2-5A Antisense for Degradation of SARS Coronavirus RNA

描述（由申请人提供）：严重急性呼吸系统综合征（SARS）是一种新认识的疾病，已迅速蔓延到整个亚洲，北美和欧洲。SARS是一种高传染性疾病，死亡率高，职业危害大，无特效治疗。7月5日，世界卫生组织（WHO）终于宣布SARS在全球范围内得到控制。但是，SARS很可能会卷土重来。因此，开发有效的治疗SARS感染的药物势在必行。里奇韦生物系统公司正在利用其专有的2-5A反义技术开发针对癌症和传染病的新药。2-5A反义利用普遍存在的细胞核糖核酸酶L（RNase L），其通过结合2-5A而被激活。通过将2-5A与反义连接，RNase L针对特定的RNA分子，在这种情况下针对SARS RNA。2-5A反义的效率比相应的缺乏2-5A的反义高上级许多倍，并且它避免了与RNAi相关的不利的非特异性作用。我们希望开发出一种有效的、可上市的2-5A反义药物来治疗SARS感染。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a newly recognized illness that has rapidly spread throughout Asia, North America and Europe. SARS has been found to be a highly infectious disease with high mortality, considerable occupational hazard, and no specific therapy. On July 5, the World Health Organization (WHO) finally declared that SARS has been contained around the world. However, it seems likely that SARS will return. Therefore, the development of effective drugs to treat SARS infection is imperative. Ridgeway Biosystems, Inc. is developing novel drugs for targeting cancer and infectious diseases using its proprietary 2-5A antisense technology. 2-5A antisense exploits a ubiquitous cellular ribonuclease L (RNase L), which is activated by binding to 2-5A. By linking 2-5A to antisense, RNase L is directed to a specific RNA molecule, in this case to SARS RNA. The efficiency of 2-5A antisense is many times superior to corresponding antisense lacking 2-5A and it avoids adverse non-specific effects associated with RNAi. We propose to develop an effective and marketable 2-5A antisense drug for the treatment of SARS infection.