Oligonucleotide technologies: synthesis, production, regulations and applications

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Abstract
The two-day meeting 'Oligonucleotide technologies', organised by IBC Global Conferences Limited and chaired by M Gait (Medical Research Council, UK), was the first event of this type in Europe. It covered a wide range of oligonucleotide-based approaches useful for the identification and validation of new therapeutic targets as well as for the creation of novel oligonucleotide-based drugs. Recent progress in the preclinical and clinical development of new oligonucleotide-based therapeutics as well as new platforms and systems for DNA microarrays, allowing massively parallel gene expression studies, were discussed. Furthermore, new approaches for overcoming challenges in the large scale synthesis and functionalisation of oligonucleotides were revealed. The following meeting highlights are focussed on contributions devoted to the development of novel oligonucleotide-based drugs, such as antisense oligonucleotides, immunostimulatory CpG oligonucleotides and spiegelmers. Drug candidates discussed here are related to various indications, including cancer, infectious diseases and asthma. Besides highlighting of specific clinical candidates, emphasis is put on the basic principles of oligonucleotide-based drugs and approaches towards the improvement of their properties.