-1846; 2259-2273; 4296-4310; 4397-4411; 4402-4417; 4593-4611; 4598-4612; 4601-4615; 5031-5046; 5264-5278; 5564-5578; 6547-6567; 6676-6690; 7056-7073; 9078-9092; 9078-9093; 9079-9093; 9080-9094; 9781-9806; 9838-9854; 9857-9872; 9896-9911; 9940-9956; 9977-9992; 9977-9993; 9987-10003; 10110-10124; 10480-10510; 12330-12344; 12660-12677; 12660-12676; 12661-12677; 12787-12804; 12806-12852; 12869-12884; 12917-12931; 13317-13333; 13335-13363; 13578-13592; 15660-15676; 17803-17824; 17841-17857; 17868-17884; 18541-18556; 23358-23379; 23434-23448; 23450-23469; 23617-23632; 23843-23859; 23946-23961; 24338-24352; 25281-25296; 25634-25674; 27146-27163; 27182-27222; 27415-27434; 27415-27429; 27500-27517; 28239-28253; 28244-28258; 30158-30172; 32776-32790; 34946-34965; 35110-35124; 35331-35345; 35588-35602; 35597-35612; 40009-40023; 42239-42267; 43570-43585; 43789-43803; 43870-43884; 45381-45397; 47736-47750; 47758-47774; 48013-48035; 48037-48053; 49337-49353; 50653-50668; 50656-50670; 51424-51438; 56049-56063; and, 61333-61348; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 4. The antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1-3, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises a region of at least 8 or at least 10 contiguous nucleotides which are fully complementary to a region of SEQ ID NO 1, selected from the group consisting of 743-760; 2969-2987; 4175-4191; 5131-5148; 7436-7453; 9395-9414; 12742-12758; 14572-14590; 16188-16207; 16924-16940; 18630-18647; 22074-22092; 23204-23221; 24509-24528; 27100-27119; 30115-30132; 32059-32078; 34075-34093; 35310-35329; 36470-36489; 38853-38871; 40158-40177; 41777-41794; 48905-48923; 51866-51882; and 53949-53965; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 5. The antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1-3, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises a region of at least 12 or at least 14 contiguous nucleotides which are fully complementary to a region of SEQ ID NO 1, selected from the group consisting of 743-760; 2969-2987; 4175-4191; 5131-5148; 7436-7453; 9395-9414; 12742-12758; 14572-14590; 16188-16207; 16924-16940; 18630-18647; 22074-22092; 23204-23221; 24509-24528; 27100-27119; 30115-30132; 32059-32078; 34075-34093; 35310-35329; 36470-36489; 38853-38871; 40158-40177; 41777-41794; 48905-48923; 51866-51882; and 53949-53965; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 6. The antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1-5, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is a gapmer oligonucleotide comprising a contiguous nucleotide sequence of formula 5′-F-G-F′-3′, where region F and F′ independently comprise 1-8 sugar modified nucleosides, and G is a region between 5 and 16 nucleosides which are capable of recruiting RNaseH; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 7. The antisense oligonucleotide according to embodiment 6, wherein the sugar modified nucleosides of region F and F′ are independently selected from the group consisting of 2′-O-alkyl-RNA, 2′-O-methyl-RNA, 2′-alkoxy-RNA, 2′-O-methoxyethyl-RNA, 2′-amino-DNA, 2′-fluoro-DNA, arabino nucleic acid (ANA), 2′-fluoro-ANA and LNA nucleosides; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 8. The antisense oligonucleotide according to embodiment 5 or 6, wherein region G comprises 5-16 contiguous DNA nucleosides; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 9. The antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1-8, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is a gapmer oligonucleotide such as an LNA gapmer oligonucleotide; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 10. The antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 5-9, wherein the LNA nucleosides are beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 11. The antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1-10, wherein the internucleoside linkages between the contiguous nucleotide sequence are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 12. The antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1-11, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 4 to SEQ ID NO: 1089; SEQ ID Nos 1099 to 1127; and SEQ ID NO 1137-1988; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 13. The antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1-13, wherein the oligonucleotide is an oligonucleotide compound selected from the oligonucleotide compounds shown in Table 2, wherein a capital letter represents a LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter represents a DNA nucleoside; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 14. The antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1-13, wherein the oligonucleotide is is an oligonucleotide compound selected from the oligonucleotide compounds shown in Table 2, wherein a capital letter represents a beta-D-oxy LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter represents a DNA nucleoside, wherein each LNA cytosine is 5-methyl cytosine, and wherein the internucleoside linkages between the nucleosides are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages, or a pharmaceutically salt thereof; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 15. The antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1-13, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of compounds 1099_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1099), 1100_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1100), 1101_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1101), 1102_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1102), 1103_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1103), 1104_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1104), 1105_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1105), 1106_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1106), 1107_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1107), 1108_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1108), 1109_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1109), 1110_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1110), 1111_1 (SEQ ID NO: 11111, 1112_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1112), 1113_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1113), 1114_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1114), 1115_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1115), 1116_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1116), 1117_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1117), 1118_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1118), 1119_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1119), 1120_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1120), 1121_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1121), 1122_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1122), 1123_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1123), 1124_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1124), 1125_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1126), 1126_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1126), and 1127_1 (SEQ ID NO: 1127) or a oligonucleotide compound shown in the tables in Examples 2,3 or 4; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 16. A conjugate comprising the oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1-15, and at least one conjugate moiety covalently attached to said oligonucleotide; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 17. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-15 or the conjugate of embodiment 16 and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, solvent, carrier, salt and/or adjuvant. 18. An in vivo or in vitro method for modulating ATXN3 expression in a target cell which is expressing ATXN3, said method comprising administering an oligonucleotide or salt of any one of embodiments 1-15, the conjugate according to embodiment 16, or the pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 17 in an effective amount to said cell. 19. A method for treating or preventing a disease comprising administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an oligonucleotide or salt of any one of embodiments 1-15 or the conjugate according to embodiment 16 or the pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 17 to a subject suffering from or susceptible to the disease. 20. The method of embodiment 19, wherein the disease is spinocerebellar ataxia, such as spinocerebellar ataxia 3, such as Machado-Joseph disease (MJD). 21. The oligonucleotide or salt of any one of embodiments 1-15 or the conjugate according to embodiment 16 or the pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 17 for use in medicine. 22. The oligonucleotide or salt of any one of embodiments 1-15 or the conjugate according to embodiment 16 or the pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 15 for use in the treatment or prevention of spinocerebellar ataxia, such as spinocerebellar ataxia 3, such as Machado-Joseph disease (MJD). 23. Use of the oligonucleotide or salt of embodiment 1-15 or the conjugate according to embodiment 16 or the pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 17, for the preparation of a medicament for treatment or prevention of spinocerebellar ataxia, such as spinocerebellar ataxia 3, such as Machado-Joseph disease (MJD).

Materials and Methods

Oligonucleotide Synthesis

Oligonucleotide synthesis is generally known in the art. Below is a protocol which may be applied. The oligonucleotides of the present invention may have been produced by slightly varying methods in terms of apparatus, support and concentrations used.

Oligonucleotides are synthesized on uridine universal supports using the phosphoramidite approach on an Oligomaker 48 at 1 μmol scale. At the end of the synthesis, the oligonucleotides are cleaved from the solid support using aqueous ammonia for 5-16 hours at 60′C. The oligonucleotides are purified by reverse phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) or by solid phase extractions and characterized by UPLC, and the molecular mass is further confirmed by ESI-MS.

Elongation of the Oligonucleotide:

The coupling of β-cyanoethyl-phosphoramidites (DNA-A(Bz), DNA-G(ibu), DNA-C(Bz), DNA-T, LNA-5-methyl-C(Bz), LNA-A(Bz), LNA-G(dmf), or LNA-T) is performed by using a solution of 0.1 M of the 5′-O-DMT-protected amidite in acetonitrile and DCI (4,5-dicyanoimidazole) in acetonitrile (0.25 M) as activator.

Purification by RP-HPLC:

The crude compounds are purified by preparative RP-HPLC on a Phenomenex Jupiter C18 10μ 150×10 mm column. 0.1 M ammonium acetate pH 8 and acetonitrile is used as buffers at a flow rate of 5 mL/min. The collected fractions are lyophilized to give the purified compound typically as a white solid.

DCI: 4,5-Dicyanoimidazole

DCM: Dichloromethane

DMF: Dimethylformamide

DMT: 4,4′-Dimethoxytrityl

THF: Tetrahydrofurane

Bz: Benzoyl

Ibu: Isobutyryl

RP-HPLC: Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography

T m Assay:

Oligonucleotide and RNA target (phosphate linked, PO) duplexes are diluted to 3 mM in 500 ml RNase-free water and mixed with 500 ml 2×T m -buffer (200 mM NaCl, 0.2 mM EDTA, 20 mM Naphosphate, pH 7.0). The solution is heated to 95° C. for 3 min and then allowed to anneal in room temperature for 30 min. The duplex melting temperatures (T m ) is measured on a Lambda 40 UV/VIS Spectrophotometer equipped with a Peltier temperature programmer PTP6 using PE Templab software (Perkin Elmer). The temperature is ramped up from 20° C. to 95° C. and then down to 25° C., recording absorption at 260 nm. First derivative and the local maximums of both the melting and annealing are used to assess the duplex T m .

Cell Lines

Example 1 Testing In Vitro Efficacy of LNA Oligonucleotides in SK-N-AS, A431, NCI-H23 and ARPE19 Cell Lines at 25 and 5 μM

An oligonucleotide screen is performed in human cell lines using the LNA oligonucleotides in table 2 (CMP ID NO: 4_1-1089_1, see column “oligonucleotide compounds”) targeting SEQ ID NO 1. The human cell lines SK-N-AS, A341, NCI-H23 and ARPE19 are purchased from the vendors listed in table 3, and are maintained as recommended by the supplier in a humidified incubator at 37° C. with 5% CO 2 . For the screening assays, cells are seeded in 96 multi well plates in media recommended by the supplier (see table 3 in the Materials and Methods section). The number of cells/well is optimized for each cell line (see table 3 in the Materials and Methods section).

Cells are incubated between 0 and 24 hours before addition of the oligonucleotide in concentration of 5 or 25 μM (dissolved in PBS). 3-4 days after addition of the oligonucleotide, the cells are harvested (The incubation times for each cell line are indicated in table 3 in the Materials and Methods section).

RNA is extracted using the Qiagen RNeasy 96 kit (74182), according to the manufacturer's instructions). cDNA synthesis and qPCR is performed using qScript XLT one-step RT-qPCR ToughMix Low ROX, 95134-100 (Quanta Biosciences). Target transcript levels are quantified using FAM labeled TaqMan assays from Thermo Fisher Scientific in a multiplex reaction with a VIC labelled GUSB control. TaqMan primer assays for the target transcript of interest ATXN3 (see below) and a house keeping gene GUSB (4326320E VIC-MGB probe).

ATXN3 primer assay (Assay ID: N/A Item Name Hs.PT.58.39355049):

The relative ATXN3 mRNA expression levels are determined as % of control (PBS-treated cells) i.e. the lower the value the larger the inhibition.

Example 2: In Vitro Reduction of ATXN3 in SK-N-AS Human Cell Line Using Further LNA Gapmer Oligonucleotides Targeting ATNX3

LNA modified oligonucleotides targeting human ATXN3 were tested for their ability to reduce ATXN3 mRNA expression in human SK-N-AS neuroblastoma cells acquired from ECACC Cat: 94092302. The cells were cultured according to the vendor guidelines in Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium, supplemented with 0.1 mM Non-Essential Amino Acids (NEAA) and fetal bovine serum to a final concentration of 10%. Cells were cultured at 37° C., 5% CO2 and 95% humidity in an active evaporation incubator (Thermo C10). Cells were seeded at a density of 9000 cells per well (96-well plate) in 190 ul of SK-N-AS cell culture medium. The cells were hereafter added 10 μl of oligo suspension or PBS (controls) to a final concentration of 5 μM from pre-made 96-well dilution plates. The cell culture plates were incubated for 72 hours in the incubator.

After incubation, cells were harvested by removal of media followed by cell lysis and RNA purification using QIAGEN RNeasy 96 Kit (cat 74181), following manufacturers protocol. RNA was diluted 2 fold in water prior to the one-step qPCR reaction. For one-step qPCR reaction qPCR-mix (qScript™ XLT One-Step RT-qPCR ToughMix® Low ROX from QuantaBio, cat. no 95134-500) and QPCR was run as duplex QPCR using assays from Integrated DNA technologies for ATXN3 (Hs.PT.58.39355049) and TBP (Hs.PT.58v.39858774)

Hs.PT.58.39355049-Primer Sequences

Probe:

(SEQ ID NO 1130)

5′-/56-FAM/AAAGGCCAG/ZEN/CCACCAGTTCAGG/3IABkFQ/-3′

Primer 1:

(SEQ ID NO 1129)

5′-CTATCAGGACAGAGTTCACATCC-3′

Primer 2:

(SEQ ID NO 1128)

5′-GTTTCTAAAGACATGGTCACAGC-3′

Hs.PT.58v.39858774-Primer Sequences

Probe:

(SEQ ID NO 1131)

5′-/5HEX/TGA TCT TTG/ZEN/CAG TGA CCC AGC ATC A/

3IABkFQ/-3′

Primer 1:

(SEQ ID NO 1132)

5′-GCT GTT TAA CTT CGC TTC CG-3′

Primer 2:

(SEQ ID NO 1133)

5′-CAG CAA CTT CCT CAA TTC CTT G-3′

The reactions were then mixed in a qPCR plate (MICROAMP®optical 384 well, 4309849). After sealing, the plate was given a quick spin, 1000 g for 1 minute at RT, and transferred to a Viia™ 7 system (Applied Biosystems, Thermo), and the following PCR conditions used: 50° C. for 15 minutes; 95° C. for 3 minutes; 40 cycles of: 95° C. for 5 sec followed by a temperature decrease of 1.6° C./sec followed by 60° C. for 45 sec. The data was analyzed using the QuantStudio™ Real_time PCR Software and quantity calculated by the delta delta Ct method (Quantity=2{circumflex over ( )}(−Ct)*1000000000). Quantity is normalized to the calculated quantity for the housekeeping gene assay (TBP) run in the same well. Relative Target Quantity=QUANTITY_target/QUANTITY_housekeeping (RNA knockdown) was calculated for each well by division with the mean of all PBS-treated wells on the same plate. Normalised Target Quantity=(Relative Target Quantity/[mean] Relative Target Quantity]_pbs_wells)*100.

Compounds targeting selected target sequence regions of SEQ ID NO 1 were evaluated in the above assay.

The target knock-down data is presented in the following Compound and Data Table:

In the Compound table, motif sequences represent the contiguous sequence of nucleobases present in the oligonucleotide.

Oligonucleotide compound represent specific designs of a motif sequence. Capital letters represent beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides, lowercase letters represent DNA nucleosides, all LNA C are 5-methyl cytosine, all internucleoside linkages are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

In the oligonucleotide compound column, capital letters represent beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides, LNA cytosines are 5-methyl cytosine, lower case letters are DNA nucleosides, and all internucleoside linkages are phosphorothioate.

As can be seen, most of the above compounds targeting the listed target sequence regions are capable of inhibiting the expression of the human ataxin 3 transcript and that compounds targeting the target sequence region complementary to SEQ ID Nos 1122 and 1109 are particularly effective in inhibiting the human ataxin 3 transcript. Other effective target sites for ATXN3 can be determined from the above table.