Abstract: Methods of monitoring therapeutic efficacy in a subject with MDS are provided. Also provided is a method of identifying a subject with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) for treatment with a telomerase inhibitor, and methods of treating MDS. The subject methods can include administering to the subject an effective amount of a telomerase inhibitor and assessing the hTERT expression levels in a biological sample obtained from the subject. In some cases, a 50% or greater reduction in hTERT expression level identifies a subject who has an increased likelihood of benefiting from treatment with the telomerase inhibitor. The subject can be naive to treatment with a HMA, lenalidomide, or both. In some cases, the subject is classified as having low or intermediate-1 IPSS risk MDS and/or MDS relapsed/refractory to Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent (ESA). In some instances, the telomerase inhibitor is imetelstat sodium.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods of treating a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in a subject that is naive to treatment with an agent selected from a hypomethylating agent (HMA) and lenalidomide, or both. The method includes administering to the subject an effective amount of a telomerase inhibitor, such as e.g. imetelstat or imetelstat sodium. In some cases, the subject treated is classified as low or intermediate-1 IPSS risk MDS and/or have MDS relapsed/refractory to Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent (ESA).

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure includes methods for preparing an amorphous solid composition of a fatty acid metal salt. In practicing the subject methods according to certain embodiments, a succinylated 3-(fatty acid amido)-2-hydroxy-1-(protected hydroxy)-propane organic salt is contacted with a metal base to produce a succinylated 3-(fatty acid amido)-2-hydroxy-1-(protected hydroxy)-propane metal salt; and the succinylated 3-(fatty acid amido)-2-hydroxy-1-(protected hydroxy)-propane metal salt is precipitated in a solvent to produce an amorphous solid succinylated 3-(fatty acid amido)-2-hydroxy-1-(protected hydroxy)-propane metal salt composition. An amorphous solid succinylated 3-(fatty acid amido)-2-hydroxy-1-(protected hydroxy)-propane lithium salt is also provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include crystalline solids of 3-palmitoyl-amido-1,2-propanediol and 3-palmitoyl-amido-2-hydroxy-1-dimethoxytriphenylmethylether-propane. Methods for preparing the crystalline solids of 3-palmitoyl-amido-1,2-propanediol and single crystals of 3-palmitoyl-amido-2-hydroxy-1-dimethoxytriphenylmethylether-propane are also provided. Methods for preparing a 3-palmitoyl-amido-2-hydroxy-1-dimethoxytriphenylmethylether-propane from a crystalline solid of 3-palmitoyl-amido-1,2-propanediol are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a solid phase method of making oligonucleotides via sequential coupling cycles including at least one coupling of a dinucleotide dimer subunit to a free 3?-terminal group of a growing chain. The oligonucleotides include at least two nucleoside subunits joined by a N3??P5? phosphoramidate linkage. The method may include the steps of (a) deprotecting the protected 3? amino group of a terminal nucleoside attached to a solid phase support, said deprotecting forming a free 3? amino group; (b) contacting the free 3? amino group with a 3?-protected amino-dinucleotide-5?-phosphoramidite dimer in the presence of a nucleophilic catalyst to form an internucleoside N3??P5? phosphoramidite linkage; and (c) oxidizing (e.g., sulfurizing) the linkage. The compositions produced by the subject methods may include a reduced amount of one or more (N?x) oligonucleotide products. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions including the subject oligonucleotide compositions.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure includes methods for preparing an amorphous solid composition of a fatty acid metal salt. In practicing the subject methods according to certain embodiments, a succinylated 3-(fatty acid amido)-2-hydroxy-1-(protected hydroxy)-propane organic salt is contacted with a metal base to produce a succinylated 3-(fatty acid amido)-2-hydroxy-1-(protected hydroxy)-propane metal salt; and the succinylated 3-(fatty acid amido)-2-hydroxy-1-(protected hydroxy)-propane metal salt is precipitated in a solvent to produce an amorphous solid succinylated 3-(fatty acid amido)-2-hydroxy-1-(protected hydroxy)-propane metal salt composition. An amorphous solid succinylated 3-(fatty acid amido)-2-hydroxy-1-(protected hydroxy)-propane lithium salt is also provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include methods for the preparation of a polynucleotide. In some embodiments, the method includes contacting a first polynucleotide composition including: a polynucleotide having a sequence of 7 or more nucleoside subunits and at least two of the nucleoside subunits are joined by a N3??P5? thiophosphoramidate inter-subunit linkage; and non-target synthetic products and reagents; with a multivalent cation salt to precipitate a polynucleotide salt including at least one multivalent cation counterion; and separating the polynucleotide salt from the contacted first polynucleotide composition to produce a second polynucleotide composition including the polynucleotide salt. In certain embodiments, the method further includes contacting the polynucleotide salt with a reverse phase chromatography support; and eluting from the chromatography support a third polynucleotide composition including the polynucleotide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing the telomerase inhibitor imetelstat using a 3 steps per cycle phase support bound process comprising the steps of deprotection of the 3?-amino group of the support-bound oligonucleotide, coupling with a 5?-phosphoramidite, and sulfurization with an acyl disulfide, characterized by the absence of an additional capping step in each cycle that is used to prevent unreacted 3?-amino oligonucleotide groups from reacting during subsequent cycles. Imetelstat has formula below.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a solid phase method of making oligonucleotides via sequential coupling cycles including at least one coupling of a dinucleotide dimer subunit to a free 3?-terminal group of a growing chain. The oligonucleotides include at least two nucleoside subunits joined by a N3??P5? phosphoramidate linkage. The method may include the steps of (a) deprotecting the protected 3? amino group of a terminal nucleoside attached to a solid phase support, said deprotecting forming a free 3? amino group; (b) contacting the free 3? amino group with a 3?-protected amino-dinucleotide-5?-phosphoramidite dimer in the presence of a nucleophilic catalyst to form an internucleoside N3??P5? phosphoramidite linkage; and (c) oxidizing (e.g., sulfurizing) the linkage. The compositions produced by the subject methods may include a reduced amount of one or more (N?x) oligonucleotide products. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions including the subject oligonucleotide compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination treatment for hematological cancers. More specifically; a combination of a telomerase inhibitor and a Bcl-2 inhibitor are useful in treating hematological cancers, including AML. In certain embodiments, the telomerase inhibitor is imetelstat or imetelstat sodium and the Bcl-2 inhibitor is ABT-199.

Abstract: This invention relates to compounds useful for inhibiting telomere elongation. More specifically, the invention provides nucleotide analogs that are incorporated into telomeres by telomerase thereby inhibiting elongation of telomeres. The compounds are use in treating cancer and other cell proliferative diseases.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include methods for the preparation of a polynucleotide. In some embodiments, the method includes contacting a first polynucleotide composition including: a polynucleotide having a sequence of 7 or more nucleoside subunits and at least two of the nucleoside subunits are joined by a N3??P5? thiophosphoramidate inter-subunit linkage; and non-target synthetic products and reagents; with a multivalent cation salt to precipitate a polynucleotide salt including at least one multivalent cation counterion; and separating the polynucleotide salt from the contacted first polynucleotide composition to produce a second polynucleotide composition including the polynucleotide salt. In certain embodiments, the method further includes contacting the polynucleotide salt with a reverse phase chromatography support; and eluting from the chromatography support a third polynucleotide composition including the polynucleotide.

Abstract: Orthogonally protected 3?-amino nucleoside monomers and efficient methods for their synthesis are described. The methods employ selective protection of the 3?-amino group in the presence of the unprotected nucleoside base.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to RNA amidates and thioamidates useful for RNA interference applications. The RNA amidates and thioamidates contain at least one internucleoside linkage chosen from ribo-N3??P5? phosphoramidate (NP) and ribo-N3??P5? thiophosphoramidate (NPS) linkages, and optionally further containing at least one covalently conjugated lipid moiety. Compositions comprising the amidates and thioamidates are disclosed, as are methods for their use in modulating gene expression.

Abstract: This invention relates to compounds useful for inhibiting telomere elongation. More specifically, the invention provides nucleotide analogs that are incorporated into telomeres by telomerase thereby inhibiting elongation of telomeres. The compounds are use in treating cancer and other cell proliferative diseases.

Abstract: This invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides comprising at least one N3??P5? phosphorodiamidate linkage (NPN) in the backbone, useful for modulating gene expression involved in the pathogenesis of a disease. Compounds useful as building blocks of said antisense oligonucleotides and methods of preparing building block compounds including NPN linkages are provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a solid phase method of making oligonucleotides via sequential coupling cycles including at least one coupling of a dinucleotide dimer subunit to a free 3?-terminal group of a growing chain. The oligonucleotides include at least two nucleoside subunits joined by a N3??P5? phosphoramidate linkage. The method may include the steps of (a) deprotecting the protected 3? amino group of a terminal nucleoside attached to a solid phase support, said deprotecting forming a free 3? amino group; (b) contacting the free 3? amino group with a 3?-protected amino-dinucleotide-5?-phosphoramidite dimer in the presence of a nucleophilic catalyst to form an internucleoside N3??P5? phosphoramidite linkage; and (c) oxidizing (e.g., sulfurizing) the linkage. The compositions produced by the subject methods may include a reduced amount of one or more (N?x) oligonucleotide products. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions including the subject oligonucleotide compositions.

Abstract: Oligonucleotides with a novel sugar-phosphate backbone containing at least one 2?-arabino-fluoronucleoside and an internucleoside 3?-NH—P(—O)(OR)—O-5? linkage, where R is a positively charged counter ion or hydrogen, and methods of synthesizing and using the inventive oligonucleotides are provided. The inventive phosphoramidate 2?-arabino-fluorooligonucleotides have a high RNA binding affinity to complementary nucleic acids and are base and acid stable.

Abstract: Compounds comprising an oligonucleotide moiety covalently linked to a lipid moiety are disclosed. The oligonucleotide moiety comprises a sequence that is complementary to the RNA component of human telomerase. The compounds inhibit telomerase activity in cells with a high potency and have superior cellular uptake characteristics.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for determining the susceptibility of cancer patients to developing adverse reactions if treated with a telomerase inhibitor drug by measurement of telomere length in appropriate cells of the patient prior to initiation of the telomerase inhibitor treatment.