Abstract: The present disclosure relates to RNA interference (RNAi) reagents, such as short hairpin microRNA (shmiR) and short hairpin RNA (shRNA), for treatment of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD), compositions comprising same, and use thereof to treat individuals suffering from OPMD or which are predisposed thereto. The present disclosure also relates to the use of the RNAi reagents in combination with PABPN1 replacment reagents, such as constructs which encode functional PABPN1 protein, for treatment of OPMD, compositions comprising same, and use thereof to treat individuals suffering from OPMD or which are predisposed thereto.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to modified adeno-associated virus (AAV) from serotypes other than serotype 2, which have a viral capsid protein with a subunit 1 (VP1) sequence which is modified relative to the corresponding wildtype sequence. In particular, the modified AAVs of the disclosure comprise site-specific amino acid substitutions within the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) domain and flanking sequence relative to the corresponding wild-type sequence which improve functionality of the AAV when produced in insect cells. The present disclosure also relates to methods of producing the modified AAVs, reagents therefor, baculovirus expression systems and insect cells for producing said modified AAVs.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of administering a gene therapy construct comprising RNA interference (RNAi) reagents, such as short hairpin microRNA (shmiR), in combination with PABPN1 replacement reagents, such as polynucleotides which encode functional PABPN1 protein which are not targeted by the RNAi reagents, for treatment of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) in individuals suffering from OPMD or which are predisposed thereto. In certain aspects the method comprises direct injection to a subject's pharyngeal muscles.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to modified adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery vectors comprising ‘silence and replace’ DNA constructs, compositions comprising same, and the use of the modified AAV and compositions to treat oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) in individuals suffering from OPMD or which are predisposed thereto. In particular, the disclosure relates to AAV having a capsid protein with a modified subunit 1 (VP1) and comprising a ‘silence and replace’ DNA construct, wherein the ‘silence and replace’ DNA construct comprises (i) a DNA-directed RNAi (ddRNAi) construct encoding short hairpin microRNA (shmiR) targeting PABPN1 causative of OPMD and (ii) a PABPN1 construct encoding functional PABPN1 protein having a mRNA transcript which is not targeted by the shmiRs at (i). The present disclosure also relates to the methods of treating OPMD comprising direct injection of an AAV of the disclosure to a subject's pharyngeal muscles.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to RNA interference (RNAi) reagents, such as short hairpin microRNA (shmiR) and short hairpin RNA (shRNA), for treatment of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD), compositions comprising same, and use thereof to treat individuals suffering from OPMD or which are predisposed thereto. The present disclosure also relates to the use of the RNAi reagents in combination with PABPN1 replacement reagents, such as constructs which encode functional PABPN1 protein, for treatment of OPMD, compositions comprising same, and use thereof to treat individuals suffering from OPMD or which are predisposed thereto.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to RNA interference (RNAi) reagents, such as short hairpin microRNA (shmiR) and short hairpin RNA (shRNA), for treatment of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD), compositions comprising same, and use thereof to treat individuals suffering from OPMD or which are predisposed thereto. The present disclosure also relates to the use of the RNAi reagents in combination with PABPN1 replacement reagents, such as constructs which encode functional PABPN1 protein, for treatment of OPMD, compositions comprising same, and use thereof to treat individuals suffering from OPMD or which are predisposed thereto.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to modified adeno-associated virus (AAV) from serotypes other than serotype 2, which have a viral capsid protein with a subunit 1 (VP1) sequence which is modified relative to the corresponding wildtype sequence. In particular, the modified AAVs of the disclosure comprise site-specific amino acid substitutions within the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) domain and flanking sequence relative to the corresponding wild-type sequence which improve functionality of the AAV when produced in insect cells. The present disclosure also relates to methods of producing the modified AAVs, reagents therefor, baculovirus expression systems and insect cells for producing said modified AAVs.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to RNA interference (RNAi) reagents, such as short hairpin microRNA (shmiR) and short hairpin RNA (shRNA), for treatment of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD), compositions comprising same, and use thereof to treat individuals suffering from OPMD or which are predisposed thereto. The present disclosure also relates to the use of the RNAi reagents in combination with PABPN1 replacement reagents, such as constructs which encode functional PABPN1 protein, for treatment of OPMD, compositions comprising same, and use thereof to treat individuals suffering from OPMD or which are predisposed thereto.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to reagents for producing T-cells comprising non-functional T-cell receptors (TCR), including T-cells which also express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR), i.e., CAR-T cells, compositions comprising said reagents and T-cells, and uses of said CAR-T cells in therapy e.g., adoptive therapy.