Gene Therapy Using RNA Aptamers

Several transcriptional decoys are under development for cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, arthritis, liver disease and dermatitis. 

Other aptamers under clinical trials are for coagulation factors including thrombin, Factor VIIA, Factor IXA and Factor XII. Additional aptamers are being tested for kidney and lung cancers. A distinct advantage of aptamers is the availability of antidotes for them, which are short complementary sequences to the aptamers that serve as their antagonists and could be used to avert aptamer toxicity. 

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