Emerging siRNA Design Principles and Consequences for Biotransformation and Disposition in Drug Development

J Med Chem. 2020 Jun 25;63(12):6407-6422. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01839. Epub 2020 May 26.

Abstract

After two decades teetering at the intersection of laboratory tool and therapeutic reality, with two siRNA drugs now clinically approved, this modality has finally come into fruition. Consistent with other emerging modalities, initial proof-of-concept efforts concentrated on coupling pharmacologic efficacy with desirable safety profiles. Consequently, thorough investigations of siRNA absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties are lacking. Advancing ADME knowledge will aid establishment of in vitro-in vivo correlations and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships to optimize candidate selection through discovery and translation. Here, we outline the emerging siRNA design principles and discuss the consequences for siRNA disposition and biotransformation. We propose a conceptual framework for siRNA ADME evaluation, contextualizing the site of biotransformation product formation with PK-PD modulation, and end with a discussion around safety and regulatory considerations and future directions for this modality.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biotransformation*
  • Drug Design*
  • Drug Development*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical*
  • Humans
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / chemistry*
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / chemistry*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacokinetics
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • RNA, Small Interfering