Ribonucleic Acid Construct Capable of Inducing an Immune Response, as Well as Pharmaceutical Composition and Kit Comprising Same

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes a novel ribonucleic acid (RNA) construct that can strongly stimulate the immune system by activating the RIG-I pathway, leading to interferon production. The construct is a short, double-stranded RNA (8–17 nucleotides) with a specific triphosphate group at the 5'-end and a unique single-stranded overhang rich in guanosines. It is capable of inducing strong antiviral and anticancer immune responses, even without complex transfection agents, and can be incorporated into vaccines, pharmaceuticals, or diagnostic kits.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• As an adjuvant or component in vaccines to boost immune responses.
• As a standalone antiviral therapeutic for the treatment or prevention of viral infections (e.g., COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis).
• As an immunotherapy for cancer, particularly to convert immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot" tumors to enhance immunotherapy efficacy.
• As a tool to stimulate immune cells (e.g., T cells) for research or therapeutic purposes.
• In diagnostic kits to identify patient suitability for immune-based treatments.
• As a component of pharmaceutical compositions designed to induce or regulate immune responses in various diseases.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Strong and specific activation of innate immune responses via RIG-I, leading to potent interferon production.
• Short sequence length and simple design, making it easier to synthesize and modify compared to longer RNAs.
• Can penetrate target cells and induce effects without complex transfection reagents, improving practical usability in vivo.
• Effective across a range of sequences as long as structural motifs are maintained, allowing design flexibility.
• Can be chemically modified for enhanced stability, delivery, or targeting.
• Demonstrated superior efficacy to existing RIG-I ligands in vitro and in vivo.
• Applicable to both antiviral and anticancer scenarios, broadening utility.
• Potential for reducing required dosages and side effects due to potency.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to a ribonucleic acid construct capable of inducing an immune response, comprising a double-stranded ribonucleic acid sequence with a length of 8 to 17 ribonucleotides comprising at least one triphosphate at the 5´-end of at least one strand of said sequence, and a single-stranded overhang at at least one strand of said sequence, wherein the single-stranded overhang comprises at least one guanosine. The present invention also relates to the use of said construct as a vaccine or as an immune adjuvant as well as to the ribonucleic acid construct for use as a medicament or for use in a method of treatment or prevention of a disease, specifically for use in a method of treatment or prevention of viral infections or cancer. The present invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition and kit comprising said ribonucleic acid construct.