Abstract: The invention relates to a drug for treating a fibrotic disease, said drug containing a double straded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) suitable for inhibiting, through RNA interference, the expression of a gene involved in the formation of extracellular matrix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) having a nucleotide sequence which is substantially identical to at least a part of a target gene and which is no more than 49, preferably less than 25, nucleotides in length, and which comprises a complementary (antisense) RNA strand having a 1 to 4 nucleotide overhang at the 3′-end and a blunt 5′-end. The invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for inhibiting the expression of a target gene, as well as for treating diseases caused by expression of the target gene, at low dosages (i.e., less than 5 milligrams, preferably less than 25 micrograms, per kg body weight per day). The invention also relates to methods for inhibiting the expression of a target gene, as well as methods for treating diseases caused by the expression of the gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of a cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (cFLIP) gene, comprising a complementary RNA strand which is substantially identical to at least a part of a cFLIP gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for inhibiting the expression of a cFLIP gene in a cell, methods for improving the effectiveness of an apoptosis-inducing drug, and methods for treating cancer using the pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of a K-ras oncogene, comprising a complementary RNA strand which is substantially identical to at least a part of a K-ras gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by the expression of a K-ras oncogene using the pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting the expression of a K-ras oncogene in a cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the specific inhibition of expression of a target gene in mammals using a short double stranded RNA. The dsRNA is less than 49 nucleotides in length and has a nucleotide sequence which is complementary to at least a part of the target gene. The dsRNAs of the present invention are useful for treating diseases, for example, cancer, viral diseases or Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length and which is substantially identical to at least a part of a 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of a (+) strand RNA virus, such as HCV, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the dsRNA, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for treating infections and diseases caused by the replication or activity of the (+) strand RNA virus, as well as methods for inhibiting viral replication.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the specific inhibition of expression of a target gene in mammals using a short double stranded RNA. The dsRNA is less than 49 nucleotides in length and has a nucleotide sequence which is complementary to at least a part of the target gene. The dsRNAs of the present invention are useful for treating diseases, for example, cancer, viral diseases or neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions involving the use of double-stranded RNA for inhibiting the expression of a given gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a double-stranded oligoribonucleic acid (dsRNA) having a nucleotide sequence which is substantially identical to at least a part of a target gene in a mammalian cell and which is less than 25 nucleotides in length, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for inhibiting the expression of a target gene, as well as for treating diseases caused by expression of the target gene, in a mammal at very low dosages (i.e., less than 5 milligrams, preferably less than 25 micrograms, per kg body weight per day). The invention also relates to methods for inhibiting the expression of a target gene in a mammal, as well as methods for treating diseases caused by expression of the gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of an anti-apoptotic gene, comprising a complementary RNA strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 25 nucleotides in length and which is substantially identical to at least a part of an apoptotic gene, such as a Bcl gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by the expression of an anti-apoptotic gene using the pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting the expression of an anti-apoptotic gene in a cell.