Therapeutic Modulation of RNA Using Oligonucleotides

Organizer(s): C. Frank Bennett and Thomas Tuschl

Sponsored by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Santaris Pharma A/S

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Summary of Meeting:

The recent discoveries of the RNAi pathway in mammalian cells and the finding that oligonucleotides can activate the innate immune system through Toll-like receptors have resulted in increased interest in oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. There are two basic therapeutic approaches in which oligonucleotides are being utilized: (1) binding to RNA resulting in selective inhibition of gene expression; and (2) modulating protein function by direct binding to proteins. Although both approaches share common manufacturing, toxicology and ADME issues, oligonucleotides that are designed to bind RNA inside the cell have a fundamental different set of challenges than oligonucleotides designed to bind to proteins outside the cell. This meeting will focus on the former application. A goal of this meeting is to bring together scientists from both the basic science disciplines and applied disciplines to gain a common understanding of the attributes and challenges the technology faces. This meeting will consider basic mechanisms by which oligonucleotides can be exploited to modulate gene expression, mechanisms for distribution of oligonucleotides to tissues and within cells and how chemistry and/or formulations can improve the pharmaceutical properties of oligonucleotides. Finally recent advances in both preclinical applications and clinical results will be presented.

Scholarship Deadline: October 9 2008

Discounted Abstract Deadline: October 9 2008

Abstract Deadline: November 6 2008

Discounted Registration Deadline: December 8 2008

We gratefully acknowledge additional support for this conference from:

We gratefully acknowledge additional in-kind support for this conference from those foregoing speaker expense reimbursements:

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Merck & Co, Inc. /Sirna Therapeutics

novosom AG

Regulus Therapeutics Inc.

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Special thanks to the following for their support of Keystone Symposia initiatives to increase participation at this meeting by scientists from underrepresented backgrounds:

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