Cationic copolymers of vinylamine and vinyl alcohol for the delivery of oligonucleotides

A composition comprising a copolymer of the general formula I,

• --(CH.sub.2 --HCOH--)x--(CH.sub.2 --HCNR1R2R3--)y--(A)z-- I.
• where
• R1, R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl or 2-hydroxyalkyl;
• or R1=R2=hydrogen, lower alkyl or 2-hydroxyalkyl and R3 is a lone pair electron
• A is a residual unit of a vinylic monomer
• x, y, and z are integers, representing the number of incorporated monomer and where x+y+z=100
• wherein x=25-99.5 mole %, y=0.5-75 mole %, and z<50 mole %, combined with a polynucleotide, wherein the molar ratio of y to anion units is 0.1-100, optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and wherein said composition allows for the cellular uptake of the polynucleotide.