Aptamers in the clinic

In 1990, an RNA molecule was designed that bound to a nucleic acid binding protein to act as a decoy, thereby preventing HIV replication. That same year, two research groups identified a high-throughput method to select for nucleic acids to protein targets and the field of aptamer therapeutics was born. Over the last 20 years, numerous aptamers to therapeutic targets have been isolated and undergone in vitro and ex vivo analysis before in vivo testing. Aptamer therapeutics represents a promising new class of agents to treat disease. The capability to extensively modify these compounds provides a potential broader spectrum of clinical applications than antibodies and small molecules. A brief historical review of aptamers is presented and the therapeutic aptamers currently in clinical development are described. Copyright © 2009 Prous Science, S.A.U. or its licensors. All rights reserved.

Duke Scholars

Author Bruce Alan Sullenger Surgery, Surgical Sciences