RNA INTERFERENCE MEDIATED INHIBITION OF GENE EXPRESSION USING CHEMICALLY MODIFIED SHORT INTERFERING NUCLEIC ACID (siNA)

A double stranded short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) duplex consisting of a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein:

• (a) each strand is 18 nucleotides in length;
• (b) the siRNA duplex has 18 base pairs;
• (c) the antisense strand is complementary to a target RNA encoded by a mammalian gene;
• (d) the sense strand and the antisense strand are 100% complementary;
• and
• (e) each strand of the siRNA duplex comprises 5 or more 2′-O-methyl nucleotides.

A double stranded short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) duplex consisting of a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein:

• (a) each strand is 19 nucleotides in length;
• (b) the siRNA duplex has 19 base pairs;
• (c) the antisense strand is complementary to a target RNA encoded by a mammalian gene;
• (d) the sense strand and the antisense strand are 100% complementary;
• and
• (e) each strand of the siRNA duplex comprises 5 or more 2′-O-methyl nucleotides.

A double stranded short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) duplex consisting of a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein:

• (a) each strand is 20 nucleotides in length;
• (b) the siRNA duplex has 20 base pairs;
• (c) the antisense strand is complementary to a target RNA encoded by a mammalian gene;
• (d) the sense strand and the antisense strand are 100% complementary;
• and
• (e) each strand of the siRNA duplex comprises 5 or more 2′-O-methyl nucleotides.

A double stranded short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) duplex consisting of a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein:

• (a) each strand is 21 nucleotides in length;
• (b) the siRNA duplex has 21 base pairs;
• (c) the antisense strand is complementary to a target RNA encoded by a mammalian gene;
• (d) the sense strand and the antisense strand are 100% complementary;
• and
• (e) each strand of the siRNA duplex comprises 5 or more 2′-O-methyl nucleotides.

A double stranded short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) duplex consisting of a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein:

• (a) each strand is 22 nucleotides in length;
• (b) the siRNA duplex has 22 base pairs;
• (c) the antisense strand is complementary to a target RNA encoded by a mammalian gene;
• (d) the sense strand and the antisense strand are 100% complementary;
• and
• (e) each strand of the siRNA duplex comprises 5 or more 2′-O-methyl nucleotides.

A double stranded short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) duplex consisting of a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein:

• (a) each strand is 23 nucleotides in length;
• (b) the siRNA duplex has 23 base pairs;
• (c) the antisense strand is complementary to a target RNA encoded by a mammalian gene;
• (d) the sense strand and the antisense strand are 100% complementary;
• and
• (e) each strand of the siRNA duplex comprises 5 or more 2′-O-methyl nucleotides.