OLIGONUCLEOTIDES FOR MODULATING TMEM106B EXPRESSION

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to oligonucleotides complementary to Transmembrane protein 106B (TMEM106B), which are capable of modulation of the expression of TMEM106B.

Modulation of TMEM106B expression is beneficial for a range of medical disorders, such as neurological disorders, in particular neurodegenerative disorders, such as frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

BACKGROUND

Transmembrane protein 106B (TMEM106B) is a single-pass, type 2 integral membrane glycoprotein predominantly located in the membranes of endosomes and lysosomes. It is expressed in in neurons as well as glial and endothelial cells. It is believed to be involved in dendrite morphogenesis, such as dendrite branching as well as in lysosomal functioning.

TMEM106B has been associated with several common neurodegenerative disorders including frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) (Nicholson and Rademakers, Acta Neuropathol. 2016 November; 132(5): 639-651 ).

Klein et al., 2017, Neuron 95, 281-296 reports that the loss of TMEM106B ameliorates lysosomal and frontotemporal dementia-related phenotypes in progranulin-deficient mice.

Rostgaard et al., Neurobiology of Aging 59 (2017) 221.e1e221.e7 reports on TMEM106B and ApoE polymorphisms in CHMP2B-mediated frontotemporal dementia (FTD-3).

Hu et al., Journal of the Neurological Sciences 377 (2017) 65-71 reports on the association of certain polymorphisms in the TMEM106B genes in Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple system atrophy (MSA).

Gallagher et al., The American Journal of Human Genetics 101 , 643-663, November 2, 2017 reports on a dementia-associated risk variant near TMEM106B which alters chromatin architecture and gene expression.

Simons et al., Brain 2017: 140; 3105-3111 reports that a recurrent de novo mutation in

TMEM106B causes hypomyelinating leukodystrophy.

Holler et al. eNeuro. 2017 Jul-Aug; 4(4): ENEURO.0100-17.2017 show that lysosome dysfunction induced by e.g. alkalizing agents or increased expression of TMEM106B inhibits processing of progranulin (PGRN) into granulins (GRNs). They also show that multiple GRNs are haploinsufficient in primary fibroblasts and cortical brain tissue from FTD-GRN patients. This may apply to Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) as homozygous or heterozygous mutations in the GRN gene, encoding progranulin (PGRN), cause neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) or frontotemporal dementia (FTD), respectively.

Gotzl et al. Acta Neuropathol.127(6):845-60. reports elevations in TMEM106b and GRN proteins in cathepsin D knock out mice, a model of NCL.

Schwenk et al., EMBO J. 2014 Mar 3;33(5):450-67 reports on FTLD-TDP risk factor TMEM106B and it functional interaction with MAP6 to control dendritic trafficking of lysosomes. siRNAs against TMEM106B was transfected into HeLa cells showing reduction TMEM106B protein expression resulting in lysosomal clustering near the nucleus. Furthermore TMEM106B knock down using shRNA transfected into hippocampal neurons impaired dendrite branching. The changes caused in dendritic morphology by TMEM106B knock down may cause impaired synaptic strength and plasticity which are common attributes of neurodegenerative diseases. This implies that knock down of TMEM106B may cause neurodegenerative disease.

WO2015/127037 reports on compounds and method for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including small molecule compounds which are reported as being effective in modulating the expression of a range of genes, including TMEM106B. There does not appear to be any data indicating TMEM106B inhibition by the disclosed compounds.

Neurodegenerative disorders represent a major unmet medical need, and there is clear genetic and experimental evidence which indicates TMEM106B expression, and specific TMEM106B allele with neurodegenerative disorders. There is therefore a need for inhibitors of TMEM106B for use in research and therapeutic applications.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides nucleic acid inhibitors of TMEM106B which may be used both in vivo and in vitro for down-regulation of TMEM106B expression, and for the therapeutic intervention in neurological disorders.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to oligonucleotides that are complementary to and modulate the expression of TMEM106B. The present invention further relates to conjugates of the

oligonucleotide and pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treatment of neurological disorders using the oligonucleotide.

The present invention provides oligonucleotide inhibitors of TMEM106B for decreasing the expression of TMEM106B in cells, and which may be used for the treatment of neurological disorders, such as neurodegeneration, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Parkinson’s disease (or parkinsonism), hypomyelinating leukodystrophies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, motor neuron disease, corticobasal syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL).

The present invention provides oligonucleotide inhibitors of TMEM106B for decreasing the expression of TMEM106B in cells, and which may be used for the treatment of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD).

The present invention relates to oligonucleotides targeting a nucleic acid capable of inhibiting the expression of TMEM106B and to treat or prevent diseases related to the functioning of the TMEM106B.

The invention provides for an oligonucleotide targeting TMEM106B, which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 - 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90%

complementary, such as fully complementary, to a mammalian TMEM106B target nucleic acid.

The invention provides for an oligonucleotide, 10 - 40 nucleotides in length, targeting

TMEM106B, which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 - 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary, to a mammalian TMEM106B target nucleic acid.

The oligonucleotide of the invention may for example be an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), which is capable of inhibiting the expression of TMEM106B in a cell which is expressing TMEM106B.

The oligonucleotide of the invention may for example be a siRNA (or the antisense strand of a siRNA), which is capable of inhibiting the expression of TMEM106B in a cell which is expressing TMEM106B.

The invention provides an oligonucleotide which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementarity to a mammalian

TMEM106B target nucleic acid, wherein the oligonucleotide is capable of inhibiting the expression of TMEM106B in a cell which is expressing the TMEM106B target nucleic acid.

The invention provides an antisense oligonucleotide which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementarity to a mammalian TMEM106B target nucleic acid, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is capable of inhibiting the expression of TMEM106B in a cell which is expressing the TMEM106B target nucleic acid. Advantageously, the oligonucleotide may be an antisense oligonucleotide which is capable of recruiting RNaseH, such as human RNaseHI , such as a gapmer oligonucleotide.

The invention provides for a conjugate comprising the oligonucleotide, such as the antisense oligonucleotide or siRNA, according to the invention, and at least one conjugate moiety covalently attached to said oligonucleotide. The invention provides for a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the oligonucleotide of the invention, such as the antisense oligonucleotide or siRNA of the invention, or conjugate thereof.

The invention provides for a pharmaceutical composition comprising the oligonucleotide of the invention, such as the antisense oligonucleotide or siRNA of the invention, or conjugate thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, solvent, carrier, salt and/or adjuvant.

The invention provides for a method for modulating TMEM106B expression in a target cell which is expressing TMEM106B, said method comprising administering an oligonucleotide of the invention, such as the antisense oligonucleotide or siRNA of the invention, or conjugate or the pharmaceutical salt or pharmaceutical composition, in an effective amount to said cell. The method may, for example, be an in vitro method or an in vivo method.

The invention provides for a method for treating or preventing a disease comprising

administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an oligonucleotide of the invention, such as the antisense oligonucleotide or siRNA of the invention, or conjugate thereof, or the pharmaceutical salt or pharmaceutical composition of the invention, to a subject suffering from or susceptible to the disease.

In some embodiments, the method is for treating a neurodegenerative disease in a subject who has been diagnosed with, or is suffering from, a neurodegenerative disease, such as a neurodegenerative disease selected from the group consisting of neurodegeneration, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Parkinson’s disease (or parkinsonism),

hypomyelinating leukodystrophies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, motor neuron disease, corticobasal syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL).

In some embodiments the compounds of the invention are used for the treatment of age associated changes in frontal cortex.

The method for treating or preventing a disease may, for example be for treating or preventing a neurodegenerative disease, such as a disease selected from the list consisting of

neurodegeneration, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Parkinson’s disease (or parkinsonism), hypomyelinating leukodystrophies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, motor neuron disease, corticobasal syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL).

The invention provides for the oligonucleotide, such as the antisense oligonucleotide or siRNA of the invention, or conjugate thereof, or the pharmaceutical salt or pharmaceutical composition of the invention, for use in medicine. The invention provides for the oligonucleotide, such as the antisense oligonucleotide or siRNA of the invention, or conjugate thereof, or pharmaceutical salt or pharmaceutical composition of the invention, for use in the treatment of a neurodegenerative disease such as a disease selected from the group consisting of prevention of neurodegeneration, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Parkinson’s disease (or parkinsonism), hypomyelinating

leukodystrophies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, motor neuron disease, corticobasal syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, and neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL).

The invention provides for the use of the oligonucleotide of the invention, such as the antisense oligonucleotide or siRNA of the invention, or the conjugate thereof, or pharmaceutical salt or pharmaceutical composition of the invention, for the preparation of a medicament for treatment or prevention of a neurodegenerative disease such as a disease selected from the group consisting of prevention of neurodegeneration, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Parkinson’s disease (or parkinsonism), hypomyelinating leukodystrophies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, motor neuron disease, corticobasal syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, and neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure 1 : Target inhibition after 3 days of incubation in mouse Neuro-2a cells at 5 mM vs 25 mM compared to PBS-treated control (mean of two biological replicates).

Figure 2: Target inhibition after 6 days of incubation in mouse Neuro-2a cells at 5 mM vs 25 mM compared to PBS-treated control (mean of two biological replicates).

Figure 3: Caspase activation 24 hours after transfection of gapmers compared to PBS-treated controls (mean of biological replicates).

Figure 4: Target inhibition after 3 days of incubation in human SK-N-BE(2) cells at 5 mM vs 25 mM (mean of two biological replicates).

Figure 5: Target inhibition after 6 days of incubation in human SK-N-BE(2) cells at 5 mM vs 25 mM (mean of two biological replicates).

Figure 6: Target inhibition after 3 days of incubation in human SK-N-BE(2) cells at 5 mM, illustrated vs. the position of the target sequence on Chromosome 7.

Figure 7A: Target inhibition after continuous 10 days treatment with ASOs in human iPSC neurons and astrocytes mix culture at increasing concentration for five human ASOs.

Figure 7B: Target inhibition after 10 days with 24 hrs pulse treatment with ASOs in human iPSC neurons and astrocytes mix culture at increasing concentration for five human ASOs. Figure 7C: Automated western blot on reduction in TMEM106b protein level after continuous 10 days treatment with ASOs in human iPSC neurons and astrocytes mix culture.

Figure 8A: Time course for in vivo TMEM106b mRNA reduction after a single ICV injection of 100 pg LNA oligonucleotides in a volume of 5 mI saline into the right lateral ventricle (normalized to GAPDH).

Figure 8B: In vivo time course for in vivo TMEM106b protein reduction after a single ICV injection of 100 pg LNA oligonucleotides in a volume of 5 mI saline into the right lateral ventricle (normalized to beta-Tubulin).

Figure 9: Structural formula of CMP ID NO: 65_1. Pharmaceutical salts thereof include monovalent or divalent cations, such as Na ⁺ , K ⁺ , and Ca ²⁺ or a mixture of these being associated with the compound.

Figure 10: Structural formula of CMP ID NO: 66_1. Pharmaceutical salts thereof include monovalent or divalent cations, such as Na ⁺ , K ⁺ , and Ca ²⁺ or a mixture of these being associated with the compound.

Figure 11 : Structural formula of CMP ID NO: 71 _ 1. Pharmaceutical salts thereof include monovalent or divalent cations, such as Na ⁺ , K ⁺ , and Ca ²⁺ or a mixture of these being associated with the compound.

Figure 12: Structural formula of CMP ID NO: 74_1. Pharmaceutical salts thereof include monovalent or divalent cations, such as Na ⁺ , K ⁺ , and Ca ²⁺ or a mixture of these being associated with the compound.

Figure 13: Structural formula of CMP ID NO: 75_1. Pharmaceutical salts thereof include monovalent or divalent cations, such as Na ⁺ , K ⁺ , and Ca ²⁺ or a mixture of these being associated with the compound.

DEFINITIONS

In the present description the term“alkyl”, alone or in combination, signifies a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group with 1 to 8 carbon atoms, particularly a straight or branched-chain alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms and more particularly a straight or branched-chain alkyl group with 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of straight-chain and branched-chain C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert. -butyl, the isomeric pentyls, the isomeric hexyls, the isomeric heptyls and the isomeric octyls, particularly methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and pentyl. Particular examples of alkyl are methyl, ethyl and propyl.

The term“cycloalkyl”, alone or in combination, signifies a cycloalkyl ring with 3 to 8 carbon atoms and particularly a cycloalkyl ring with 3 to 6 carbon atoms. Examples of cycloalkyl are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl and cyclooctyl, more particularly cyclopropyl and cyclobutyl. A particular example of“cycloalkyl” is cyclopropyl.

The term“alkoxy”, alone or in combination, signifies a group of the formula alkyl-O- in which the term "alkyl" has the previously given significance, such as methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, isobutoxy, sec.butoxy and tert.butoxy. Particular“alkoxy” are methoxy and ethoxy. Methoxyethoxy is a particular example of“alkoxyalkoxy”.

The term“oxy”, alone or in combination, signifies the -O- group.

The term“alkenyl”, alone or in combination, signifies a straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon residue comprising an olefinic bond and up to 8, preferably up to 6, particularly preferred up to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of alkenyl groups are ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, isopropenyl, 1- butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl and isobutenyl.

The term“alkynyl”, alone or in combination, signifies a straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon residue comprising a triple bond and up to 8, preferably up to 6, particularly preferred up to 4 carbon atoms.

The terms“halogen” or“halo”, alone or in combination, signifies fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine and particularly fluorine, chlorine or bromine, more particularly fluorine. The term“halo”, in combination with another group, denotes the substitution of said group with at least one halogen, particularly substituted with one to five halogens, particularly one to four halogens, i.e. one, two, three or four halogens.

The term“haloalkyl”, alone or in combination, denotes an alkyl group substituted with at least one halogen, particularly substituted with one to five halogens, particularly one to three halogens. Examples of haloalkyl include monofluoro-, difluoro- or trifluoro-methyl, -ethyl or - propyl, for example 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, fluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl. Fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl and trifluoromethyl are particular“haloalkyl”.

The term“halocycloalkyl”, alone or in combination, denotes a cycloalkyl group as defined above substituted with at least one halogen, particularly substituted with one to five halogens, particularly one to three halogens. Particular example of“halocycloalkyl” are halocyclopropyl, in particular fluorocyclopropyl, difluorocyclopropyl and trifluorocyclopropyl.

The terms“hydroxyl” and“hydroxy”, alone or in combination, signify the -OH group.

The terms“thiohydroxyl” and“thiohydroxy”, alone or in combination, signify the -SH group.

The term“carbonyl”, alone or in combination, signifies the -C(O)- group.

The term“carboxy” or“carboxyl”, alone or in combination, signifies the -COOH group.

The term“amino”, alone or in combination, signifies the primary amino group (-NH2), the secondary amino group (-NH-), or the tertiary amino group (-N-).

The term“alkylamino”, alone or in combination, signifies an amino group as defined above substituted with one or two alkyl groups as defined above.

The term“sulfonyl”, alone or in combination, means the -SO2 group. The term“sulfinyl”, alone or in combination, signifies the -SO- group.

The term“sulfanyl”, alone or in combination, signifies the -S- group.

The term“cyano”, alone or in combination, signifies the -CN group.

The term“azido”, alone or in combination, signifies the -N3 group.

The term“nitro”, alone or in combination, signifies the NO2 group.

The term“formyl”, alone or in combination, signifies the -C(O)H group.

The term“carbamoyl”, alone or in combination, signifies the -C(O)NH ₂ group.

The term“cabamido”, alone or in combination, signifies the -NH-C(O)-NH ₂ group.

The term“aryl”, alone or in combination, denotes a monovalent aromatic carbocyclic mono- or bicyclic ring system comprising 6 to 10 carbon ring atoms, optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkenyloxy, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyl and formyl. Examples of aryl include phenyl and naphthyl, in particular phenyl.

The term“heteroaryl”, alone or in combination, denotes a monovalent aromatic heterocyclic mono- or bicyclic ring system of 5 to 12 ring atoms, comprising 1 , 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, the remaining ring atoms being carbon, optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkenyloxy, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyl and formyl. Examples of heteroaryl include pyrrolyl, furanyl, thienyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, triazinyl, azepinyl, diazepinyl, isoxazolyl, benzofuranyl, isothiazolyl, benzothienyl, indolyl, isoindolyl,

isobenzofuranyl, benzimidazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzoisoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl,

benzoisothiazolyl, benzooxadiazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl, benzotriazolyl, purinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, carbazolyl or acridinyl.

The term“heterocyclyl”, alone or in combination, signifies a monovalent saturated or partly unsaturated mono- or bicyclic ring system of 4 12, in particular 4 - 9, ring atoms, comprising 1 , 2, 3 or 4 ring heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, the remaining ring atoms being carbon, optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from halogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkenyloxy, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyl and formyl. Examples for monocyclic saturated heterocyclyl are azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydro-thienyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolidinyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, thiazolidinyl, piperidinyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, 1 ,1-dioxo-thiomorpholin-4-yl, azepanyl, diazepanyl, homopiperazinyl, or oxazepanyl. Examples for bicyclic saturated heterocycloalkyl are 8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octyl, quinuclidinyl, 8-oxa-3-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octyl, 9-aza-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl, 3-oxa-9-aza- bicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl, or 3-thia-9-aza-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl. Examples for partly unsaturated heterocycloalkyl are dihydrofuryl, imidazolinyl, dihydro-oxazolyl, tetrahydro-pyridinyl or dihydropyranyl.

The term“pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to those salts which retain the biological effectiveness and properties of the free bases or free acids, which are not biologically or otherwise undesirable. The salts are formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, particularly hydrochloric acid, and organic acids such as acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, maleic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, N-acetylcystein. In addition these salts may be prepared form addition of an inorganic base or an organic base to the free acid. Salts derived from an inorganic base include, but are not limited to, the sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium salts. Salts derived from organic bases include, but are not limited to salts of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, substituted amines including naturally occurring substituted amines, cyclic amines and basic ion exchange resins, such as isopropylamine, trimethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, ethanolamine, lysine, arginine, N-ethylpiperidine, piperidine, polyamine resins. The compound of formula (I) can also be present in the form of zwitterions. Particularly preferred pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of formula (I) are the salts of hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and methanesulfonic acid.

The term“protecting group”, alone or in combination, signifies a group which selectively blocks a reactive site in a multifunctional compound such that a chemical reaction can be carried out selectively at another unprotected reactive site. Protecting groups can be removed. Exemplary protecting groups are amino-protecting groups, carboxy-protecting groups or hydroxy-protecting groups.

If one of the starting materials or compounds of the invention contain one or more functional groups which are not stable or are reactive under the reaction conditions of one or more reaction steps, appropriate protecting groups (as described e.g. in“Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry” by T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, 3 ^rd Ed., 1999, Wiley, New York) can be introduced before the critical step applying methods well known in the art. Such protecting groups can be removed at a later stage of the synthesis using standard methods described in the literature. Examples of protecting groups are tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc), 9-fluorenylmethyl carbamate (Fmoc), 2-trimethylsilylethyl carbamate (Teoc), carbobenzyloxy (Cbz) and p- methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl (Moz).

The compounds described herein can contain several asymmetric centers and can be present in the form of optically pure enantiomers, mixtures of enantiomers such as, for example, racemates, mixtures of diastereoisomers, diastereoisomeric racemates or mixtures of diastereoisomeric racemates.

The term“asymmetric carbon atom” means a carbon atom with four different substituents. According to the Cahn-lngold-Prelog Convention an asymmetric carbon atom can be of the“R” or“S” configuration.

Nucleic acid molecule

The term“nucleic acid molecule” or“therapeutic nucleic acid molecule” as used herein is defined as it is generally understood by the skilled person as a molecule comprising two or more covalently linked nucleosides (i.e. a nucleotide sequence). The nucleic acid molecule(s) referred to in the invention are generally oligonucleotides of 10 - 50 nucleotides in length, and they are generally composed of one or two oligonucleotides. The nucleic acid molecules may be or comprise an antisense oligonucleotide, or may be another oligomeric nucleic acid molecule, such as a CRISPR RNA, a siRNA, shRNA, an aptamer, or a ribozyme. Therapeutic nucleic acid molecules are commonly made in the laboratory by solid-phase chemical synthesis followed by purification and isolation. shRNA’s are however often delivered to cells using lentiviral vectors (see for example Soan and Yang 2010 N Am J Med Sci 2(12): 598) which are then transcribed to produce the single stranded RNA that will form a stem loop (hairpin) RNA structure that is capable of interacting with the RNA interference machinery (including the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC)). When referring to a sequence of the nucleic acid molecule, reference is made to the sequence or order of nucleobase moieties, or modifications thereof, of the covalently linked nucleotides or nucleosides. The nucleic acid molecule(s) of the invention is man-made, and is chemically synthesized, and is typically purified or isolated. The nucleic acid molecule of the invention may comprise one or more modified nucleosides or nucleotides, such as 2’-sugar modified nucleosides, such as a high affinity modified antisense oligonucleotide.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule of the invention comprises or consists of 8 to 70 nucleotides in length, 10 to 60 nucleotides in length, 12 to 50 nucleotides in length, such as 8 to 40 nucleotides in length, such as from 9 to 35, such as from 10 to 30, such as from 1 1 to 22, such as from 12 to 20, such as from 13 to 18 or 14 to 16 contiguous nucleotides in length.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof comprises or consists of 24 or less nucleotides, such as 22 or less nucleotides, such as 20 or less nucleotides, such as 18 or less nucleotides, such as 14, 15, 16 or 17 nucleotides. It is to be understood that any range given herein includes the range endpoints. Accordingly, if a nucleic acid molecule is said to include from 10 to 30 nucleotides, both 10 and 30 nucleotides are included. In some embodiments, the contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30 contiguous nucleotides in length.

The nucleic acid molecule(s) is typically for modulating the expression of a target nucleic acid in a mammal. In some embodiments the nucleic acid molecule(s), such as siRNAs, shRNAs or antisense oligonucleotides, is typically for inhibiting the expression of a target nucleic acid.

In one embodiment of the invention the nucleic acid molecule is selected from a RNAi agent, such as a siRNA, shRNA.

In another embodiment the nucleic acid molecule is an antisense oligonucleotide, such as single stranded antisense oligonucleotide, such as a high affinity modified antisense oligonucleotide interacting with RNaseH.

In some embodiments the nucleic acid molecule comprises phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In some embodiments nucleic acid molecule comprise phosphorothioate linkages in the 5’ end and the 3’ end (e.g. independently 1-3 linkages in each end). In some embodiments the all the internucleoside linkages in nucleic acid molecule consists of phosphorothioate.

In some embodiments the nucleic acid molecule(s) may be conjugated to non-nucleosidic moieties (conjugate moieties).

Oligonucleotide

The term“oligonucleotide” or“therapeutic oligonucleotide” as used herein is defined as it is generally understood by the skilled person as a molecule comprising two or more covalently linked nucleosides. Such covalently bound nucleosides may also be referred to as nucleic acid molecules, oligonucleotides or oligomers. Oligonucleotides are commonly made in the laboratory by solid-phase chemical synthesis followed by purification. When referring to a sequence of the oligonucleotide, reference is made to the sequence or order of nucleobase moieties, or modifications thereof, of the covalently linked nucleotides or nucleosides. The oligonucleotide of the invention is man-made, and is chemically synthesized, and is typically purified or isolated. The oligonucleotide of the invention may comprise one or more modified nucleosides or nucleotides such as 2’ sugar modified nucleosides.

The oligonucleotide of the invention comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence which is complementary to the target nucleic acid or target sequence, and may, in some embodiments further comprise one or more additional nucleotides, such as 1 - 30, such as 1 - 20, such as 1 - 10, such as 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5 further nucleotides in addition to the contiguous nucleotide sequence. In some embodiments the additional nucleotides are complementary to the contiguous nucleotide sequence and are capable of forming a stem loop (hairpin) structure by hybridizing to the contiguous nucleotide sequence. In some embodiments the additional nucleotides are 1 to 5 phosphodiester linked nucleotides. In some embodiments, all the nucleotides of the oligonucleotide form the contiguous nucleotide sequence.

Antisense oligonucleotides

The term“Antisense oligonucleotide” as used herein is defined as oligonucleotides capable of modulating expression of a target gene by hybridizing to a target nucleic acid, in particular to a contiguous sequence on a target nucleic acid. The antisense oligonucleotides are not essentially double stranded and are therefore not siRNAs or shRNAs. Preferably, the antisense oligonucleotides of the present invention are single stranded. It is understood that single stranded oligonucleotides of the present invention can form hairpins or intermolecular duplex structures (duplex between two molecules of the same oligonucleotide), as long as the degree of intra or inter self-complementarity is less than 50% across of the full length of the

oligonucleotide.

Advantageously, the single stranded antisense oligonucleotide of the invention does not contain RNA nucleosides, since this will decrease nuclease resistance.

Advantageously, the antisense oligonucleotide of the invention comprises one or more modified nucleosides or nucleotides, such as 2’ sugar modified nucleosides. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the nucleosides which are not modified are DNA nucleosides.

RNAi or si RNA

Herein, the term“RNA interference (RNAi) molecule” refers to any molecule inhibiting RNA expression or translation via the RNA reducing silencing complex (RISC) in a cell's cytoplasm, where the RNAi molecule interact with the catalytic RISC component argonaute. A small interfering RNA (siRNA) is typically a double-stranded RNA complex comprising a passenger (sense) and a guide (antisense) oligonucleotide (strand), which when administered to a cell, results in the incorporation of the guide (antisense) strand into the RISC complex (siRISC) resulting in the RISC associated inhibition of translation or degradation of complementary RNA target nucleic acids in the cell. The sense strand is also referred to as the passenger strand, and the antisense strand as the guide strand. A small hairpin RNA (shRNA) is a single nucleic acid molecule which forms a stem loop (hairpin) structure that is able to degrade mRNA via RISC. RNAi nucleic acid molecules may be synthesized chemically (typical for siRNA complexes) or by in vitro transcription, or expressed from a vector.

shRNA molecules are generally between 40 and 70 nucleotides in length, such as between 45 and 65 nucleotides in length, such as 50 and 60 nucleotides in length, and interacts with the endonuclease known as Dicer which is believed to processes dsRNA into 19-23 base pair short interfering RNAs with characteristic two base 3' overhangs which are then incorporated into an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Typically, the guide (antisense) strand of an siRNA (or antisense region of a shRNA) is 17 - 25 nucleotide in length, such as 19 - 23 nucleotides in length and complementary to the target nucleic acid or target sequence. In an siRNA complex, the guide (antisense) strand and passenger (sense) strand form a double stranded duplex, which may comprise 3’ terminal overhangs of e.g. 1- 3 nucleotides (resembles the product produced by Dicer), or may be blunt ended (no overhang at one or both ends of the duplex).

It will be recognized that RNAi may be mediated by longer dsRNA substrates which are processed into siRNAs within the cell (a process which is thought to involve the dsRNA endonuclease DICER). Effective extended forms of Dicer substrates have been described in US 8,349,809 and US 8,513,207, hereby incorporated by reference.

RNAi oligonucleotides may be chemically modified using modified internucleotide linkages and high affinity nucleosides such as 2’ sugar modified nucleosides, such as 2‘-4‘ bicyclic ribose modified nucleosides, including LNA and cET or 2’ substituted modifications like of 2’-0-alkyl- RNA, 2’-0-methyl-RNA, 2’-alkoxy-RNA, 2’-0-methoxyethyl-RNA (MOE), 2’-amino-DNA, 2’- fluoro-DNA, arabino nucleic acid (ANA), 2’-fluoro-ANA. See for example WO 2002/044321 which discloses 2’O-Methyl modified siRNAs, W02004083430 which discloses the use of LNA nucleosides in siRNA complexes, known as siLNAs, and W02007107162 which discloses the use of discontinuous passenger strands in siRNA such as siLNA complexes. W003006477 discloses siRNA and shRNA (also referred to as stRNA) oligonucleotide mediators of RNAi. Harborth et ai, Antisense Nucleic Acid Drug Dev. 2003 Apr;13(2):83-105 refers to the sequence, chemical, and structural variation of small interfering RNAs and short hairpin RNAs and the effect on mammalian gene silencing.

In some embodiments RNAi oligonucleotides comprise one or more phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In RNAi molecules phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages may reduce or the nuclease cleavage in RICS it is therefore advantageous that not al internucleoside linkages are modified. Phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages can advantageously be place in the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the RNAi nucleic acid molecule, in particular in the of the part of the molecule that is not complementary to the target nucleic acid (e.g. the sense strand or passenger strand in an siRNA molecule). The region of the RNAi molecule that is

complementary to the target nucleic acid (e.g. the antisense or guide strand in a siRNA molecule) may however also be modified in the first 2 to 3 internucleoside linkages in the 3’ and/or 5’ terminal.

Contiguous Nucleotide Sequence

The term“contiguous nucleotide sequence” refers to the region of the oligonucleotide which is complementary to the target nucleic acid. The term is used interchangeably herein with the term“contiguous nucleobase sequence” and the term“oligonucleotide motif sequence”. In some embodiments all the nucleotides of the oligonucleotide constitute the contiguous nucleotide sequence. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide comprises the contiguous nucleotide sequence, such as the flank (also known as wing) and gap region of a gapmer, such as a F-G-F’ gapmer region, and may optionally comprise further nucleotide(s), for example a nucleotide linker region which may be used to attach a functional group to the contiguous nucleotide sequence. The nucleotide linker region may or may not be complementary to the target nucleic acid.

Nucleotides

Nucleotides are the building blocks of oligonucleotides and polynucleotides, and for the purposes of the present invention include both naturally occurring and non-naturally occurring nucleotides. In nature, nucleotides, such as DNA and RNA nucleotides comprise a ribose sugar moiety, a nucleobase moiety and one or more phosphate groups (which is absent in

nucleosides). Nucleosides and nucleotides may also interchangeably be referred to as“units” or “monomers”.

Modified nucleoside

The term“modified nucleoside” or“nucleoside modification” as used herein refers to

nucleosides modified as compared to the equivalent DNA or RNA nucleoside by the introduction of one or more modifications of the sugar moiety or the (nucleo)base moiety. In a preferred embodiment the modified nucleoside comprises a modified sugar moiety. The term modified nucleoside may also be used herein interchangeably with the term“nucleoside analogue” or modified“units” or modified“monomers”. Nucleosides with an unmodified DNA or RNA sugar moiety are termed DNA or RNA nucleosides herein. Nucleosides with modifications in the base region of the DNA or RNA nucleoside are still generally termed DNA or RNA if they allow Watson Crick base pairing.

Modified internucieoside linkages

The term“modified internucieoside linkage” is defined as generally understood by the skilled person as linkages other than phosphodiester (PO) linkages, that covalently couples two nucleosides together. The oligonucleotides of the invention may therefore comprise modified internucieoside linkages. In some embodiments, the modified internucieoside linkage increases the nuclease resistance of the oligonucleotide compared to a phosphodiester linkage, this is a particular advantage for therapeutic oligonucleotides. For naturally occurring oligonucleotides, the internucieoside linkage includes phosphate groups creating a phosphodiester bond between adjacent nucleosides. Modified internucieoside linkages are particularly useful in stabilizing oligonucleotides for in vivo use, and may serve to protect against nuclease cleavage at regions of DNA or RNA nucleosides in the oligonucleotide of the invention, for example within the gap region of a gapmer oligonucleotide, as well as in regions of modified nucleosides, such as region F and F’.

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotide, e.g. the therapeutic antisense oligonucleotide, shRNA or siRNA, comprises one or more internucleoside linkages modified from the natural

phosphodiester, such one or more modified internucleoside linkages that is for example more resistant to nuclease attack. Nuclease resistance may be determined by incubating the oligonucleotide in blood serum or by using a nuclease resistance assay (e.g. snake venom phosphodiesterase (SVPD)), both are well known in the art. Internucleoside linkages which are capable of enhancing the nuclease resistance of an oligonucleotide are referred to as nuclease resistant internucleoside linkages. In some embodiments at least 50% of the internucleoside linkages in the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are modified, such as at least 60%, such as at least 70%, such as at least 80 or such as at least 90% of the internucleoside linkages in the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are nuclease resistant internucleoside linkages. In some embodiments all of the internucleoside linkages of the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are nuclease resistant internucleoside linkages. It will be recognized that, in some embodiments the nucleosides which link the oligonucleotide of the invention to a non-nucleotide functional group, such as a conjugate, may be phosphodiester.

A preferred modified internucleoside linkage is phosphorothioate.

Phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages are particularly useful due to nuclease resistance, beneficial pharmacokinetics and ease of manufacture. In some embodiments at least 50% of the internucleoside linkages in the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are phosphorothioate, such as at least 60%, such as at least 70%, such as at least 80% or such as at least 90% of the internucleoside linkages in the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are phosphorothioate. In some embodiments all of the internucleoside linkages of the oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, are

phosphorothioate. The use of fully phosphorothioate modified oligonucleotides or contiguous nucleotide sequences is often used in antisense oligonucleotides, although in siRNAs partial phosphorothioate modifications may be preferred as fully phosphorothioate modifications have been reported to limit RNAi activity, particularly when used in the guide (antisense) strand. Phosphorothioate modifications may be incorporated into the 5’ and 3’ ends of an antisense strand of a siRNA without unduly limiting RNAi activity.

Nuclease resistant linkages, such as phosphorothioate linkages, are particularly useful in oligonucleotide regions capable of recruiting nuclease when forming a duplex with the target nucleic acid, such as region G for gapmers. Phosphorothioate linkages may, however, also be useful in non-nuclease recruiting regions and/or affinity enhancing regions such as regions F and F’ for gapmers. Gapmer oligonucleotides may, in some embodiments comprise one or more phosphodiester linkages in region F or F’, or both region F and F’, which the

internucleoside linkage in region G may be fully phosphorothioate. Advantageously, all the internucleoside linkages in the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the antisense oligonucleotide are phosphorothioate linkages.

It is recognized that, as disclosed in EP2 742 135, antisense oligonucleotide may comprise other internucleoside linkages (other than phosphodiester and phosphorothioate), for example alkyl phosphonate / methyl phosphonate internucleosides, which according to EP2 742 135 may for example be tolerated in an otherwise DNA phosphorothioate the gap region.

Nucleobase

The term nucleobase includes the purine (e.g. adenine and guanine) and pyrimidine (e.g. uracil, thymine and cytosine) moiety present in nucleosides and nucleotides which form hydrogen bonds in nucleic acid hybridization. In the context of the present invention the term nucleobase also encompasses modified nucleobases which may differ from naturally occurring

nucleobases, but are functional during nucleic acid hybridization. In this context“nucleobase” refers to both naturally occurring nucleobases such as adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymidine, uracil, xanthine and hypoxanthine, as well as non-naturally occurring variants. Such variants are for example described in Hirao et al (2012) Accounts of Chemical Research vol 45 page 2055 and Bergstrom (2009) Current Protocols in Nucleic Acid Chemistry Suppl. 37 1.4.1.

In some embodiments the nucleobase moiety is modified by changing the purine or pyrimidine into a modified purine or pyrimidine, such as substituted purine or substituted pyrimidine, such as a nucleobased selected from isocytosine, pseudoisocytosine, 5-methyl cytosine, 5-thiozolo- cytosine, 5-propynyl-cytosine, 5-propynyl-uracil, 5-bromouracil 5-thiazolo-uracil, 2-thio-uracil, 2’thio-thymine, inosine, diaminopurine, 6-aminopurine, 2-aminopurine, 2,6-diaminopurine and 2- chloro-6-aminopurine.

The nucleobase moieties may be indicated by the letter code for each corresponding nucleobase, e.g. A, T, G, C or U, wherein each letter may optionally include modified nucleobases of equivalent function. For example, in the exemplified oligonucleotides, the nucleobase moieties are selected from A, T, G, C, and 5-methyl cytosine. Optionally, for LNA gapmers, 5-methyl cytosine LNA nucleosides may be used.

Modified oligonucleotide

The term modified oligonucleotide describes an oligonucleotide comprising one or more sugar- modified nucleosides and/or modified internucleoside linkages. The term chimeric”

oligonucleotide is a term that has been used in the literature to describe oligonucleotides with modified nucleosides. Complementarity

The term“complementarity” describes the capacity for Watson-Crick base-pairing of

nucleosides/nucleotides. Watson-Crick base pairs are guanine (G)-cytosine (C) and adenine (A) - thymine (T)/uracil (U). It will be understood that oligonucleotides may comprise

nucleosides with modified nucleobases, for example 5-methyl cytosine is often used in place of cytosine, and as such the term complementarity encompasses Watson Crick base-paring between non-modified and modified nucleobases (see for example Hirao et al (2012) Accounts of Chemical Research vol 45 page 2055 and Bergstrom (2009) Current Protocols in Nucleic Acid Chemistry Suppl. 37 1.4.1 ).

The term“% complementary” as used herein, refers to the number of nucleotides in percent of a contiguous nucleotide sequence in an oligonucleotide (e.g. oligonucleotide) which, at a given position, are complementary to (i.e. form Watson Crick base pairs with) a contiguous nucleotide sequence, at a given position of a separate oligonucleotide (e.g. the target nucleic acid). The percentage is calculated by counting the number of aligned bases that form pairs between the two sequences (when aligned with the target sequence 5’-3’ and the oligonucleotide sequence from 3’-5’), dividing by the total number of nucleotides in the oligonucleotide and multiplying by 100. In such a comparison a nucleobase/nucleotide which does not align (form a base pair) is termed a mismatch. Preferably, insertions and deletions are not allowed in the calculation of % complementarity of a contiguous nucleotide sequence.

The term“fully complementary”, refers to 100% complementarity.

The following is an example of an oligonucleotide motif (SEQ ID NO: 86) that is fully

complementary to the target nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO: 325).

Identity

The term“Identity” as used herein, refers to the proportion of nucleotides (expressed in percent) of a contiguous nucleotide sequence in a oligonucleotide (e.g. oligonucleotide) which across the contiguous nucleotide sequence, are identical to a reference sequence (e.g. a sequence motif). The percentage of identity is thus calculated by counting the number of aligned bases that are identical (a match) between two sequences (in the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the compound of the invention and in the reference sequence), dividing that number by the total number of nucleotides in the oligonucleotide and multiplying by 100. Therefore, Percentage of Identity = (Matches x 100)/Length of aligned region (e.g. the contiguous nucleotide sequence). Insertions and deletions are not allowed in the calculation the percentage of identity of a contiguous nucleotide sequence. It will be understood that in determining identity, chemical modifications of the nucleobases are disregarded as long as the functional capacity of the nucleobase to form Watson Crick base pairing is retained (e.g. 5-methyl cytosine is considered identical to a cytosine for the purpose of calculating % identity).

Hybridization

The term“hybridizing” or“hybridizes” as used herein is to be understood as two nucleic acid strands (e.g. an oligonucleotide and a target nucleic acid) forming hydrogen bonds between base pairs on opposite strands thereby forming a duplex. The affinity of the binding between two nucleic acid strands is the strength of the hybridization. It is often described in terms of the melting temperature (T _m ) defined as the temperature at which half of the oligonucleotides are duplexed with the target nucleic acid. At physiological conditions T _m is not strictly proportional to the affinity (Mergny and Lacroix, 2003 , Oligonucleotides 13:515-537). The standard state Gibbs free energy AG° is a more accurate representation of binding affinity and is related to the dissociation constant (K _d ) of the reaction by AG°=-RTIn(K _d ), where R is the gas constant and T is the absolute temperature. Therefore, a very low AG° of the reaction between an

oligonucleotide and the target nucleic acid reflects a strong hybridization between the oligonucleotide and target nucleic acid. AG° is the energy associated with a reaction where aqueous concentrations are 1 M, the pH is 7, and the temperature is 37°C. The hybridization of oligonucleotides to a target nucleic acid is a spontaneous reaction and for spontaneous reactions AG° is less than zero. AG° can be measured experimentally, for example, by use of the isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) method as described in Hansen et al., 1965, Chem. Comm. 36-38 and Holdgate et al., 2005, Drug Discov Today. The skilled person will know that commercial equipment is available for AG° measurements. AG° can also be estimated numerically by using the nearest neighbor model as described by SantaLucia, 1998, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 95: 1460-1465 using appropriately derived thermodynamic parameters described by Sugimoto et al., 1995, Biochemistry 34:1121 1-1 1216 and McTigue et al., 2004, Biochemistry 43:5388-5405. In order to have the possibility of modulating its intended nucleic acid target by hybridization, oligonucleotides of the present invention hybridize to a target nucleic acid with estimated AG° values below -10 kcal for oligonucleotides that are 10-30 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments the degree or strength of hybridization is measured by the standard state Gibbs free energy AG°. The oligonucleotides may hybridize to a target nucleic acid with estimated AG° values below the range of -10 kcal, such as below -15 kcal, such as below -20 kcal and such as below -25 kcal for oligonucleotides that are 8-30 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments the oligonucleotides hybridize to a target nucleic acid with an estimated AG° value of -10 to -60 kcal, such as -12 to -40, such as from -15 to -30 kcal or -16 to -27 kcal such as -18 to -25 kcal. Target nucleic acid

According to the present invention, the target nucleic acid is a nucleic acid which encodes mammalian TMEM106B and may for example be a gene, a RNA, a mRNA, and pre-mRNA, a mature mRNA or a cDNA sequence. The target may therefore be referred to as an TMEM106B target nucleic acid. The oligonucleotide of the invention may for example target exon regions of a mammalian TMEM106B RNA, or may for example target intron region in the TMEM106B pre- mRNA (see Table 1 ).

Table 1 : human TMEM106B Exons and Introns regions which may be targeted by the compounds of the invention:

Suitably, the target nucleic acid encodes an TMEM106B protein, in particular mammalian

TMEM106B, such as human TMEM106B (See for example Tables 2 and 3, which provides the mRNA and pre-mRNA sequences for human, monkey, and mouse TMEM106B).

In some embodiments, the target nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 or naturally occurring variants thereof, including SNP variants. A table of known nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of SEQ ID NO: 1 are shown in Table 4. If employing the oligonucleotide of the invention in research or diagnostics the target nucleic acid may be a cDNA or a synthetic nucleic acid derived from DNA or RNA.

The oligonucleotide of the invention is typically capable of inhibiting the expression of the TMEM106B target nucleic acid in a cell which is expressing the TMEM106B target nucleic acid. The contiguous sequence of nucleobases of the oligonucleotide of the invention is typically complementary to the TMEM106B target nucleic acid, as measured across the length of the oligonucleotide, optionally with the exception of one or two mismatches, and optionally excluding nucleotide based linker regions which may link the oligonucleotide to an optional functional group such as a conjugate, or other non-complementary terminal nucleotides (e.g. region D’ or D”). The target nucleic acid may, in some embodiments, be a mature mRNA or a pre-mRNA.

In some embodiments the target nucleic acid is a RNA which encodes mammalian TMEM106B protein, such as human TMEM106B, e.g. the human TMEM106B pre-mRNA sequence, such as that disclosed as SEQ ID NO: 1 , or the human mature mRNA, such as that disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 2. Further information on exemplary target nucleic acids is provided in Tables 2 and 3.

Table 2: Genome and assembly information for TMEM106B across species.

Fwd = forward strand. Rv = reverse strand. The genome coordinates provide the pre-mRNA sequence (genomic sequence). The NCBI reference provides the mRNA sequence (cDNA sequence).

‘The National Center for Biotechnology Information reference sequence database is a comprehensive, integrated, non-redundant, well-annotated set of reference sequences including genomic, transcript, and protein. It is hosted at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/refseq.

Table 3: Sequence details for TMEM106B across species.

Target Sequence

The term“target sequence” as used herein refers to a sequence of nucleotides present in the target nucleic acid which comprises the nucleobase sequence which is complementary to the oligonucleotide of the invention. In some embodiments, the target sequence consists of a region on the target nucleic acid with a nucleobase sequence that is complementary to the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide of the invention. This region of the target nucleic acid may interchangeably be referred to as the target nucleotide sequence, target sequence or target region. In some embodiments the target sequence is longer than the complementary sequence of a single oligonucleotide, and may, for example represent a preferred region of the target nucleic acid which may be targeted by several oligonucleotides of the invention.

In some embodiments, the target sequence is present in an intronic region of the TMEM106B nucleic acid, such as SEQ ID NO: 1.

In some embodiments, the target sequence is present in exon 9, such as in the 3’UTR of the TMEM106B nucleic acid.

The inventors have identified that the 3’UTR of the human and mouse TMEM106B is an advantageous target sequence. In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, is at least 90% complementary, such as is fully complementary, to the 3’UTR of a mammalian TMEM106B mRNA, such as the target nucleic acid referred to herein (e.g. SEQ ID NO: 1 , 3 or 5). In one embodiment the 3’ UTR is located from position 20755-32146 of SEQ ID NO: 1. As illustrated in the examples, the inventors have further identified advantageous target sequences within the 3’UTR of the human TMEM106B transcript. In some embodiments, the target sequence is from position 20755 to position 26403 of SEQ ID NO: 1. In some embodiments, the target sequence is from position 21084 to position 21213 of SEQ ID NO: 1. In some embodiments, the target sequence is from position 23086 to position 24077 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In some embodiments the target sequence is a sequence selected from the group consisting of a human TMEM106B mRNA exon, such as a TMEM106B human mRNA exon selected from the group consisting of e1 , e2, e3, e4, e5, e6, e7, e8, and e9 (see Table 1 above). In some embodiments the target sequence is exon e2.

In some embodiments, the target sequence is a sequence selected from the group consisting of a human TMEM106B mRNA intron, such as a TMEM106B human mRNA intron selected from the group consisting of i1 , i2, i3, i4, i5, i6, i7, and i8 (see Table 1 above). In some embodiments, the target sequence is intron i8, or the 3’UTR region.

In some embodiments, the target sequence is selected from a TMEM106B human mRNA intron selected from the group consisting of i1 , i2, i3, i4, i5, i6, i7, and i8 and the TMEM106B human mRNA 3’UTR.

In some embodiments the target sequence is a sequence the TMEM106B human mRNA intron i8 or 3’UTR (see Table 1 above).

In some embodiments, the target sequence is or comprises the nucleotide sequence from position 20227 to position 20243 of SEQ ID NO 1.

In some embodiments, the target sequence is or comprises the nucleotide sequence from position 20227 to position 26403 of SEQ ID NO 1. In some embodiments, the target sequence is or comprises the nucleotide sequence from position 20227 to position 21213 of SEQ ID NO 1.

In some embodiments, the target sequence is or comprises the nucleotide sequence from position 20227 to position 24077 of SEQ ID NO 1.

The oligonucleotide of the invention comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence which is complementary to or hybridizes to the target nucleic acid, such as a target sequence described herein.

The target sequence to which the oligonucleotide is complementary or hybridizes to generally comprises a contiguous nucleobases sequence of at least 10 nucleotides. In some

embodiments, such as antisense oligonucleotides of the invention, the contiguous nucleotide sequence is between 10 to 50 nucleotides, such as10 to 30 nucleotides, such as 14 to 20, such as 15 to 18 contiguous nucleotides.

For siRNA oligonucleotides, the target sequence to which the antisense strand oligonucleotide is complementary or hybridizes to, may comprise a contiguous nucleobases sequence of at least 16 or 17 nucleotides. In some embodiments, the contiguous nucleotide sequence is between 17 to 25 nucleotides, such as 19 to 23 contiguous nucleotides.

Target Cell

The term a“target cell” as used herein refers to a cell which is expressing the target nucleic acid. In some embodiments the target cell may be in vivo or in vitro. In some embodiments the target cell is a mammalian cell such as a rodent cell, such as a mouse cell or a rat cell, or a primate cell such as a monkey cell or a human cell.

In some embodiments the target cell is a neuronal cell. In some embodiments the cell which is expressing TMEM106B may be a neuronal cell.

In some embodiments the target cell expresses TMEM106B mRNA, such as the TMEM106B pre-mRNA or TMEM106B mature mRNA. The poly A tail of TMEM106B mRNA is typically disregarded for antisense oligonucleotide targeting.

In some embodiments, human SK-N-BE(2) neuroblastoma cells acquired from ATCC (CRL- 2271 ) or mouse Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cell acquired from ATCC (CCL-131 ) may be used to determine whether an oligonucleotide is capable of down regulating the target nucleic acid (see examples).

Naturally occurring variant

The term“naturally occurring variant” refers to variants of TMEM106B gene or transcripts which originate from the same genetic loci as the target nucleic acid, but may differ for example, by virtue of degeneracy of the genetic code causing a multiplicity of codons encoding the same amino acid, or due to alternative splicing of pre-mRNA, or the presence of polymorphisms, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and allelic variants. Based on the presence of the sufficient complementary sequence to the oligonucleotide, the oligonucleotide of the invention may therefore target the target nucleic acid and naturally occurring variants thereof.

In some embodiments, the naturally occurring variants have at least 95% such as at least 98% or at least 99% homology to a mammalian TMEM106B target nucleic acid, such as a target nucleic acid selected form the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 1 - 6. In some embodiments the naturally occurring variants have at least 99% homology to the human TMEM106B target nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO 2. In some embodiments the naturally occurring variants are the polymorphisms listed in Table 4.

Table 4: Examples of single nucleotide polymorphisms which are known in the human

TMEM106B gene (human premRNA start/reference sequence is SEQ ID NO 1 ).

Modulation of expression

The term“modulation of expression” as used herein is to be understood as an overall term for an oligonucleotide’s ability to alter the amount of TMEM106B when compared to the amount of TMEM106B before administration of the oligonucleotide. Alternatively modulation of expression may be determined by reference to a control experiment. It is generally understood that the control is an individual or target cell treated with a saline composition or an individual or target cell treated with a non-targeting oligonucleotide (mock).

One type of modulation is an oligonucleotide’s ability to inhibit, down-regulate, reduce, suppress, remove, stop, block, prevent, lessen, lower, avoid or terminate expression of TMEM106B, e.g. by degradation of mRNA or blockage of transcription. Another type of modulation is an oligonucleotide’s ability to restore, increase or enhance expression of

TMEM106B, e.g. by repair of splice sites or prevention of splicing or removal or blockage of inhibitory mechanisms such as microRNA repression.

High affinity modified nucleosides

A high affinity modified nucleoside is a modified nucleotide which, when incorporated into the oligonucleotide enhances the affinity of the oligonucleotide for its complementary target, for example as measured by the melting temperature (T ^m ). A high affinity modified nucleoside of the present invention preferably result in an increase in melting temperature between +0.5 to +12°C, more preferably between +1.5 to +10°C and most preferably between+3 to +8°C per modified nucleoside. Numerous high affinity modified nucleosides are known in the art and include for example, many 2’ substituted nucleosides as well as locked nucleic acids (LNA) (see e.g. Freier & Altmann; Nucl. Acid Res., 1997, 25, 4429-4443 and Uhlmann; Curr. Opinion in Drug Development, 2000, 3(2), 293-213).

Sugar modifications

The oligomer of the invention may comprise one or more nucleosides which have a modified sugar moiety, i.e. a modification of the sugar moiety when compared to the ribose sugar moiety found in DNA and RNA.

Numerous nucleosides with modification of the ribose sugar moiety have been made, primarily with the aim of improving certain properties of oligonucleotides, such as affinity and/or nuclease resistance.

Such modifications include those where the ribose ring structure is modified, e.g. by

replacement with a hexose ring (HNA), or a bicyclic ring, which typically have a biradicle bridge between the C2 and C4 carbons on the ribose ring (LNA), or an unlinked ribose ring which typically lacks a bond between the C2 and C3 carbons (e.g. UNA). Other sugar modified nucleosides include, for example, bicyclohexose nucleic acids (WO2011/017521 ) or tricyclic nucleic acids (WO2013/154798). Modified nucleosides also include nucleosides where the sugar moiety is replaced with a non-sugar moiety, for example in the case of peptide nucleic acids (PNA), or morpholino nucleic acids. Sugar modifications also include modifications made via altering the substituent groups on the ribose ring to groups other than hydrogen, or the 2’-OH group naturally found in DNA and RNA nucleosides. Substituents may, for example be introduced at the 2’, 3’, 4’ or 5’ positions.

2’ sugar modified nucleosides

A 2’ sugar modified nucleoside is a nucleoside which has a substituent other than H or -OH at the 2’ position (2’ substituted nucleoside) or comprises a 2’ linked biradicle capable of forming a bridge between the 2’ carbon and a second carbon in the ribose ring, such as LNA (2’ - 4’ biradicle bridged) nucleosides.

Indeed, much focus has been spent on developing 2’ substituted nucleosides, and numerous 2’ substituted nucleosides have been found to have beneficial properties when incorporated into oligonucleotides. For example, the 2’ modified sugar may provide enhanced binding affinity and/or increased nuclease resistance to the oligonucleotide. Examples of 2’ substituted modified nucleosides are 2’-0-alkyl-RNA, 2’-0-methyl-RNA, 2’-alkoxy-RNA, 2’-0-methoxyethyl- RNA (MOE), 2’-amino-DNA, 2’-Fluoro-RNA, and 2’-F-ANA nucleoside. For further examples, please see e.g. Freier & Altmann; Nucl. Acid Res., 1997, 25, 4429-4443 and Uhlmann; Curr. Opinion in Drug Development, 2000, 3(2), 293-213, and Deleavey and Damha, Chemistry and Biology 2012, 19, 937. Below are illustrations of some 2’ substituted modified nucleosides.

In relation to the present invention 2’ substituted does not include 2’ bridged molecules like LNA.

Locked Nucleic Acids (LNA)

A“LNA nucleoside” is a 2’- modified nucleoside which comprises a biradical linking the C2’ and C4’ of the ribose sugar ring of said nucleoside (also referred to as a“2’- 4’ bridge”), which restricts or locks the conformation of the ribose ring. These nucleosides are also termed bridged nucleic acid or bicyclic nucleic acid (BNA) in the literature. The locking of the conformation of the ribose is associated with an enhanced affinity of hybridization (duplex stabilization) when the LNA is incorporated into an oligonucleotide for a complementary RNA or DNA molecule. This can be routinely determined by measuring the melting temperature of the

oligonucleotide/complement duplex.

Non limiting, exemplary LNA nucleosides are disclosed in WO 99/014226, WO 00/66604, WO 98/039352, WO 2004/046160, WO 00/047599, WO 2007/134181 , WO 2010/077578, WO 2010/036698, WO 2007/090071 , WO 2009/006478, WO 2011/156202, WO 2008/154401 , WO 2009/067647, WO 2008/150729, Morita et al., Bioorganic & Med.Chem. Lett. 12, 73-76, Seth et al. J. Org. Chem. 2010, Vol 75(5) pp. 1569-81 , and Mitsuoka et al., Nucleic Acids Research 2009, 37(4), 1225-1238, and Wan and Seth, J. Medical Chemistry 2016, 59, 9645-9667.

Further non limiting, exemplary LNA nucleosides are disclosed in Scheme 1.

Scheme 1 :

Particular LNA nucleosides are beta-D-oxy-LNA, 6’-methyl-beta-D-oxy LNA such as (S)-6’- methyl-beta-D-oxy-LNA (ScET) and ENA. A particularly advantageous LNA is beta-D-oxy-LNA. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide of the invention comprises at least one beta-D-oxy-LNA or 6’-methyl-beta-D-oxy-LNA nucleoside.

Nuclease mediated degradation

Nuclease mediated degradation refers to an oligonucleotide capable of mediating degradation of a complementary nucleotide sequence when forming a duplex with such a sequence.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide may function via nuclease mediated degradation of the target nucleic acid, where the oligonucleotides of the invention are capable of recruiting a nuclease, particularly and endonuclease, preferably endoribonuclease (RNase), such as RNase H. Examples of oligonucleotide designs which operate via nuclease mediated mechanisms are oligonucleotides which typically comprise a region of at least 5 or 6 consecutive DNA nucleosides and are flanked on one side or both sides by affinity enhancing nucleosides, for example gapmers, headmers and tailmers.

RNase H Activity and Recruitment

The RNase H activity of an antisense oligonucleotide refers to its ability to recruit RNase H when in a duplex with a complementary RNA molecule. WO01/23613 provides in vitro methods for determining RNaseH activity, which may be used to determine the ability to recruit RNaseH. Typically an oligonucleotide is deemed capable of recruiting RNase H if it, when provided with a complementary target nucleic acid sequence, has an initial rate, as measured in pmol/l/min, of at least 5%, such as at least 10% or more than 20% of the of the initial rate determined when using a oligonucleotide having the same base sequence as the modified oligonucleotide being tested, but containing only DNA monomers with phosphorothioate linkages between all monomers in the oligonucleotide, and using the methodology provided by Example 91 - 95 of WO01/23613 (hereby incorporated by reference). For use in determining RHase H activity, recombinant human RNase H1 is available from Lubio Science GmbH, Lucerne, Switzerland. Gapmer

The antisense oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof may be a gapmer. The antisense gapmers are commonly used to inhibit a target nucleic acid via RNase H mediated degradation. A gapmer oligonucleotide comprises at least three distinct structural regions a 5’-flank, a gap and a 3’-flank, F-G-F’ in the‘5 -> 3’ orientation. The“gap” region (G) comprises a stretch of contiguous DNA nucleotides which enable the oligonucleotide to recruit RNase H. The gap region is flanked by a 5’ flanking region (F) comprising one or more sugar modified nucleosides, advantageously high affinity sugar modified nucleosides, and by a 3’ flanking region (F’) comprising one or more sugar modified nucleosides, advantageously high affinity sugar modified nucleosides. The one or more sugar modified nucleosides in region F and F’ enhance the affinity of the oligonucleotide for the target nucleic acid (i.e. are affinity enhancing sugar modified nucleosides). In some embodiments, the one or more sugar modified nucleosides in region F and F’ are 2’ sugar modified nucleosides, such as high affinity 2’ sugar modifications, such as independently selected from LNA and 2’-MOE.

In a gapmer design, the 5’ and 3’ most nucleosides of the gap region are DNA nucleosides, and are positioned adjacent to a sugar modified nucleoside of the 5’ (F) or 3’ (F’) region respectively. The flanks may further be defined by having at least one sugar modified nucleoside at the end most distant from the gap region, i.e. at the 5’ end of the 5’ flank and at the 3’ end of the 3’ flank. Regions F-G-F’ form a contiguous nucleotide sequence. Antisense oligonucleotides of the invention, or the contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, may comprise a gapmer region of formula F-G-F’.

The overall length of the gapmer design F-G-F’ may be, for example 12 to 32 nucleosides, such as 13 to 24, such as 14 to 22 nucleosides, Such as from 14 to17, such as 16 to18 nucleosides. By way of example, the gapmer oligonucleotide of the present invention can be represented by the following formulae:

F _1-8 -G _5-16 -F' _2-8 , such as

F _1-8 -G _7-16 -F' _2-8

with the proviso that the overall length of the gapmer regions F-G-F’ is at least 12, such as at least 14 nucleotides in length.

Regions F, G and F’ are further defined below and can be incorporated into the F-G-F’ formula.

Gapmer - Region G

Region G (gap region) of the gapmer is a region of nucleosides which enables the

oligonucleotide to recruit RNaseH, such as human RNase H1 , typically DNA nucleosides.

RNaseH is a cellular enzyme which recognizes the duplex between DNA and RNA, and enzymatically cleaves the RNA molecule. Suitably gapmers may have a gap region (G) of at least 5 or 6 contiguous DNA nucleosides, such as 5 - 16 contiguous DNA nucleosides, such as 6 - 15 contiguous DNA nucleosides, such as 7-14 contiguous DNA nucleosides, such as 8 - 12 contiguous DNA nucleotides, such as 8 - 12 contiguous DNA nucleotides in length. The gap region G may, in some embodiments consist of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 contiguous DNA nucleosides. One or more cytosine (C) DNA in the gap region may in some instances be methylated (e.g. when a DNA c is followed by a DNA g) such residues are either annotated as 5-methyl-cytosine ( ^me C). In some embodiments the gap region G may consist of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 contiguous phosphorothioate linked DNA nucleosides. In some embodiments, all internucleoside linkages in the gap are phosphorothioate linkages.

Whilst traditional gapmers have a DNA gap region, there are numerous examples of modified nucleosides which allow for RNaseH recruitment when they are used within the gap region. Modified nucleosides which have been reported as being capable of recruiting RNaseH when included within a gap region include, for example, alpha-L-LNA, C4’ alkylated DNA (as described in PCT/EP2009/050349 and Vester et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 18 (2008) 2296 - 2300, both incorporated herein by reference), arabinose derived nucleosides like ANA and 2'F- ANA (Mangos et al. 2003 J. AM. CHEM. SOC. 125, 654-661 ), UNA (unlocked nucleic acid) (as described in Fluiter et al., Mol. Biosyst, 2009, 10, 1039 incorporated herein by reference). UNA is unlocked nucleic acid, typically where the bond between C2 and C3 of the ribose has been removed, forming an unlocked“sugar” residue. The modified nucleosides used in such gapmers may be nucleosides which adopt a 2’ endo (DNA like) structure when introduced into the gap region, i.e. modifications which allow for RNaseH recruitment). In some embodiments the DNA Gap region (G) described herein may optionally contain 1 to 3 sugar modified nucleosides which adopt a 2’ endo (DNA like) structure when introduced into the gap region.

Region G -“Gap-breaker”

Alternatively, there are numerous reports of the insertion of a modified nucleoside which confers a 3’ endo conformation into the gap region of gapmers, whilst retaining some RNaseH activity. Such gapmers with a gap region comprising one or more 3’endo modified nucleosides are referred to as“gap-breaker” or“gap-disrupted” gapmers, see for example WO2013/022984. Gap-breaker oligonucleotides retain sufficient region of DNA nucleosides within the gap region to allow for RNaseH recruitment. The ability of gapbreaker oligonucleotide design to recruit RNaseH is typically sequence or even compound specific - see Rukov et al. 2015 Nucl. Acids Res. Vol. 43 pp. 8476-8487, which discloses“gapbreaker” oligonucleotides which recruit RNaseH which in some instances provide a more specific cleavage of the target RNA.

Modified nucleosides used within the gap region of gap-breaker oligonucleotides may for example be modified nucleosides which confer a 3’endo confirmation, such 2’ -O-methyl (OMe) or 2’-0-MOE (MOE) nucleosides, or beta-D LNA nucleosides (the bridge between C2’ and C4’ of the ribose sugar ring of a nucleoside is in the beta conformation), such as beta-D-oxy LNA or ScET nucleosides.

As with gapmers containing region G described above, the gap region of gap-breaker or gap- disrupted gapmers, have a DNA nucleoside at the 5’ end of the gap (adjacent to the 3’ nucleoside of region F), and a DNA nucleoside at the 3’ end of the gap (adjacent to the 5’ nucleoside of region F’). Gapmers which comprise a disrupted gap typically retain a region of at least 3 or 4 contiguous DNA nucleosides at either the 5’ end or 3’ end of the gap region.

Exemplary designs for gap-breaker oligonucleotides include

F _1-8 -[D _3-4 -E ₁ - D _3-4 ]-F’ _{1 -8}

F _1-8 ^_ [D _1-4 -E ₁ - D _3-4 ]— F’ _{1 -8}

F _1-8 - [D _3-4 -E ₁ - D _{1 -4} ]— F’ _{1 -8}

wherein region G is within the brackets [D _n -E _r - D _m ], D is a contiguous sequence of DNA nucleosides, E is a modified nucleoside (the gap-breaker or gap-disrupting nucleoside), and F and F’ are the flanking regions as defined herein, and with the proviso that the overall length of the gapmer regions F-G-F’ is at least 12, such as at least 14 nucleotides in length.

In some embodiments, region G of a gap disrupted gapmer comprises at least 6 DNA nucleosides, such as 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 DNA nucleosides. As described above, the DNA nucleosides may be contiguous or may optionally be interspersed with one or more modified nucleosides, with the proviso that the gap region G is capable of mediating RNaseH recruitment.

Gapmer - flanking regions, F and F’

Region F is positioned immediately adjacent to the 5’ DNA nucleoside of region G. The 3’ most nucleoside of region F is a sugar modified nucleoside, such as a high affinity sugar modified nucleoside, for example a 2’ substituted nucleoside, such as a MOE nucleoside, or an LNA nucleoside.

Region F’ is positioned immediately adjacent to the 3’ DNA nucleoside of region G. The 5’ most nucleoside of region F’ is a sugar modified nucleoside, such as a high affinity sugar modified nucleoside, for example a 2’ substituted nucleoside, such as a MOE nucleoside, or an LNA nucleoside.

Region F is 1 - 8 contiguous nucleotides in length, such as 2-6, such as 3-4 contiguous nucleotides in length. Advantageously the 5’ most nucleoside of region F is a sugar modified nucleoside. In some embodiments the two 5’ most nucleoside of region F are sugar modified nucleoside. In some embodiments the 5’ most nucleoside of region F is an LNA nucleoside. In some embodiments the two 5’ most nucleoside of region F are LNA nucleosides. In some embodiments the two 5’ most nucleoside of region F are 2’ substituted nucleoside nucleosides, such as two 3’ MOE nucleosides. In some embodiments the 5’ most nucleoside of region F is a 2’ substituted nucleoside, such as a MOE nucleoside.

Region F’ is 2 - 8 contiguous nucleotides in length, such as 3-6, such as 4-5 contiguous nucleotides in length. Advantageously, embodiments the 3’ most nucleoside of region F’ is a sugar modified nucleoside. In some embodiments the two 3’ most nucleoside of region F’ are sugar modified nucleoside. In some embodiments the two 3’ most nucleoside of region F’ are LNA nucleosides. In some embodiments the 3’ most nucleoside of region F’ is an LNA nucleoside. In some embodiments the two 3’ most nucleoside of region F’ are 2’ substituted nucleoside nucleosides, such as two 3’ MOE nucleosides. In some embodiments the 3’ most nucleoside of region F’ is a 2’ substituted nucleoside, such as a MOE nucleoside.

It should be noted that when the length of region F or F’ is one, it is advantageously an LNA nucleoside.

In some embodiments, region F and F’ independently consists of or comprises a contiguous sequence of sugar modified nucleosides. In some embodiments, the sugar modified nucleosides of region F may be independently selected from 2’-0-alkyl-RNA units, 2’-0-methyl- RNA, 2’-amino-DNA units, 2’-fluoro-DNA units, 2’-alkoxy-RNA, MOE units, LNA units, arabino nucleic acid (ANA) units and 2’-fluoro-ANA units.

In some embodiments, region F and F’ independently comprises both LNA and a 2’ substituted modified nucleosides (mixed wing design).

In some embodiments, region F and F’ consists of only one type of sugar modified nucleosides, such as only MOE or only beta-D-oxy LNA or only ScET. Such designs are also termed uniform flanks or uniform gapmer design.

In some embodiments, all the nucleosides of region F or F’, or F and F’ are LNA nucleosides, such as independently selected from beta-D-oxy LNA, ENA or ScET nucleosides. In some embodiments region F consists of 1-5, such as 2-4, such as 3-4 such as 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5 contiguous LNA nucleosides. In some embodiments, all the nucleosides of region F and F’ are beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides.

In some embodiments, all the nucleosides of region F or F’, or F and F’ are 2’ substituted nucleosides, such as OMe or MOE nucleosides. In some embodiments region F consists of 1 ,

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 contiguous OMe or MOE nucleosides. In some embodiments only one of the flanking regions can consist of 2’ substituted nucleosides, such as OMe or MOE nucleosides. In some embodiments it is the 5’ (F) flanking region that consists 2’ substituted nucleosides, such as OMe or MOE nucleosides whereas the 3’ (F’) flanking region comprises at least one LNA nucleoside, such as beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides or cET nucleosides. In some embodiments it is the 3’ (F’) flanking region that consists 2’ substituted nucleosides, such as OMe or MOE nucleosides whereas the 5’ (F) flanking region comprises at least one LNA nucleoside, such as beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides or cET nucleosides.

In some embodiments, all the modified nucleosides of region F and F’ are LNA nucleosides, such as independently selected from beta-D-oxy LNA, ENA or ScET nucleosides, wherein region F or F’, or F and F’ may optionally comprise DNA nucleosides (an alternating flank, see definition of these for more details). In some embodiments, all the modified nucleosides of region F and F’ are beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides, wherein region F or F’, or F and F’ may optionally comprise DNA nucleosides (an alternating flank, see definition of these for more details).

In some embodiments the 5’ most and the 3’ most nucleosides of region F and F’ are LNA nucleosides, such as beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides or ScET nucleosides.

In some embodiments, the internucleoside linkage between region F and region G is a phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage. In some embodiments, the internucleoside linkage between region F’ and region G is a phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage. In some embodiments, the internucleoside linkages between the nucleosides of region F or F’, F and F’ are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. LNA Gapmer

An LNA gapmer is a gapmer wherein either one or both of region F and F’ comprises or consists of LNA nucleosides. A beta-D-oxy gapmer is a gapmer wherein either one or both of region F and F’ comprises or consists of beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides.

In some embodiments the LNA gapmer is of formula: [LNA] ₁ _ ₅ -[region G] -[LNA] _1-5 , wherein region G is as defined in the Gapmer region G definition.

MOE Gapmers

A MOE gapmers is a gapmer wherein regions F and F’ consist of MOE nucleosides. In some embodiments the MOE gapmer is of design [MOE] _1-8 -[Region G]-[MOE] _1-8 , such as [MOE] _2-7 - [Region G] _5-16 -[MOE] _2-7 , such as [MOE] _3-6 -[Region G]-[MOE] _3-6 , wherein region G is as defined in the Gapmer definition. MOE gapmers with a 5-10-5 design (MOE-DNA-MOE) have been widely used in the art.

Mixed Wing Gapmer

A mixed wing gapmer is an LNA gapmer wherein one or both of region F and F’ comprise a 2’ substituted nucleoside, such as a 2’ substituted nucleoside independently selected from the group consisting of 2’-0-alkyl-RNA units, 2’-0-methyl-RNA, 2’-amino-DNA units, 2’-fluoro-DNA units, 2’-alkoxy-RNA, MOE units, arabino nucleic acid (ANA) units and 2’-fluoro-ANA units, such as a MOE nucleoside. In some embodiments wherein at least one of region F and F’, or both region F and F’ comprise at least one LNA nucleoside, the remaining nucleosides of region F and F’ are independently selected from the group consisting of MOE and LNA. In some embodiments wherein at least one of region F and F’, or both region F and F’ comprise at least two LNA nucleosides, the remaining nucleosides of region F and F’ are independently selected from the group consisting of MOE and LNA. In some mixed wing embodiments, one or both of region F and F’ may further comprise one or more DNA nucleosides.

Mixed wing gapmer designs are disclosed in W02008/049085 and WO2012/109395, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Alternating Flank Gapmers

Oligonucleotides with alternating flanks are LNA gapmer oligonucleotides where at least one of the flanks (F or F’) comprises DNA in addition to the LNA nucleoside(s). In some embodiments at least one of region F or F’, or both region F and F’, comprise both LNA nucleosides and DNA nucleosides. In such embodiments, the flanking region F or F’, or both F and F’ comprise at least three nucleosides, wherein the 5’ and 3’ most nucleosides of the F and/or F’ region are LNA nucleosides.

In some embodiments at least one of region F or F’, or both region F and F’, comprise both LNA nucleosides and DNA nucleosides. In such embodiments, the flanking region F or F’, or both F and F’ comprise at least three nucleosides, wherein the 5’ and 3’ most nucleosides of the F or F’ region are LNA nucleosides, and there is at least one DNA nucleoside positioned between the 5’ and 3’ most LNA nucleosides of region F or F’ (or both region F and F’).

Region D’ or D” in an oligonucleotide

The oligonucleotide of the invention may in some embodiments comprise or consist of the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide which is complementary to the target nucleic acid, such as the gapmer F-G-F’, and further 5’ and/or 3’ nucleosides. The further 5’ and/or 3’ nucleosides may or may not be fully complementary to the target nucleic acid. Such further 5’ and/or 3’ nucleosides may be referred to as region D’ and D” herein.

The addition of region D’ or D” may be used for the purpose of joining the contiguous nucleotide sequence, such as the gapmer, to a conjugate moiety or another functional group. When used for joining the contiguous nucleotide sequence with a conjugate moiety is can serve as a biocleavable linker. Alternatively, it may be used to provide exonuclease protection or for ease of synthesis or manufacture.

Region D’ and D” can be attached to the 5’ end of region F or the 3’ end of region F’, respectively to generate designs of the following formulas D’-F-G-F’, F-G-F’-D” or

D’-F-G-F’-D”. In this instance the F-G-F’ is the gapmer portion of the oligonucleotide and region D’ or D” constitute a separate part of the oligonucleotide.

Region D’ or D” may independently comprise or consist of 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5 additional nucleotides, which may be complementary or non-complementary to the target nucleic acid. The nucleotide adjacent to the F or F’ region is not a sugar-modified nucleotide, such as a DNA or RNA or base modified versions of these. The D’ or D’ region may serve as a nuclease susceptible

biocleavable linker (see definition of linkers). In some embodiments the additional 5’ and/or 3’ end nucleotides are linked with phosphodiester linkages, and are DNA or RNA. Nucleotide based biocleavable linkers suitable for use as region D’ or D” are disclosed in WO2014/076195, which include by way of example a phosphodiester linked DNA dinucleotide. The use of biocleavable linkers in poly-oligonucleotide constructs is disclosed in WO2015/113922, where they are used to link multiple antisense constructs (e.g. gapmer regions) within a single oligonucleotide.

In one embodiment the oligonucleotide of the invention comprises a region D’ and/or D” in addition to the contiguous nucleotide sequence which constitutes the gapmer.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the present invention can be represented by the following formulae:

F-G-F’; in particular F _1-8 -G _5-16 -F' _2-8

D’-F-G-F’, in particular D’ _1-3 -F _1-8 -G _5-16 -F’ _2-8

F-G-F’-D”, in particular F _1-8 -G _5-16 -F' _2-8 -D” _1-3

D’-F-G-F’-D”, in particular D’ _I-3 - F _1-8 -G _5-16 -F' _2-8 -D” _1-3 In some embodiments the internucleoside linkage positioned between region D’ and region F is a phosphodiester linkage. In some embodiments the internucleoside linkage positioned between region F’ and region D” is a phosphodiester linkage.

Conjugate

The term conjugate as used herein refers to an oligonucleotide which is covalently linked to a non-nucleotide moiety (conjugate moiety or region C or third region).

Conjugation of the oligonucleotide of the invention to one or more non-nucleotide moieties may improve the pharmacology of the oligonucleotide, e.g. by affecting the activity, cellular distribution, cellular uptake or stability of the oligonucleotide. In some embodiments the conjugate moiety modifies or enhances the pharmacokinetic properties of the oligonucleotide by improving cellular distribution, bioavailability, metabolism, excretion, permeability, and/or cellular uptake of the oligonucleotide. In particular the conjugate may target the oligonucleotide to a specific organ, tissue or cell type and thereby enhance the effectiveness of the oligonucleotide in that organ, tissue or cell type. At the same time the conjugate may serve to reduce activity of the oligonucleotide in non-target cell types, tissues or organs, e.g. off target activity or activity in non-target cell types, tissues or organs.

In an embodiment, the non-nucleotide moiety (conjugate moiety) is selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, cell surface receptor ligands, drug substances, hormones, lipophilic substances, polymers, proteins, peptides, toxins (e.g. bacterial toxins), vitamins, viral proteins (e.g. capsids) or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the conjugate is an antibody or an antibody fragment which has a specific affinity for a transferrin receptor, for example as disclosed in WO 2012/143379 herby incorporated by reference. In some embodiments the non-nucleotide moiety is an antibody or antibody fragment, such as an antibody or antibody fragment that facilitates delivery across the blood-brain-barrier, in particular an antibody or antibody fragment targeting the transferrin receptor.

Linkers

A linkage or linker is a connection between two atoms that links one chemical group or segment of interest to another chemical group or segment of interest via one or more covalent bonds. Conjugate moieties can be attached to the oligonucleotide directly or through a linking moiety (e.g. linker or tether). Linkers serve to covalently connect a third region, e.g. a conjugate moiety (Region C), to a first region, e.g. an oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence or gapmer region F-G-F’ (region A).

In some embodiments of the invention the conjugate or oligonucleotide conjugate of the invention may optionally, comprise a linker region (second region or region B and/or region Y) which is positioned between the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence complementary to the target nucleic acid (region A or first region) and the conjugate moiety (region C or third region).

Region B refers to biocleavable linkers comprising or consisting of a physiologically labile bond that is cleavable under conditions normally encountered or analogous to those encountered within a mammalian body. Conditions under which physiologically labile linkers undergo chemical transformation (e.g., cleavage) include chemical conditions such as pH, temperature, oxidative or reductive conditions or agents, and salt concentration found in or analogous to those encountered in mammalian cells. Mammalian intracellular conditions also include the presence of enzymatic activity normally present in a mammalian cell such as from proteolytic enzymes or hydrolytic enzymes or nucleases. In one embodiment the biocleavable linker is susceptible to S1 nuclease cleavage. DNA phosphodiester containing biocleavable linkers are described in more detail in WO 2014/076195 (hereby incorporated by reference) - see also region D’ or D” herein.

Region Y refers to linkers that are not necessarily biocleavable but primarily serve to covalently connect a conjugate moiety (region C or third region), to an oligonucleotide (region A or first region). The region Y linkers may comprise a chain structure or an oligomer of repeating units such as ethylene glycol, amino acid units or amino alkyl groups. The oligonucleotide conjugates of the present invention can be constructed of the following regional elements A-C, A-B-C, A-B-Y-C, A-Y-B-C or A-Y-C. In some embodiments the linker (region Y) is an amino alkyl, such as a C2 - C36 amino alkyl group, including, for example C6 to C12 amino alkyl groups. In a preferred embodiment the linker (region Y) is a C6 amino alkyl group.

Treatment

The term’treatment’ as used herein refers to both treatment of an existing disease (e.g. a disease or disorder as herein referred to), or prevention of a disease, i.e. prophylaxis. It will therefore be recognized that treatment as referred to herein may, in some embodiments, be prophylactic. In some embodiments treatment is performed on a patient who has been diagnosed with a neurological disorder, such as a neurological disorder selected from the group consisting of neurodegeneration, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Parkinson’s disease (or parkinsonism), hypomyelinating leukodystrophies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, motor neuron disease, corticobasal syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL).

In some embodiments the compounds of the invention are for use in the treatment of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD).

A desired effect of the treatment is to reduce the TMEM106B mRNA in the frontal cortex of the subject to be treated to normal levels which corresponds to the average TMEM106B mRNA levels in non-demented individuals. It is advantageous the the reduction of TMEM106B mRNA is not reduced below 40% of normal levels, such as less than 30% below normal levels, such as less than 20% below of normal levels, such as within the range of 40% below normal levels and 20% above normal levels, such as 30% below normal levels and 15% above normal levels, such as 20% below normal levels and 10% above normal levels.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts

The term“pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to those salts which retain the biological effectiveness and properties of the free bases or free acids, which are not biologically or otherwise undesirable. The salts are formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, particularly hydrochloric acid, and organic acids such as acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, maleic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, N-acetylcystein. In addition these salts may be prepared form addition of an inorganic base or an organic base to the free acid. Salts derived from an inorganic base include, but are not limited to, the sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium salts. Salts derived from organic bases include, but are not limited to salts of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, substituted amines including naturally occurring substituted amines, cyclic amines and basic ion exchange resins, such as isopropylamine, trimethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, ethanolamine, lysine, arginine, N-ethylpiperidine, piperidine, polyamine resins. The compound of formula (I) can also be present in the form of zwitterions. Particularly preferred pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of formula (I) are the salts of hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and methanesulfonic acid.

Protecting group

The term“protecting group”, alone or in combination, signifies a group which selectively blocks a reactive site in a multifunctional compound such that a chemical reaction can be carried out selectively at another unprotected reactive site. Protecting groups can be removed. Exemplary protecting groups are amino-protecting groups, carboxy-protecting groups or hydroxy-protecting groups.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The Oligonucleotides of the Invention

The invention relates to an oligonucleotide capable of modulating expression of TMEM106B, such as inhibiting (down-regulating) TMEM106B. The modulation is achieved by hybridizing to a target nucleic acid encoding TMEM106B or which is involved in the regulation of TMEM106B. The target nucleic acid may be a mammalian TMEM106B sequence, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 - 6.

Advantageously, the oligonucleotide of the invention may be selected from an antisense oligonucleotide, an siRNA or shRNA which targets TMEM106B.

In some embodiments the oligonucleotide of the invention is capable of modulating the expression of the target by inhibiting or down-regulating it. Preferably, such modulation produces an inhibition of expression of at least 20% compared to the normal expression level of the target, more preferably at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% inhibition compared to the normal expression level of the target. In some embodiments oligonucleotides of the invention may be capable of inhibiting expression levels of TMEM106B mRNA by at least 60% or 70% in vitro using human SK-N-BE(2) neuroblastoma cells, which may be acquired from ATCC (CRL-2271 ). In some embodiments compounds of the invention may be capable of inhibiting expression levels of TMEM106B protein by at least 50% in vitro using human SK-N-BE(2) neuroblastoma cells. Suitably, the examples provide assays which may be used to measure TMEM106B RNA or protein inhibition. The target modulation is triggered by the hybridization between a contiguous nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide and the target nucleic acid. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide of the invention comprises mismatches between the oligonucleotide and the target nucleic acid. Despite mismatches hybridization to the target nucleic acid may still be sufficient to show a desired modulation of TMEM106B expression. Reduced binding affinity resulting from mismatches may advantageously be compensated by increased number of nucleotides in the oligonucleotide and/or an increased number of modified nucleosides capable of increasing the binding affinity to the target, such as 2’ sugar modified nucleosides, including LNA, present within the oligonucleotide sequence.

An aspect of the present invention relates to an antisense oligonucleotide which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90%

complementarity to a mammalian TMEM106B nucleic acid, for example SEQ ID NO: 1 - 6, such as SEQ ID NO: 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length, which is at least 90% complementary, such as at least 91 %, such as at least 92%, such as at least 93%, such as at least 94%, such as at least 95%, such as at least 96%, such as at least 97%, such as at least 98%, or 100% complementary with a region of the target nucleic acid or a target sequence.

In a preferred embodiment the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof is fully complementary (100% complementary) to a region of the target nucleic acid, or in some embodiments may comprise one or two mismatches between the oligonucleotide and the target nucleic acid.

In some embodiments the oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementary, such as fully (or 100%)

complementary, to a region target nucleic acid region present in SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or 2. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide sequence is 100% complementary to a corresponding target nucleic acid region present in SEQ ID NO: 1 and either SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO 5 (or both SEQ ID NO: 3 & 5). In some embodiments the oligonucleotide sequence is 100% complementary to a corresponding target nucleic acid region present SEQ ID NO: 1 , 3 and 5. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide sequence is 100% complementary to a

corresponding target nucleic acid region present in SEQ ID NO: 2 and either SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 6 (or both SEQ ID NO: 4 & 6). In some embodiments the oligonucleotide sequence is 100% complementary to a corresponding target nucleic acid region present SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 and 6.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention is at least 90% complementary, such as 100 % complementary to exon 9 of SEQ ID NO 1.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementary, such as 100% complementarity, to a corresponding target nucleic acid region present in SEQ ID NO: 1 , wherein the target nucleic acid region is selected from the group consisting of Reg. A1 to A80 in Table 5.

Table 5: Selected regions of SEQ ID NO: 1 which may be targeted using oligonucleotide of the invention

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementary, such as 100% complementarity, to a corresponding target nucleic acid region present in SEQ ID NO: 1 , wherein the target nucleic acid region is selected from the group consisting of Reg B1 to B29 in Table 6.

Table 6: Selected regions of SEQ ID NO: 2 which may be targeted using oligonucleotide of the invention

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention comprises or consists of 8 to 70 nucleotides in length, such as 10 to 60 nucleotides in length, such as 10 to 50 nucleotides in length, such as 12 to 50 nucleotides in length, such as 8 to 40 nucleotides in length, such as from 9 to 35, such as from 10 to 30, such as from 1 1 to 22, such as from 12 to 20, such as from 13 to 18 or 14 to 16 nucleotides in length.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises or consists of 10 to 35 nucleotides in length, such as from 10 to 30, such as 1 1 to 22, such as from 12 to 20, such as from 14 to 18 or 14 to 16 contiguous nucleotides in length. Advantageously, the antisense oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises or consists of 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18 nucleotides in length.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof comprises or consists of 22 or less nucleotides, such as 20 or less nucleotides, such as 18 or less nucleotides, such as 14, 15, 16 or 17 nucleotides. It is to be understood that any range given herein includes the range endpoints. Accordingly, if an oligonucleotide is said to include from 10 to 30 nucleotides, both 10 and 30 nucleotides are included.

In some embodiments, the contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises or consists of 10 to 35 nucleotides in length, such as from 10 to 30, such as 11 to 22, such as from 12 to 20, such as from 14 to 18 or 14 to 16 contiguous nucleotides in length.

In some embodiments, the contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30 contiguous nucleotides in length. It is generally understood that the oligonucleotide cannot be shorter than the contiguous nucleotide sequence.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of a sequence which is fully complementary to a target sequence RegA1 - A80 or RegB1 to B29 as provided in tables 5 and 6 respectively.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention or the contiguous nucleotide sequence there comprises at least 10 contiguous nucleotides which are at least 90% identical, such as 100% identical, to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7 to 164, such as SEQ ID NOs 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,

18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67,

68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85 and 86 (see motif sequences listed in Table 7 & 8). It is advantageous if the sequence is complementary to both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8,

9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 ,

62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 83, 84 and 85.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention or the contiguous nucleotide sequence there comprises at least 12 contiguous nucleotides which are at least 90% identical, such as 100% identical, to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7 to 164, such as SEQ ID NOs 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,

18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67,

68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85 and 86 (see motif sequences listed in Table 7 & 8). It is advantageous if the sequence is complementary to both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8,

9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 ,

62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 83, 84 and 85.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention or the contiguous nucleotide sequence there comprises at least 13 contiguous nucleotides which are at least 90% identical, such as 100% identical, to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7 to 164, such as SEQ ID NOs 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,

18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67,

68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85 and 86 (see motif sequences listed in Table 7 & 8). It is advantageous if the sequence is complementary to both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8,

9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 ,

62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 83, 84 and 85.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention or the contiguous nucleotide sequence there comprises at least 14 contiguous nucleotides which are at least 90% identical, such as 100% identical, to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7 to 164, such as SEQ ID NOs 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,

18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67,

68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85 and 86 (see motif sequences listed in Table 7 & 8). It is advantageous if the sequence is complementary to both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8,

9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 ,

62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 83, 84 and 85.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention or the contiguous nucleotide sequence there comprises at least 15 contiguous nucleotides which are at least 90% identical, such as 100% identical, to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7 to 164, such as SEQ ID NOs 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,

18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67,

68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85 and 86. It is advantageous if the sequence is complementary to both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: : 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22,

23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 76, 77, 78, 79,

80, 81 , 83, 84 and 85.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention or the contiguous nucleotide sequence there comprises at least 16 contiguous nucleotides which are at least 90% identical, such as 100% identical, to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7 to 164, such as SEQ ID NOs 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,

18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67,

68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85 and 86 (see motif sequences listed in Table 7 & 8). It is advantageous if the sequence is complementary to both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8,

9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 ,

62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 83, 84 and 85.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention or the contiguous nucleotide sequence there comprises at least 17 contiguous nucleotides which are at least 90% identical, such as 100% identical, to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65, 66, 71 , 74 and 75 (see motif sequences listed in Table 7 & 8). It is advantageous if the sequence is complementary to both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65, 66, and 71. In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises at least 10 contiguous nucleotides which are is at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 167-246, such as SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192,

193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 ,

212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230,

231 , 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241 , 242, 243, 244, 245 and 246. It is advantageous to target sequences which are present in both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173,

174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192,

193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 206, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 , 213, 214,

215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231 , 232, 236, 237,

238, 239, 240, 241 , 243, 244 and 245.

In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises at least 10 contiguous nucleotides which are is at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 247-326, such as SEQ ID NO: 247, 248, 249, 250, 251 , 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261 , 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271 , 272,

273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281 , 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291 ,

292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301 , 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310,

311 , 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320 and 321.

In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises at least 12 contiguous nucleotides which are is at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 167-246, such as SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192,

193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 ,

212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230,

231 , 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241 , 242, 243, 244, 245 and 246. It is advantageous to target sequences which are present in both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173,

174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192,

193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 206, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 , 213, 214,

215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231 , 232, 236, 237,

238, 239, 240, 241 , 243, 244 and 245. In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises at least 12 contiguous nucleotides which are is at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 247-326, such as SEQ ID NO: 247, 248, 249, 250, 251 , 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261 , 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271 , 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281 , 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291 ,

292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301 , 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310,

311 , 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320 and 321.

In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises at least 13 contiguous nucleotides which are is at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 167-246, such as SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192,

193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 ,

212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230,

231 , 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241 , 242, 243, 244, 245 and 246. It is advantageous to target sequences which are present in both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192,

193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 206, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 , 213, 214,

215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231 , 232, 236, 237,

238, 239, 240, 241 , 243, 244 and 245

In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises at least 13 contiguous nucleotides which are is at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 247-326, such as SEQ ID NO: 247, 248, 249, 250, 251 , 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261 , 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271 , 272,

273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281 , 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291 ,

292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301 , 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310,

311 , 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320 and 321.

In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises at least 14 contiguous nucleotides which are is at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 167-246, such as SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 , 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231 , 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241 , 242, 243, 244, 245 and 246. It is advantageous to target sequences which are present in both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173,

174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192,

193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 206, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 , 213, 214,

215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231 , 232, 236, 237,

238, 239, 240, 241 , 243, 244 and 245.

In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises at least 14 contiguous nucleotides which are is at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 247-326, such as SEQ ID NO: 247, 248, 249, 250, 251 , 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261 , 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271 , 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281 , 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291 ,

292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301 , 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310,

311 , 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320 and 321.

In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises at least 15 contiguous nucleotides which are is at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 167-246, such as SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192,

193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 ,

212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230,

231 , 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241 , 242, 243, 244, 245 and 246. It is advantageous to target sequences which are present in both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192,

193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 206, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 , 213, 214,

215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231 , 232, 236, 237,

238, 239, 240, 241 , 243, 244 and 245.

In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises at least 15 contiguous nucleotides which are is at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 247-326, such as SEQ ID NO: 247, 248, 249, 250, 251 , 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261 , 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271 , 272,

273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281 , 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291 , 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301 , 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310,

311 , 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320 and 321.

In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises at least 16 contiguous nucleotides which are is at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 167-246, such as SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192,

193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 ,

212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230,

231 , 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241 , 242, 243, 244, 245 and 246. It is advantageous to target sequences which are present in both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173,

174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192,

193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 206, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 , 213, 214,

215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231 , 232, 236, 237,

238, 239, 240, 241 , 243, 244 and 245.

In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, comprises at least 16 contiguous nucleotides which are is at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 247-326, such as SEQ ID NO: 247, 248, 249, 250, 251 , 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261 , 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271 , 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281 , 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291 ,

292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301 , 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310,

311 , 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320 and 321.

In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, is at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 167-246, such as SEQ ID NO:

167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185,

186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204,

205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 , 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223,

224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231 , 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241 , 242,

243, 244, 245 and 246. It is advantageous to target sequences which are present in both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 167,

168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186,

187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 206, 208, 209, 210, 211 , 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231 , 232, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241 , 243, 244 and 245.

In some embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, is at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 247-326, such as SEQ ID NO: 247, 248, 249, 250, 251 , 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261 , 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271 , 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281 , 282, 283, 284,

285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291 , 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301 , 302, 303,

304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311 , 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320 and 321.

In some embodiments of the invention the target sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 167-246, such as SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192,

193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 ,

212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230,

231 , 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241 , 242, 243, 244, 245 and 246. It is advantageous to target sequences which are present in both human and cyno, such as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192,

193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 206, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 , 213, 214,

215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231 , 232, 236, 237,

238, 239, 240, 241 , 243, 244 and 245.

In some embodiments of the invention the target sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos 247-326, such as SEQ ID NO: 247, 248, 249, 250, 251 , 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261 , 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271 , 272,

273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281 , 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291 ,

292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301 , 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310,

311 , 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320 and 321.

In some embodiment the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises at least 10 contiguous nucleotides which are fully complementary to a region of the target nucleic acid, such as a target sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 222, 225, 226, 231 , 234 and 235.

In some embodiment the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises at least 12 contiguous nucleotides which are fully complementary to a region of the target nucleic acid, such as a target sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 222, 225, 226, 231 , 234 and 235. In some embodiment the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises at least

13 contiguous nucleotides which are fully complementary to a region of the target nucleic acid, such as a target sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 222, 225, 226,

231 , 234 and 235.

In some embodiment the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises at least

14 contiguous nucleotides which are fully complementary to a region of the target nucleic acid, such as a target sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 222, 225, 226,

231 , 234 and 235.

In some embodiment the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises at least 15 contiguous nucleotides which are fully complementary to a region of the target nucleic acid, such as a target sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 222, 225, 226,

231 , 234 and 235.

In some embodiment the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises at least 16, such as at least 17, contiguous nucleotides which are fully complementary to a region of the target nucleic acid, such as a target sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 222, 225, 226, 231 , 234 and 235.

In some embodiments the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises at least 16, such as at least 17, contiguous nucleotides which are fully complementary to a region of the target nucleic acid from position 21084 to 21 101 (Region A59, Table 5), position 21214- 21231 (Region A60 Table 5), position 23806 to 23822 (Region A70 Table 5), position 24060 to 24077 (Region A68 Table 5) or position 24045 to 24098 (Region A67-A70 Table 5) of SEQ ID NO: 1.In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence which is 100% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,

21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70,

71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85 and 86, or at least 12 contiguous nucleotides thereof.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83,

84, 85 and 86, or at least 12 contiguous nucleotides thereof. In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence which is 100% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,

21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70,

71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85 and 86, or at least 12 contiguous nucleotides thereof.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID

NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 ,

82, 83, 84, 85 and 86, or at least 12 contiguous nucleotides thereof.

In some embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotide comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence which is 100% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 65, 66, 71 , 74 and 75, or at least 16 contiguous nucleotides thereof.

It is understood that the contiguous nucleobase sequences (motif sequence) can be modified to for example increase nuclease resistance and/or binding affinity to the target nucleic acid.

The pattern in which the modified nucleosides (such as high affinity modified nucleosides) are incorporated into the oligonucleotide sequence is generally termed oligonucleotide design.

The oligonucleotides of the invention are designed with modified nucleosides and DNA nucleosides. Advantageously, high affinity modified nucleosides are used.

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotide comprises at least 1 modified nucleoside, such as at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 1 1 , at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15 or at least 16 modified nucleosides. In an embodiment the oligonucleotide comprises from 1 to 10 modified nucleosides, such as from 2 to 9 modified nucleosides, such as from 3 to 8 modified nucleosides, such as from 4 to 7 modified nucleosides, such as 6 or 7 modified nucleosides. Suitable modifications are described in the“Definitions” section under“modified nucleoside”,“high affinity modified nucleosides”, “sugar modifications”,“2’ sugar modifications” and Locked nucleic acids (LNA)”.

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotide comprises one or more sugar modified nucleosides, such as 2’ sugar modified nucleosides. Preferably the oligonucleotide of the invention comprises one or more 2’ sugar modified nucleoside independently selected from the group consisting of 2’-0- alkyl-RNA, 2’-0-methyl-RNA, 2’-alkoxy-RNA, 2’-0-methoxyethyl-RNA, 2’-amino-DNA, 2’-fluoro- DNA, arabino nucleic acid (ANA), 2’-fluoro-ANA and LNA nucleosides. It is advantageous if one or more of the modified nucleoside(s) is a locked nucleic acid (LNA).

In a further embodiment the oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage. Suitable internucleoside modifications are described in the“Definitions” section under “Modified internucleoside linkage”. It is advantageous if at least 75%, such as all, the internucleoside linkages within the contiguous nucleotide sequence are phosphorothioate or boranophosphate internucleoside linkages. In some embodiments all the internucleotide linkages in the contiguous sequence of the oligonucleotide are phosphorothioate linkages.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the invention comprises at least one LNA nucleoside, such as 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 LNA nucleosides, such as from 2 to 6 LNA nucleosides, such as from 3 to 7 LNA nucleosides, 4 to 8 LNA nucleosides or 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 LNA nucleosides. In some embodiments, at least 75% of the modified nucleosides in the oligonucleotide are LNA nucleosides, such as 80%, such as 85%, such as 90% of the modified nucleosides are LNA nucleosides. In a still further embodiment all the modified nucleosides in the oligonucleotide are LNA nucleosides. In a further embodiment, the oligonucleotide may comprise both beta-D-oxy-LNA, and one or more of the following LNA nucleosides: thio-LNA, amino-LNA, oxy-LNA, ScET and/or ENA in either the beta-D or alpha-L configurations or combinations thereof. In a further embodiment, all LNA cytosine units are 5-methyl-cytosine. It is advantageous for the nuclease stability of the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence to have at least 1 LNA nucleoside at the 5’ end and at least 2 LNA nucleosides at the 3’ end of the nucleotide sequence.

In an embodiment of the invention the oligonucleotide of the invention is capable of recruiting RNase H.

In the current invention an advantageous structural design is a gapmer design as described in the“Definitions” section under for example“Gapmer”,“LNA Gapmer”,“MOE gapmer” and “Mixed Wing Gapmer”“Alternating Flank Gapmer”. The gapmer design includes gapmers with uniform flanks, mixed wing flanks, alternating flanks, and gapbreaker designs. In the present invention it is advantageous if the oligonucleotide of the invention is a gapmer with an F-G-F’ design. In some embodiments the gapmer is an LNA gapmer wherein at least one or both of regions F and F’ comprise at least one LNA unit.

In some embodiments the oligonucleotide of the invention does not comprise 6’-methyl-beta-D- oxy-LNA nucleosides. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide of the invention does not comprise 2’-0-methoxyethyl nucleosides.

In some embodiments, the LNA gapmer comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence which is 100% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48,

49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73,

74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85 and 86, or at least 12 contiguous nucleotides thereof.

In some embodiments, the LNA gapmer comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58,

59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83,

84, 85 and 86, or at least 12 contiguous nucleotides thereof.

In some embodiments, the LNA gapmer comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58,

59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83,

84, 85 and 86, or at least 13 contiguous nucleotides thereof.

In some embodiments, the LNA gapmer comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58,

59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83,

84, 85 and 86, or at least 14 contiguous nucleotides thereof.

In some embodiments, the LNA gapmer comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58,

59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83,

84, 85 and 86, or at least 15 contiguous nucleotides thereof.

In some embodiments, the LNA gapmer comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58,

59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83,

84, 85 and 86, or at least 16 contiguous nucleotides thereof. In some embodiments, the LNA gapmer comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 65, 66, 71, 74, and 75, or at least 16 contiguous nucleotides thereof

In some embodiments, the compound of the invention comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7 - 86, such as SEQ ID

NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81,

82, 83, 84, 85 and 86, wherein the designs of the sequence correspond to that listed in Table 7. In particular the flanks (F and F’) are selected from 2’-sugar modified nucleosides (M), such as LNA, cET, or MOE, and the gap constitutes a stretch of DNA (D). In gapmers with alternating flank designs the flanks of oligonucleotide is annotated as a series of integers, representing a number of 2’ sugar modified nucleosides (M) followed by a number of DNA nucleosides (D). For example a flank with a 2-2-1 motif represents 5’ [M]2-[D]2-[M] 3’ and a 1-1 -1-1-1 motif represents 5’ [M]-[D]-[M]-[D]-[M] 3’. Both flanks have a 2’ sugar modified nucleoside at the 5’ and 3’ terminal. The gap region (G), is constituted of a number of DNA nucleosides (typically between 5 and 16), located between the flanks.

In some embodiments, the compound of the invention comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of CMP ID NO: 7_1 - 86_1, such as 7_1 , 8_1, 9_1, 10_1, 11_1, 12_1, 13_1, 14_1, 15_1, 16_1, 17_1, 18_1, 19_1, 20_1, 21_1,

22 _ 1 , 23 _ 1 , 24_1 , 25_1, 26_1, 27_1, 28_1, 29_1, 30_1, 31_1, 32_1, 33_1, 34_1, 35_1, 36_1,

37 _ 1 , 38 _ 1 , 39 _ 1 , 40_1, 41_1, 42_1, 43_1, 44_1 , 45_1 , 46_1 , 47_1, 48_1, 49_1, 50_1, 51_1,

52 _ 1 , 53 _ 1 , 54 _ 1 , 55_1, 56_1, 57_1, 58_1, 59_1, 60_1, 61_1, 62_1, 63_1, 64_1, 65_1, 66_1,

67 _ 1 , 68 _ 1 , 69 _ 1 , 70_1, 71_1, 72_1, 73_1, 74_1, 75_1, 76_1, 77_1, 78_1, 79_1, 80_1, 81_1,

82_1, 83_1, 84_1, 85_1, and 86_1, wherein a capital letter is a LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter is a DNA nucleoside, LNA cytosine nucleosides are optionally 5 methyl cytosine LNA, DNA cytosine are optionally 5-methyl cytosine DNA.

In some embodiments, the compound of the invention comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of CMP-ID-NO: 7_1 - 86_1, such as 7_1 , 8_1, 9_1, 10_1, 11_1, 12_1, 13_1, 14_1, 15_1, 16_1, 17_1, 18_1, 19_1, 20_1, 21_1,

22 _ 1 , 23 _ 1 , 24_1 , 25_1, 26_1, 27_1, 28_1, 29_1, 30_1, 31_1, 32_1, 33_1, 34_1, 35_1, 36_1,

37 _ 1 , 38 _ 1 , 39 _ 1 , 40_1, 41_1, 42_1, 43_1, 44_1 , 45_1 , 46_1 , 47_1, 48_1, 49_1, 50_1, 51_1,

52 _ 1 , 53 _ 1 , 54 _ 1 , 55_1, 56_1, 57_1, 58_1, 59_1, 60_1, 61_1, 62_1, 63_1, 64_1, 65_1, 66_1,

67 _ 1 , 68 _ 1 , 69 _ 1 , 70_1, 71_1, 72_1, 73_1, 74_1, 75_1, 76_1, 77_1, 78_1, 79_1, 80_1, 81_1,

82_1, 83_1, 84_1, 85_1, and 86_1, wherein a capital letter is a LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter is a DNA nucleoside, LNA cytosine nucleosides are optionally 5 methyl cytosine LNA, DNA cytosine are optionally 5-methyl cytosine DNA, and the internucleoside linkages between all nucleosides within the contiguous nucleotide sequence are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

In some embodiments, the compound of the invention comprises or consists of a contiguous nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of CMP-ID-NO: 7_1 - 86_1, such as 7_1, 8_1, 9_1, 10_1, 11_1, 12_1, 13_1, 14_1, 15_1, 16_1, 17_1, 18_1, 19_1, 20_1 , 21_1 ,

22 _ 1 , 23 _ 1 , 24_1 , 25_1, 26_1, 27_1, 28_1, 29_1, 30_1, 31_1, 32_1, 33_1, 34_1, 35_1, 36_1,

37 _ 1 , 38 _ 1 , 39 _ 1 , 40_1, 41_1, 42_1, 43_1, 44_1 , 45_1 , 46_1 , 47_1, 48_1, 49_1, 50_1, 51_1,

52 _ 1 , 53 _ 1 , 54 _ 1 , 55_1, 56_1, 57_1, 58_1, 59_1, 60_1, 61_1, 62_1, 63_1, 64_1, 65_1, 66_1,

67 _ 1 , 68 _ 1 , 69 _ 1 , 70_1, 71_1, 72_1, 73_1, 74_1, 75_1, 76_1, 77_1, 78_1, 79_1, 80_1, 81_1,

82 _ 1 , 83 _ 1 , 84 _ 1 , 85 _ 1 , and 86 _ 1 , wherein a capital letter is a beta-D-oxy LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter is a DNA nucleoside, LNA cytosine nucleosides are 5 methyl cytosine LNA, and the internucleoside linkages between all nucleosides within the contiguous nucleotide sequence are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages, as indicated in Table 7.

In some embodiments, the compound of the invention is selected from the group of compounds of CMP-ID-NO: 7_1— 86_1 , 7_1, 8_1, 9_1, 10_1, 11_1, 12_1, 13_1, 14_1, 15_1, 16_1, 17_1,

18 _ 1 , 19 _ 1 , 20 _ 1 , 21 1 , 22 1 , 23 1 , 24_1, 25_1 , 26_1 , 27_1 , 28_1, 29_1, 30_1, 31_1, 32_1,

33 _ 1 , 34 _ 1 , 35 _ 1 , 36_1, 37_1, 38_1, 39_1, 40_1, 41_1, 42_1, 43_1, 44_1 , 45_1 , 46_1 , 47_1,

48 _ 1 , 49 _ 1 , 50 _ 1 , 51_1, 52_1, 53_1, 54_1, 55_1, 56_1, 57_1, 58_1, 59_1, 60_1, 61_1, 62_1,

63 _ 1 , 64 _ 1 , 65 _ 1 , 66_1, 67_1, 68_1, 69_1, 70_1, 71_1, 72_1, 73_1, 74_1, 75_1, 76_1, 77_1,

78 _ 1 , 79 _ 1 , 80 _ 1 , 81 _ 1 , 82 _ 1 , 83 _ 1 , 84 _ 1 , 85 _ 1 , and 86 _ 1 , wherein a capital letter is a LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter is a DNA nucleoside, LNA cytosine nucleosides are optionally 5 methyl cytosine LNA, DNA cytosine are optionally 5-methyl cytosine DNA, and the

internucleoside linkages between DNA nucleosides are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

In some embodiments, the compound of the invention is selected from the group of compounds, ATGTttatcaccaaAATT (SEQ ID NO: 65, CMP ID NO: 65_1)

CTGAaatactaccaTATA (SEQ ID NO: 66, CMP ID NO: 66_1)

TTTAatcataccaATCT (SEQ ID NO: 71, CMP ID NO: 71_1)

TTCTtatttcaaatCTCA (SEQ ID NO: 74, CMP ID NO: 74_1)

TCTTatttcaaatCTCA (SEQ ID NO: 75, CMP ID NO: _1)

wherein a capital letter is a LNA nucleoside, such as a beta-D-oxy-LNA, a lower case letter is a DNA nucleoside, LNA cytosine nucleosides are optionally 5 methyl cytosine LNA, DNA cytosine nucleosides are optionally 5-methyl cytosine DNA, the internucleoside linkages between DNA nucleosides are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In some embodiments, the compound of the invention is selected from the group of compounds of CMP-ID-NO: 7_1 - 86_1 , wherein a capital letter is a LNA nucleoside, a lower case letter is a DNA nucleoside, LNA cytosine nucleosides are optionally 5 methyl cytosine LNA, DNA cytosine are optionally 5-methyl cytosine DNA, and all the internucleoside linkages the nucleosides are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

Advantageously, the compound of the invention is in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

In a further embodiment of the invention the oligonucleotide may comprise at least one stereodefined internucleoside linkages, such as a stereodefined phosphorothioate

internucleoside linkage. An advantage of generating stereodefined oligonucleotide variants is the ability to increase the diversity across a sequence motif, and select stereodefined oligonucleotides including sub-libraries of stereodefined oligonucleotides, which have improved medicinal chemical properties as compared to a non stereodefined oligonucleotide.

The invention provides a conjugate comprising the oligonucleotide or antisense oligonucleotide according to the invention, and at least one conjugate moiety covalently attached to said oligonucleotide. In some embodiments the conjugate moiety is a conjugate that facilitates delivery across the blood brain barrier, such as an antibody or antibody fragment targeting the transferrin receptor.

The invention provides a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the oligonucleotide or antisense oligonucleotide, or the conjugate, of the invention.

In some embodiments the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the invention does not comprise 10 or more contiguous nucleotides present in the sequence GATCAGAGATTAAGGCCAA (SEQ ID NO 322). In some embodiments the contiguous nucleotide sequence of the invention does not comprise 10 or more contiguous nucleotides present in the sequence

GCAGATTGATTATACGGTA (SEQ ID NO 323) or GT G G AAG GAACACG ACTT A (SEQ ID NO 324).

Method of manufacture

In a further aspect, the invention provides methods for manufacturing the oligonucleotides of the invention comprising reacting nucleotide units and thereby forming covalently linked contiguous nucleotide units comprised in the oligonucleotide. Preferably, the method uses phosphoramidite chemistry (see for example Caruthers et al, 1987, Methods in Enzymology vol. 154, pages 287- 313). In a further embodiment the method further comprises reacting the contiguous nucleotide sequence with a conjugating moiety (ligand) to covalently attach the conjugate moiety to the oligonucleotide. In a further aspect a method is provided for manufacturing the composition of the invention, comprising mixing the oligonucleotide or conjugated oligonucleotide of the invention with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, solvent, carrier, salt and/or adjuvant.

Pharmaceutical salt

The compounds according to the present invention may exist in the form of their

pharmaceutically acceptable salts. The term“pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to conventional acid-addition salts or base-addition salts that retain the biological effectiveness and properties of the compounds of the present invention and are formed from suitable non- toxic organic or inorganic acids or organic or inorganic bases. Acid-addition salts include for example those derived from inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphoric acid and nitric acid, and those derived from organic acids such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, methanesulfonic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, fumaric acid, and the like. Base-addition salts include those derived from ammonium, potassium, sodium and, quaternary ammonium hydroxides, such as for example, tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide. The chemical modification of a pharmaceutical compound into a salt is a technique well known to pharmaceutical chemists in order to obtain improved physical and chemical stability, hygroscopicity, flowability and solubility of compounds. It is for example described in Bastin, Organic Process Research & Development 2000, 4, 427-435 or in Ansel, In: Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems, 6th ed. (1995), pp. 196 and 1456-1457. For example, the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compounds provided herein may be a sodium salt.

In a further aspect the invention provides a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the antisense oligonucleotide or a conjugate thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is a sodium or a potassium salt.

Pharmaceutical Composition

In a further aspect, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising any of the aforementioned oligonucleotides and/or oligonucleotide conjugates or salts thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, salt and/or adjuvant. A pharmaceutically acceptable diluent includes phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, sodium and potassium salts. In some embodiments the pharmaceutically acceptable diluent is sterile phosphate buffered saline. In some embodiments the oligonucleotide is used in the pharmaceutically acceptable diluent at a concentration of 50 - 300mM solution.

Suitable formulations for use in the present invention are found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., 17th ed., 1985. For a brief review of methods for drug delivery, see, e.g., Langer (Science 249:1527-1533, 1990). WO 2007/031091 provides further suitable and preferred examples of pharmaceutically acceptable diluents, carriers and adjuvants (hereby incorporated by reference). Suitable dosages, formulations, administration routes, compositions, dosage forms, combinations with other therapeutic agents, pro-drug formulations are also provided in W02007/031091.

Oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide conjugates of the invention may be mixed with

pharmaceutically acceptable active or inert substances for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions or formulations. Compositions and methods for the formulation of pharmaceutical compositions are dependent upon a number of criteria, including, but not limited to, route of administration, extent of disease, or dose to be administered.

These compositions may be sterilized by conventional sterilization techniques, or may be sterile filtered. The resulting aqueous solutions may be packaged for use as is, or lyophilized, the lyophilized preparation being combined with a sterile aqueous carrier prior to administration.

The pH of the preparations typically will be between 3 and 11 , more preferably between 5 and 9 or between 6 and 8, and most preferably between 7 and 8, such as 7 to 7.5. The resulting compositions in solid form may be packaged in multiple single dose units, each containing a fixed amount of the above-mentioned agent or agents, such as in a sealed package of tablets or capsules. The composition in solid form can also be packaged in a container for a flexible quantity, such as in a squeezable tube designed for a topically applicable cream or ointment.

In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugate of the invention is a prodrug. In particular with respect to oligonucleotide conjugates the conjugate moiety is cleaved of the oligonucleotide once the prodrug is delivered to the site of action, e.g. the target cell.

Applications

The oligonucleotides of the invention may be utilized as research reagents for, for example, diagnostics, therapeutics and prophylaxis.

In research, such oligonucleotides may be used to specifically modulate the synthesis of TMEM106B protein in cells (e.g. in vitro cell cultures) and experimental animals thereby facilitating functional analysis of the target or an appraisal of its usefulness as a target for therapeutic intervention. Typically the target modulation is achieved by degrading or inhibiting the mRNA producing the protein, thereby prevent protein formation or by degrading or inhibiting a modulator of the gene or mRNA producing the protein.

If employing the oligonucleotide of the invention in research or diagnostics the target nucleic acid may be a cDNA or a synthetic nucleic acid derived from DNA or RNA. The present invention provides an in vivo or in vitro method for modulating TMEM106B expression in a target cell which is expressing TMEM106B, said method comprising

administering an oligonucleotide of the invention in an effective amount to said cell.

In some embodiments the target cell is a neuronal cell. In some embodiments the target cell is a microglial cell.

In some embodiments, the target cell, is a mammalian cell in particular a human cell. The target cell may be an in vitro cell culture or an in vivo cell forming part of a tissue in a mammal. In preferred embodiments the target cell is present in the CNS, such as the brain, such as in the frontal temporal lobes.

In some embodiments the target cell is a CNS cell, a brain cell, a frontal cortex cell or a frontal temporal lobe cell.

In some embodiments the target cell is a cell which is present in the thalamus, hippocampus, striatum, retina, or spinal cord.

In some embodiments the target cell is a thalamus cell, a hippocampus cell, a striatum cell, a retina cell, or a spinal cord cell.

It will be understood that for in vitro use, such as for evaluation of TMEM106B expression or inhibition thereof, or targeting, in a cell, such as a target cell, the cell may be isolated from the tissue or may be derived from the tissue (e.g. an established or immortalized cell line), such as CNS tissue, brain tissue, frontal cortex, frontal temporal lobe tissue, thalamus tissue, hippocampus tissue, striatum tissue, retinal tissue, or spinal cord tissue. Cells which are isolated from the target tissue are referred to as primary cells.

In diagnostics the oligonucleotides may be used to detect and quantitate TMEM106B expression in cell and tissues by northern blotting, in-situ hybridisation or similar techniques.

For therapeutics, the oligonucleotides may be administered to an animal or a human, suspected of having a disease or disorder, which can be treated by modulating the expression of

TMEM106B.

The invention provides methods for treating or preventing a disease, comprising administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an oligonucleotide, an oligonucleotide conjugate or a pharmaceutical composition of the invention to a subject suffering from or susceptible to the disease.

The invention also relates to an oligonucleotide, a composition or a conjugate as defined herein for use as a medicament. The oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention is typically administered in an effective amount.

The invention also provides for the use of the oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide conjugate of the invention as described for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a disorder as referred to herein, or for a method of the treatment of as a disorder as referred to herein.

The disease or disorder, as referred to herein, is associated with expression of TMEM106B. In some embodiments disease or disorder may be associated with a mutation in the TMEM106B gene or a gene whose protein product is associated with or interacts with TMEM106B.

Therefore, in some embodiments, the target nucleic acid is a mutated form of the TMEM106B sequence and in other embodiments, the target nucleic acid is a regulator of the TMEM106B sequence.

The methods of the invention are preferably employed for treatment or prophylaxis against diseases caused by abnormal levels and/or activity of TMEM106B.

The invention further relates to use of an oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or a pharmaceutical composition as defined herein for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of abnormal levels and/or activity of TMEM106B.

In some aspects, the invention relates to oligonucleotides, oligonucleotide conjugates or pharmaceutical compositions of the invention, for use in the treatment of diseases or disorders selected from neurodegeneration, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Parkinson’s disease (or parkinsonism), hypomyelinating leukodystrophies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, motor neuron disease, corticobasal syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL).

In some embodiments the compounds of the invention are used for the treatment of age associated changes in frontal cortex.

In one aspect, the invention relates to oligonucleotides, oligonucleotide conjugates or pharmaceutical compositions, of the invention, for use in the treatment of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). The oligonucleotides, oligonucleotide conjugates or pharmaceutical compositions may be advantageous in the treatment of FTLD characterized by intranuclear and/or cytoplasmic accumulations of ubiquitinated proteins (FTLD-U), in particular FTDL-TDP which is characterized by the presence of ubiquitinated TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) accumulations in frontal and temporal brain regions and in other TDP-43 proteinopathies. Administration

The oligonucleotides or pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be administered via parenteral (such as, intravenous, subcutaneous, intra-muscular, intracerebral, intracerebroventricular intraocular, or intrathecal administration).

In some embodiments, the administration is via intrathecal administration.

Advantageously, e.g. for treatment of neurological disorders, the oligonucleotide or

pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are administered intrathecally or intracranially, e.g. via intracerebral or intraventricular administration.

The invention also provides for the use of the oligonucleotide or conjugate thereof, such as pharmaceutical salts or compositions of the invention, for the manufacture of a medicament wherein the medicament is in a dosage form for subcutaneous administration.

The invention also provides for the use of the oligonucleotide of the invention, or conjugate thereof, such as pharmaceutical salts or compositions of the invention, for the manufacture of a medicament wherein the medicament is in a dosage form for intrathecal administration.

Combination therapies

In some embodiments the oligonucleotide, oligonucleotide conjugate or pharmaceutical composition of the invention is for use in a combination treatment with another therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent can for example be the standard of care for the diseases or disorders described above.

EMBODIMENTS

1. An oligonucleotide targeting TMEM106B, which comprises a contiguous nucleotide

sequence of 10 - 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary, to a mammalian TMEM106B target nucleic acid.

2. The oligonucleotide according to embodiment 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide is capable of reducing the expression of the mammalian TMEM106B target nucleic acid in a cell.

3. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 2, wherein the oligonucleotide is a therapeutic oligonucleotide.

4. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiment 1 to 3, wherein the mammalian TMEM106B target nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 , 2, 3,

4, 5 and 6, or a naturally occurring variant thereof.

5. The oligonucleotide according to embodiment 4, wherein the naturally occurring variant is selected from the polymorphisms listed in Table 4. 6. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1 to 5, wherein the target nucleic acid is RNA.

7. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 6, wherein the RNA is mRNA.

8. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 7, wherein the mRNA is pre-RNA or mature RNA

9. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence, comprises at least 10 contiguous nucleotides, which are at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary, to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197,

198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211 , 212, 213, 214, 215,

216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231 , 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241 , 242, 243, 244, 245 and 246, or a group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 247, 248, 249, 250, 251 , 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261 , 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271 , 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280,

281 , 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291 , 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298,

299, 300, 301 , 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311 , 312, 313, 314, 315, 316,

317, 318, 319, 320 and 321.

10. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiment 1 to 9, wherein the

oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence is fully complementary to SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or 2, or a naturally occurring variant thereof.

1 1. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises at least 10 contiguous nucleotides which are at least 90% complementary, such as is fully complementary, to a region of SEQ ID NO 1 , wherein the regions is selected from the group consisting of position 546 - 563; 2122 - 2140; 2143 - 2160; 2165 - 2183; 2300 - 2317; 2392 - 2410; 2548 - 2565; 3507 - 3524; 3678 - 3694;

3736 - 3753; 3752 - 3767; 3802 - 3819; 3908 - 3925; 3908 - 6417; 4321 - 4337; 4701 - 4720;

4948 - 4965; 5063 - 5080; 5069 - 5086; 5172 - 5190; 5512 - 5530; 5583 - 5599; 6015- 6047;

6015 - 6032; 6032 - 6047; 6125-6154; 6125 - 6140; 6136 - 6154; 6172 - 6189; 6200-6231 ;

6200 - 6216; 6214 - 6231 ; 6401 - 6417; 6458 - 6476; 6837 - 6853; 8453 - 8472; 8983 - 9001 ;

9533 - 9549; 9628 - 9644; 11065 - 11083; 11 117 - 11134; 1 1264 - 11281 ; 12310 - 12325; 12870 - 12887; 13050 - 13065; 13397 - 13414; 15061 - 15079; 15249 - 15266; 15318 - 15336; 15368 - 15385; 15440 - 15457; 15632 - 15649; 15823 - 15842; 16496 - 16513; 19090 - 19109; 19198 - 19217; 1921 1 - 19228; 19699 - 19718; 20217-20243; 20217 - 20236; 20227 - 20243; 20755 - 26403; 20767 - 20786; 20880 - 20896; 21084 - 21101 ; 21214 - 21231 ; 21425 - 21442; 22110 - 25406; 221 10 - 22128; 23374 - 23393; 23435 - 23452; 23806 - 23822; 23874 - 23890; 24045 -24098; 24045 - 24063; 24060 - 24077; 24060 - 24076; 24064 - 24083; 24081 - 24098; 24045-24098; 24801 - 24828; 24801 - 24819; 24812 - 24828; 25050 - 25067; 25372 - 25387; 25392 - 25406; 25773 - 25790; 25796 - 25814; 25969 - 25985; and 29351 - 29367 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

12. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 11 , wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence, comprises at least 10 contiguous nucleotides, which are at least 90% complementary to, such as fully complementary, to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178,

179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192, 193, 194, 195, 196,

197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211 , 212, 213, 214,

215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231 , 232,

233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241 , 242, 243, 244, 245 and 246.

13. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiment 1 to 12, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence is complementary, such as fully complementary, to SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 3, or a naturally occurring variants thereof.

14. The oligonucleotide according to embodiment 13, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence, comprises at least 10 contiguous nucleotides, which are at least 90%

complementary to, such as fully complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179,

180, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197,

198, 199, 200, 201 , 202, 203, 204, 206, 208, 209, 210, 211 , 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218,

219, 220, 221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231 , 232, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240,

241 , 243, 244 and 245.

15. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 14, which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length with at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary, to the 3’UTR of a mammalian TMEM106B target nucleic acid.

16. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 15, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence of at least 10 nucleotides in length has at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary to the sequence from position 20227 to 26403 or from position 20227 to 24077 of SEQ ID NO 1.

17. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 16, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence is at least 90% complementary, such as fully

complementary, to position 20755 to 26403 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

18. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 17, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence of at least 10 nucleotides in length, has at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary, to the sequence from position 21084 to 21231 , such as from position 21084 to 21213 of SEQ ID NO 1.

19. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 17, wherein, the

contiguous nucleotide sequence of at least 10 nucleotides in length, has at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary, to position 22110 to 25406 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

20. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 17, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence of at least 10 nucleotides in length has at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary, to the sequence from position 23086 to 24077 of SEQ ID NO 1.

21. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 17, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence of at least 10 nucleotides in length has at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary to the sequence from position 20227 to 20243 of SEQ ID NO 1.

22. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 17, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence of at least 10 nucleotides in length has at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary to the sequence from position 20227 to 26403 of SEQ ID NO 1.

23. The invention provides an oligonucleotide targeting TMEM106B, which comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence of at least 10 nucleotides in length has at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary to the sequence from position 24045 to 24098, of SEQ ID NO 1.

24. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 17, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence of at least 10 nucleotides in length has at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary to a region selected from the group consisting of position 221 10 - 22128, 24045 - 24063, 24060 - 24077, 24812 - 24828, and 25392- 25406 of SEQ ID NO 1.

25. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 14, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence of at least 10 nucleotides in length has at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary to position from 3908 - 6417 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

26. The oligonucleotide according to embodiment 25, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence of at least 10 nucleotides in length, has at least 90% complementary, such as fully complementary to a region selected from the group consisting of position 3908 - 3925, 6136 - 6154, 5172 - 5190, 6200 - 6216, and 6401- 6417 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 27. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 - 26, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is fully complementary to SEQ ID NO: 1 or to one of the SEQ ID NO’s listed in embodiment 12 or 14.

28. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 27, wherein the

oligonucleotide is capable of hybridizing with a ΔG° below -10 kcal to a target nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 or to a target sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 167, 168, 169, 170, 171 , 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 182, 183, 184,

185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 , 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 , 202,

203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 21 1 , 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220,

221 , 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231 , 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238,

239, 240, 241 , 242, 243, 244, 245 and 246.

29. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 28, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises at least 10 contiguous, such as at least 12 or at least 14 contiguous nucleotides present in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28,

29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 52,

53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76,

77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85, 86,.

30. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 29, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises at least 10 contiguous nucleotides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22,

23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51 , 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71 , 72, 76, 77,

78, 79, 80, 81 , 83, 84 and 85.

31. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises at least 10 contiguous nucleotides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 87, 88, 89, 90, 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100,

101 , 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 1 11 , 1 12, 1 13, 114, 1 15, 1 16, 1 17, 1 18,

119, 120, 121 , 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131 , 132, 133, 134, 135, 136,

137, 138, 139, 140, 141 , 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151 , 152, 153, 154,

155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160 and 161.

32. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 31 , wherein the

oligonucleotide is shorter than 60 nucleotides in length, such as shorter than 50 nucleotides in length, such as between 10 and 60 or 10 and 50 nucleotides in length. 33. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 1-32, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of at least 10 contiguous nucleotides, particularly 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15,

16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, or 29 contiguous nucleotides.

34. The oligonucleotide according embodiment 33, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is at least 12 nucleotides in length, such as at least 14 nucleotides in length which are fully complementary to SEQ ID NO 1 or to one of the SEQ ID NO’s listed in embodiment 12 or 14.

35. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 32, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of from 12 to 22 nucleotides.

36. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 35, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises or consists of from 14-20 nucleotides.

37. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 36, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence has zero to three mismatches compared to the target nucleic acid it is complementary to.

38. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 37, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence has one mismatch compared to the target nucleic acid.

39. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 37, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence has two mismatches compared to the target nucleic acid.

40. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 37, wherein the contiguous nucleotide sequence is fully complementary to the target nucleic acid sequence.

41. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 40, wherein the

oligonucleotide comprises one or more 2’ sugar modified nucleosides.

42. The oligonucleotide according to embodiment 41 , wherein the one or more 2’-sugar modified nucleosides are independently selected from the group consisting of 2’-0-alkyl- RNA, 2’-0-methyl-RNA, 2’-alkoxy-RNA, 2’-0-methoxyethyl-RNA, 2’-amino-DNA, 2’-fluoro- DNA, arabino nucleic acid (ANA), 2’-fluoro-ANA and LNA nucleosides.

43. The oligonucleotide according to embodiment 42, wherein at least one of the one or more 2’-sugar modified nucleosides is a LNA nucleoside.

44. The oligonucleotide according to embodiment 43, wherein the modified LNA nucleoside is selected from oxy-LNA, amino-LNA, thio-LNA, cET, and ENA.

45. The oligonucleotide according to embodiment 43 or 44, wherein the modified LNA

nucleoside is oxy-LNA with the following 2’-4’ bridge -O-CH2-. 46. The oligonucleotide according to embodiment 45, wherein the oxy-LNA is beta-D-oxy- LNA.

47. The oligonucleotide according to embodiment 43 or 44, wherein the modified LNA

nucleoside is cET with the following 2’-4’ bridge -O-CH(CH3)-.

48. The oligonucleotide according to embodiment 47, wherein the cET is (S)cET, i.e.

6’(S)methyl-beta-D-oxy-LNA.

49. The oligonucleotide according to embodiment 43 or 44, wherein the LNA is ENA, with the following 2’ - 4’ bridge -O-CH2-CH2-.

50. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 - 49, wherein the

contiguous nucleotide sequence comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage.

51. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 - 50, wherein the

continuous nucleotide sequence comprises at least one phosphorothioate modified internucleoside linkage.

52. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 51 , wherein the

oligonucleotide is a siRNA or shRNA or forms the guide strand of a siRNA or shRNA complex.

53. The oligonucleotide according to embodiments 52, wherein the oligonucleotide is a double stranded siRNA oligonucleotide or shRNA oligonucleotide capable of interacting with the RISC complex.

54. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 51 , where the

oligonucleotide is an antisense oligonucleotide.

55. The antisense oligonucleotide according to embodiment 54, wherein the oligonucleotide is single stranded.

56. The oligonucleotide according to embodiments 54 or 55, wherein at least 75% or all of the internucleoside linkages between the nucleosides of the contiguous nucleotide sequence are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

57. The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 54 to 56, wherein the oligonucleotide is capable of recruiting RNase H1.

58. The antisense oligonucleotide according to embodiment 57, wherein oligonucleotide is an antisense oligonucleotide gapmer.

59. The antisense oligonucleotide according to embodiment 57 or 58, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide, or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, consists or comprises a gapmer of formula 5’-F-G-F’-3’, where region F and F’ independently comprise 1 - 8 nucleosides, of which 1-5 independently are 2’ sugar modified and defines the 5’ and 3’ end of the F and F’ region, and G is a region between 5 and 18 nucleosides which are capable of recruiting RNaseH, such as a region comprising 5 - 18 DNA nucleosides.

60. The antisense oligonucleotide of embodiment 59, wherein the 2’ sugar modified

nucleoside independently is selected from the group consisting of 2’-0-alkyl-RNA, 2’-0- methyl-RNA, 2’-alkoxy-RNA, 2’-0-methoxyethyl-RNA, 2’-amino-DNA, 2’-fluoro-DNA, arabino nucleic acid (ANA), 2’-fluoro-ANA and LNA nucleosides.

61. The antisense oligonucleotide of embodiment 59 or 60, wherein one or more of the 2’ sugar modified nucleosides in region F and F’ is a LNA nucleoside

62. The antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 60 or 61 , wherein the LNA nucleoside is selected from beta-D-oxy-LNA, alpha-L-oxy-LNA, beta-D-amino-LNA, alpha-L-amino-LNA, beta-D-thio-LNA, alpha-L-thio-LNA, (S)cET, (R)cET beta-D-ENA and alpha-L-ENA.

63. The antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 54 to 62, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of a LNA gapmer, a mixed wing gapmer and an alternating flank gapmer.

64. The oligonucleotide of embodiment 59 - 63, wherein

a. the F region is between 1 and 5 nucleotides in length and consists of 1-4 identical LNA nucleosides and 0-2 DNA nucleosides; and

b. the F’ region is between 2 and 5 nucleotides in length and consists of 2-4 identical LNA nucleosides and 0-2 DNA nucleosides; and

c. region G is between 8 and 16 DNA nucleotides.

65. The antisense oligonucleotide of embodiment 59 to 62, wherein region F and F’ consist of identical LNA nucleosides.

66. The antisense oligonucleotide of embodiment 59 to 62, wherein all the 2’ sugar modified nucleosides in region F and F’ are oxy-LNA nucleosides.

67. The antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 54 to 60, wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is 2’-MOE gapmer.

68. The antisense oligonucleotide of any one of embodiments 54 to 67, wherein the

nucleosides in region G is DNA and/or alpha-L-LNA nucleosides.

69. The antisense oligonucleotide of embodiment 68, wherein region G consists of at least 75% DNA nucleosides. The antisense oligonucleotide of embodiment 69, where all the nucleosides in region G are DNA nucleosides.

The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 - 51 or 54 to 70, wherein the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, is selected from the motif sequences in combination with the indicated designs as listed in Table 7.

The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 - 51 or 54 to 71 , wherein the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, is selected from the group consisting of CMP ID NO: 7_1, 8_1, 9_1, 10_1, 11_1, 12_1, 13_1, 14_1, 15_1, 16_1, 17_1,

18 _ 1 , 19 _ 1 , 20 _ 1 , 21 _ 1 , 22 _ 1 , 23 _ 1 , 24_1, 25_1, 26_1, 27_1 , 28_1 , 29_1, 30_1, 31_1,

32 _ 1 , 33 _ 1 , 34 _ 1 , 35_1, 36_1, 37_1, 38_1, 39_1, 40_1, 41_1, 42_1, 43_1, 44_1, 45_1,

46 _ 1 , 47_1 , 48 _ 1 , 49_1, 50_1, 51_1, 52_1, 53_1, 54_1, 55_1, 56_1, 57_1, 58_1, 59_1,

60 _ 1 , 61 _ 1 , 62 _ 1 , 63 _ 1 , 64_1, 65_1, 66_1, 67_1, 68_1, 69_1, 70_1, 71_1, 72_1, 73_1,

74_1, 75 _ 1 , 76 _ 1 , 77_1, 78_1, 79_1, 80_1, 81_1, 82_1, 83_1, 84_1, 85_1, 86_1, 87_1,

88 _ 1 , 89 _ 1 , 90 _ 1 , 91_1, 92_1, 93_1, 94_1, 95_1, 96_1, 97_1, 98_1, 99_1, 100_1, 101_1,

102_1 , 103 1 , 104_1 , 105_1, 106_1, 107_1, 108_1, 109_1, 110_1 , 111_1, 112_1, 113_1 ,

114_1 , 115_1 , 116_1 , 117_1, 118_1 , 119_1 , 120_1, 121_1, 122_1, 123_1, 124_1, 125_1,

126 _ 1 , 127 _ 1 , 128 _ 1 , 129_1, 130_1, 131_1, 132_1, 133_1, 134_1, 135_1, 136_1, 137_1,

138 _ 1 , 139 _ 1 , 140_1 , 141_1, 142_1, 143_1, 144_1, 145_1, 146_1, 147_1, 148_1, 149_1,

150 _ 1 , 151 _ 1 , 152_1 , 153_1, 154_1, 155_1, 156_1, 157_1, 158_1, 159_1, 160_1and 161_1 as listed in Table 7.

The oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 - 51 or 54 to 72, wherein the oligonucleotide or contiguous nucleotide sequence thereof, is selected from the group consisting of:

ATGTttatcaccaaAATT (SEQ ID NO: 65, CMP ID NO: 65_1)

CTGAaatactaccaTATA (SEQ ID NO: 66, CMP ID NO: 66_1)

TTTAatcataccaATCT (SEQ ID NO: 71, CMP ID NO: 71_1)

TTCTtatttcaaatCTCA (SEQ ID NO: 74, CMP ID NO: 74_1)

TCTTatttcaaatCTCA (SEQ ID NO: 75, CMP ID NO: _1)

wherein a capital letter is a LNA nucleoside, such as a beta-D-oxy-LNA, a lower case letter is a DNA nucleoside, LNA cytosine nucleosides are optionally 5 methyl cytosine LNA, DNA cytosine nucleosides are optionally 5-methyl cytosine DNA, the internucleoside linkages between DNA nucleosides are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages

A conjugate comprising the oligonucleotide or antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 - 73, and at least one conjugate moiety covalently attached to said oligonucleotide. 75. The oligonucleotide conjugate according to embodiment 74, wherein the conjugate moiety is selected from carbohydrates, cell surface receptor ligands, drug substances, hormones, lipophilic substances, polymers, proteins, peptides, toxins, vitamins, viral proteins or combinations thereof.

76. The oligonucleotide conjugate according to embodiment 74 or 75, wherein the conjugate facilitates delivery across the blood brain barrier.

77. The oligonucleotide conjugate according to embodiment 76, wherein the conjugate is an antibody or antibody fragment targeting the transferrin receptor.

78. A pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the oligonucleotide or antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 - 72, or the conjugate according to embodiment 74 - 77.

79. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the oligonucleotide or antisense

oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 - 72 or the conjugate according to embodiment 74 -77 and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, solvent, carrier, salt and/or adjuvant.

80. An in vitro or in vivo method for modulating TMEM106B expression in a target cell which is expressing TMEM106B, said method comprising administering an oligonucleotide or antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 - 72, conjugate according to embodiment 74 -77, or the pharmaceutical salt according to embodiment 78 , or pharmaceutical composition according to embodiment 79 in an effective amount to said cell.

81. A method for treating or preventing a disease comprising administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an oligonucleotide or antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1 - 72, conjugate according to embodiment 74 -77, or the pharmaceutical salt according to embodiment 78, or pharmaceutical composition according to embodiment 79, to a subject suffering from or susceptible to the disease.

82. The oligonucleotide or antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1

- 72, conjugate according to embodiment 74 -77, or the pharmaceutical salt according to embodiment 78, or pharmaceutical composition according to embodiment 79 for use in medicine for treatment or prevention of a disease in a subject.

83. The oligonucleotide or antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of embodiments 1

- 72, conjugate according to embodiment 74 -77, or the pharmaceutical salt according to embodiment 78, or pharmaceutical composition according to embodiment 79 for use in the treatment or prevention of a disease selected from the group consisting of

neurodegeneration, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Parkinson’s disease (or parkinsonism), hypomyelinating leukodystrophies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, motor neuron disease, corticobasal syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL).

84. Use of the oligonucleotide or antisense oligonucleotide according to any one of

embodiments 1 - 72, conjugate according to embodiment 74 -77, or the pharmaceutical salt according to embodiment 78, or pharmaceutical composition according to embodiment 79, for the preparation of a medicament for treatment or prevention of a disease.

85. The oligonucleotide for use, or the use or the method according to any one of

embodiments 81 to 84, wherein the disease is associated with overexpression of TMEM106B and/or abnormal levels of TMEM106B.

86. The oligonucleotide for use, or the use or the method according to any one of

embodiments 81 to 84, wherein the treatment reduces TMEM106B mRNA levels in the frontal cortex to normal levels.

87. The oligonucleotide for use, or the use or the method according to any one of

embodiments 81 to 84, wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of neurodegeneration, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Parkinson’s disease (or parkinsonism), hypomyelinating leukodystrophies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, motor neuron disease, corticobasal syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL).

88. The oligonucleotide for use, or the use or the method according to any one of claims 81 to 87, wherein the disease is frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD).

89. The oligonucleotide for use, or the use or the method according to any one of claims 81 to 84 to 88, wherein the subject is a mammal.

90. The oligonucleotide for use, or the use or the method according to embodiment 89, wherein the mammal is human.

EXAMPLES

Materials and methods

Oligonucleotide compounds and motif sequences

Table 7 Compound List

List of oligonucleotide motif sequences (indicated by SEQ ID NO), designs of these, as well as specific oligonucleotide compounds (indicated by CMP ID NO) designed based on the motif sequence. In the examples, the compounds used have the following structure - Captial letters represents beta-D-oxy LNA nucleosides; all LNA cytosines are 5-methyl cytosine; lower case letters represent DNA nucleosides; all internucleoside linkages are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

Motif sequences represent the contiguous sequence of nucleobases present in the oligonucleotide.

Designs refer to the oligonucleotide design, e.g. gapmer design, F-G-F’. In classic gapmer design e.g. 3- 10-3 all the nucleotides in the flanks (F and F’) are constituted of the same 2’-sugar modified nucleoside, e.g. LNA, cET, or MOE, and a stretch of DNA in the middle forming the gap (G). In gapmers with alternating flank designs the flanks of oligonucleotide is annotated as a series of integers, representing a number of 2’ sugar modified nucleosides (M) followed by a number of DNA nucleosides (D). For example a flank with a 2-2-1 motif represents 5’ [M]2-[D]2-[M] 3’ and a 1-1 -1-1-1 motif represents 5’ [M]-[D]-[M]-[D]- [M] 3’. Both flanks have a 2’ sugar modified nucleoside at the 5’ and 3’ terminal. The gap region (G), is constituted of a number of DNA nucleosides (typically between 5 and 16), located between the flanks. Oligonucleotide compounds represent specific designs of a motif sequence. Capital letters represent beta- D-oxy LNA nucleosides, lowercase letters represent DNA nucleosides, all LNA C are 5-methyl cytosine, all internucleoside linkages are phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages.

Table 8: Motif List

List of oligonucleotide motif sequences (indicated by SEQ ID NO), of the compounds used in the examples, and their target sequence and location on their nucleic acid target /target sequence (SEQ ID NO 1 - 6), as indicated. Motif sequences represent the contiguous sequence of nucleobases present in the oligonucleotide in the 5’ to 3’ direction. The RNA target sequence is the complementary sequence of the motif sequence, also in the i 5’ to 3’ direction.

‘Corresponds to ASO ID 569721 and 569720 in Burel et al 2016 Nucleic Acid Res 44(5); 2093-109 - they be used as positive controls for hepatotoxicity.

Oligonucleotide synthesis

Oligonucleotide synthesis is generally known in the art. Below is a protocol which may be applied. The oligonucleotides of the present invention may have been produced by slightly varying methods in terms of apparatus, support and concentrations used.

Oligonucleotides are synthesized on uridine universal supports using the phosphoramidite approach on an Oligomaker 48 at 1 pmol scale. At the end of the synthesis, the oligonucleotides are cleaved from the solid support using aqueous ammonia for 5-16hours at 60°C. The oligonucleotides are purified by reverse phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) or by solid phase extractions and characterized by UPLC, and the molecular mass is further confirmed by ESI-MS.

Elongation of the oligonucleotide:

The coupling of b-cyanoethyl- phosphoramidites (DNA-A(Bz), DNA- G(ibu), DNA- C(Bz), DNA- T, LNA-5-methyl-C(Bz), LNA-A(Bz), LNA- G(dmf), or LNA-T) is performed by using a solution of 0.1 M of the 5’-0-DMT-protected amidite in acetonitrile and DCI (4,5-dicyanoimidazole) in acetonitrile (0.25 M) as activator. For the final cycle a phosphoramidite with desired

modifications can be used, e.g. a C6 linker for attaching a conjugate group or a conjugate group as such. Thiolation for introduction of phosphorthioate linkages is carried out by using xanthane hydride (0.01 M in acetonitrile/pyridine 9:1 ). Phosphordiester linkages can be introduced using 0.02 M iodine in THF/Pyridine/water 7:2:1. The rest of the reagents are the ones typically used for oligonucleotide synthesis.

For post solid phase synthesis conjugation a commercially available C6 aminolinker

phorphoramidite can be used in the last cycle of the solid phase synthesis and after

deprotection and cleavage from the solid support the aminolinked deprotected oligonucleotide is isolated. The conjugates are introduced via activation of the functional group using standard synthesis methods.

Purification by RP-HPLC:

The crude compounds are purified by preparative RP-HPLC on a Phenomenex Jupiter C18 10m 150x10 mm column. 0.1 M ammonium acetate pH 8 and acetonitrile is used as buffers at a flow rate of 5 mL/min. The collected fractions are lyophilized to give the purified compound typically as a white solid.

Abbreviations:

DCI: 4,5-Dicyanoimidazole

DCM: Dichloromethane

DMF: Dimethylformamide

DMT: 4,4’-Dimethoxytrityl

THF: Tetrahydrofurane Bz: Benzoyl

Ibu: Isobutyryl

RP-HPLC: Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography

T _m Assay:

Oligonucleotide and RNA target (phosphate linked, PO) duplexes are diluted to 3 mM in 500 ml RNase-free water and mixed with 500 ml 2x T _m -buffer (200mM NaCI, 0.2mM EDTA, 20mM Naphosphate, pH 7.0). The solution is heated to 95°C for 3 min and then allowed to anneal in room temperature for 30 min. The duplex melting temperatures (T _m ) is measured on a Lambda 40 UV/VIS Spectrophotometer equipped with a Peltier temperature programmer PTP6 using PE Templab software (Perkin Elmer). The temperature is ramped up from 20°C to 95°C and then down to 25°C, recording absorption at 260 nm. First derivative and the local maximums of both the melting and annealing are used to assess the duplex T _m .

Example 1 : In vitro reduction of TMEM106b in Neuro2a mouse cell line using

oligonucleotides

LNA modified oligonucleotides targeting mouse Tmem106b were tested for its ability to reduce Tmem106b mRNA expression in mouse Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cell acquired from ATCC (CCL-131 ).

Neuro2a cells were grown in cell culturing media (DMEM AQ media [Sigma, cat. D0819] supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum [Sigma, cat.no F7524], 1x GlutamaxTM [Sigma, cat.no 3050-038], 1 mM Na-pyruvate and 25 μg/ml gentamicin) in a cell incubator at 37°C in atmosphere with 5% CO2. Cells were trypsinized upon reaching 80% confluency, by washing with Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS), [Sigma cat.no 14190-094] followed by addition of 0.25% Trypsin-EDTA solution (Sigma, T3924), 2-3 minutes incubation at 37°C, and trituration before cell seeding. Cells were maintained in culture for up to 15 passages.

For experimental use, 2400 cells per well were seeded in 96 well plates (Nunc cat.no 167008) in 95μL growth media. Oligonucleotides were prepared from a 500mM stock. 5 mI of ASOs dissolved in PBS were added approximately 24 hours after the cells were seeded to a final concentration in cell media of 5 mM or 25mM. Cells were incubated for 3 or 6 days without any media change. Cells used for 3 days and for 6 days long incubation with ASOs were derived from different frozen stock and were at a different passage number during the experiment.

After incubation, cells were harvested by removal of media followed by cell lysis and RNA purification using QIAGEN RNeasy 96 Kit (cat 74181 ), following manufacturers protocol. RNA was diluted 10 fold in water prior to the one-step qPCR reaction. For one-step qPCR reaction qPCR-mix (qScript™ XLT One-Step RT-qPCR ToughMix® Low ROX from QuantaBio, cat.no 95134-500) was mixed with two Taqman probes in a ratio 10:1 :1 (qPCR mix: probel :probe2) to generate the mastermix. Taqman probes were acquired from LifeTechnologies:

Mm00510952_m1 , Mm00510954_m1 , Mm01134666_m1 (Thermo Fisher Scientific, cat.

4351368, 4351368 and 4351370, respectively); GAPDH (cat. 4352339E) and ACTB (cat.

4352341 E). Each experiment with Neuro2a cells included measurement of both GAPDH and ACTB and one (Mm00510952_m1 ) or all three of the Tmem106b specific probes, in such a way that in a given well one Tmem106b and one control probe set was included. Mastermix (6μL) and RNA (4μL) were then mixed in a qPCR plate (MICROAMP®optical 384 well, 4309849). After sealing, the plate was given a quick spin, 1000g for 1 minute at RT, and transferred to a ViiaTM 7 system (Applied Biosystems, Thermo), and the following PCR conditions used: 50°C for 15 minutes; 95°C for 3 minutes; 40 cycles of: 95°C for 5 sec followed by a temperature decrease of 1.6 °C/sec followed by 60 °C for 45 sec. The data was analyzed using the

QuantStudioTM Real_time PCR Software. Presented results are normalized to the different housekeeping genes. The results are shown in Table 9 below as control samples (PBS-treated cells) i.e. the lower the value the larger the inhibition. The results are also plotted in Figure 1 and Figure 2. Almost all of the tested compounds (black dots) were found to inhibit target expression at 5 mM and 25 mM as compared to the negative control gapmers (white dots), highlighting that TMEM106B is surprisingly susceptible to oligonucleotide directed inhibition.

Table 9: in vitro efficacy of oligonucleotides targeting TMEM106B mRNA in Neuro2a mouse cells. The experiment was performed in duplex for day 3 (replicate A and B) and as a single experiment on day 6.

Example 2: In vitro reduction of TMEM106B in a human SK-N-BE(2) cells using oligonucleotides

Oligonucleotides targeting TMEM106B was tested for its ability to reduce TMEM106B mRNA expression in human SK-N-BE(2) neuroblastoma cell acquired from ATCC (CRL-2271 ).

SK-N-BE(2) cells were grown in cell culturing media (MEM [Sigma, cat.no M2279] supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum [Sigma, cat.no F7524], 1x GlutamaxTM [Sigma, cat.no 3050-038] 1x MEM Non-essential amino acid solution [Sigma, cat.no M7145] and 0.025mg/ml Gentamycin [Sigma, cat.no G1397]). Cells were trypsinized every 5 days, by washing with Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS), [Sigma cat.no 14190-094] followed by addition of 0.25% Trypsin-EDTA solution (Sigma, T3924), 2-3 minutes incubation at 37°C, and trituration before cell seeding. Cells were maintained in culture for up to 15 passages.

For experimental use, 15,000 (day 3) or 25,000 (day 6) cells per well were seeded in 96 well plates (Nunc cat.no 167008) in 100μL growth media. Oligonucleotides were prepared from a 750mM stock. Oligonucleotide dissolved in PBS was added approximately 24 hours after the cells were seeded to a final concentration of 5 mM or 25mM. Cells were incubated for 3 or 6 days without any media change.

After incubation, cells were harvested by removal of media followed by addition of 125μL PureLink©Pro 96 Lysis buffer (Invitrogen 12173.001A) and 125μL 70% ethanol. RNA was purified according to the manufacture’s instruction and eluted in a final volume of 50μL water resulting in an RNA concentration of 10-20ng/ μl. RNA was diluted 10 fold in water prior to the one-step qPCR reaction. For one-step qPCR reaction qPCR-mix (qScriptTMXLE 1-step RT- qPCR TOUGHMIX®Low ROX from QauntaBio, cat.no 95134-500) was mixed with two Taqman probes in a ratio 10:1 :1 (qPCR mix: probe1 :probe2) to generate the mastermix. Taqman probes were acquired from LifeTechnologies: TMEM_Hs00998849_m1 ; GAPDH 4325792. Mastermix (6μL) and RNA (4μL, 1-2 ng/μL) were then mixed in a qPCR plate (MICROAMP®optical 384 well, 4309849). After sealing, the plate was given a quick spin, 1000g for 1 minute at RT, and transferred to a ViiaTM 7 system (Applied Biosystems, Thermo), and the following PCR conditions used: 50°C for 15 minutes; 95°C for 3 minutes; 40 cycles of: 95°C for 5 sec followed by a temperature decrease of 1.6 °C/sec followed by 60 °C for 45 sec.

The data was analyzed using the QuantStudioTM Real_time PCR Software. Presented results are normalized to GAPDH. The results are shown in Table 10 below as % of control samples (PBS-treated cells) i.e. the lower the value the larger the inhibition. The results are also plotted in Figure 4 and Figure 5. Almost all of the tested compounds (black dots) were found to inhibit target expression at 5 mM and 25 mM as compared to the negative control gapmers (white dots), highlighting that TMEM106B is surprisingly susceptible to oligonucleotide directed inhibition. Notably compounds targeting the 3’UTR were found to be particularly effective, for example compounds 68_1 , 73 _ 1 , 74 _ 1 , 79_1 and 82_1. Table 10: in vitro efficacy of oligonucleotides targeting TMEM106B mRNA in SK-N-BE(2) human cells. The experiment was performed in duplex (sample A and B)

Example 3: Cellular toxicity of oligonucleotides

To measure if LNA modified oligonucleotides induce apoptosis of the cells a caspase assay was applied as described here. NIH 3T3 cells (ECACC cat. 93061524) were transfected with 100 nM or 30 nM LNA oligonucleotides using Lipofectamine™ 2000 and Caspase 3 and Caspase 7 activation was measured after 24 hours, following protocol described below, adapted from Dieckmann et al. (Molecular Therapy: Nucleic Acids Vol. 10 March 2018). The experiment was performed in two replicates with slightly different protocols. Each replicate was performed in two 96 well plate. Each LNA oligonucleotide at a given transfection concentration was measured in total four times in each replicate.

For the first replicate, mouse embryo fibroblasts cell line NIH 3T3 were grown in m3T3 media (DMEM AQ (Sigma: D0819) supplemented with 10% FBS and 25 μg/ml gentamicin) at 37°C with 5% CO2. Cells were trypsinized and seeded in 96-well plates (ViewPlate-96, PerkinElmer, cat 6005181 ), at a density of 4000 cells per well in 100 μl of m3T3 media and grown for 24 hours. LNA oligonucleotides were diluted with DPBS (Thermo Fisher Scientific, cat. 14190250) to a final concentration of 5 mM or 1.5 mM (also included negative controls with 0 mM

concentration of oligonucleotide). Each diluted LNA oligonucleotide was mixed with Opti-MEM (Thermo Fisher Scientific cat. 31985047) in a ratio of 1 to 24 (volume), and to 30 mI of such a mixture 30 mI of LOM solution (Lipofectamine™ 2000 (Thermo Fisher Scientific cat. 11668019) mixed with Opti-MEM (Thermo Fisher Scientific cat. 31985047) in a ratio of 1 to 99 (volume), used immediately after preparation) was added followed by 20 min incubation. Media was removed from the NIH 3T3 cell culture and 50 mI of LNA oligonucleotide in LOM solution was added. After four hours, 50 mI of m20F media (mix 800 ml DMEM AQ (Sigma: D0819) with 200 ml FBS and 10 ml 200 mM L-alanyl-L-glutamine and 500 mI 50 mg/ml gentamicin) was added to each well. After 24 hours from adding LNA oligonucleotide to cells 100 mI of the Caspase-Glo® 3/7 reagent (Promega, cat. G8093, prepared as prescribed by the manufacturer) was added to the cells, plates were shaken 500 rpm for 30 seconds and incubated 1 hour at room

temperature, followed by blocking back of the plates with BackSeal (PerkinElmer cat. 6005199) and measurement of luminescence with EnSight Multimode Plate Reader (PerkinElmer cat. HH34000000).

For the second replicate similar protocol was followed with following modifications: (1 ) diluted LNA oligonucleotides were mixed with Opti-MEM in a ratio of 2 to 23 instead of 1 to 24; (2) immediately prior to addition of 50 mI of a mixture of LNA oligonucleotides with opti-MEM and LOM solution to cells, 50 mI of Opti-MEM was added to cells; (3) instead of m20F, 50 mI of m30F (mix 700 ml DMEM AQ (Sigma: D0819) with 300 ml FBS and 10 ml 200 mM L-alanyl-L- glutamine and 500 mI 50 mg/ml gentamicin) was added; (4) immediately prior to addition of Caspase-Glo® 3/7 reagent, 50 mI of media from cells was removed.

Luminescence signal as measured by the EnSight reader was div _i ded by the average luminescence signal of the negative control wells within given 96 well plate. Signal for different compounds at a given concentration was averaged across plates and across replicates (outliers, defined as data points that are more or less than 1.5 interquartile ranges from the mean signal within a replicate, were removed). The results are shown in Table 11 , and illustrated in Figure 3.

Table 11 : Caspase activation in NIH 3T3 cells treated with oligonucleotides (replicates of 4)

Example 4: In vivo reduction of TMEM106B in mice

The present example tests the ability of selected oligonucleotides from Example 1 to reduce TMEM106B in vivo in mouse brain as well as the acute and non-acute toxicity potential of the oligonucleotides.

C57BL/6J male mice (23-32 g) were freehand injected with 5 μl of 20 mg/ml saline formulated LNA oligonucleotides into right lateral ventricles (0.3 AP, 1.0 ML, 3.0 DV; six animals per group for TMEM106B reactive compounds; fifteen saline treated animals; fifteen animals treated with MAPT reactive compound and six animals treated with a negative control oligo) under isoflurane anesthesia.

After the administration the acute response was scored in four levels: (1 ) normal behavior, (2) mild response (slight change in activity/posture/gait for 30min-1 hr), (3) moderate response (prolonged pronounced change in activity/posture for 2-4hrs), (4) severe (no activity, shallow breathing, moribund). The weight of the mice was measured immediately prior to administration of an oligonucleotide and six days after the administration. Significant loss of body mass is an indicator of potential non-acute toxicity. The results are shown in Table 13 below.

Seven days after the injection, mice were sacrificed with isoflurane overdose followed by rapid decapitation, and the brain was placed in an ice-cold mouse brain slicer matrix (Stoelting) and sectioned into two (2mm) coronal sections (starting at 0.26mm from Bregma) weighing approximately 30-40 mg. The tissue was immersed in RNALater solution (ThermoFisher Scientific, cat. AM7021 ) and stored at 4°C. RNA was isolated using RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen, cat. 741 16) using QIAcube robotic workstation (Qiagen). Briefly, brain fragment was transferred from the RNALater solution to 1 mL RLT buffer in 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube containing 3mm tungsten carbide bead (Qiagen, cat 69997). Tissue was lysed using TissueLyser II (Qiagen) (3min at 30Hz) and centrifuged 3 minutes at 20000g. 550 μl of the lysate (no foam, no sediment) was transferred to 2 mL Eppendorf tube and placed in QIAcube pre-filled with all the required reagents. RNA was purified according to a program“RNeasy Mini - Animal tissues and cells - Large samples (version 2)” with elution with 50 mI of H ₂ O. RNA concentration was measured using NanoDrop 8000 (ThermoFisher Scientific) spectrophotometer and the concentration was adjusted with H ₂ O to 2 ng/mI.

Expression levels on sections from the right hemisphere were essentially measured as described in Example 1 , using TMEM106B Mm00510952_m1 (Thermo Fisher Scientific, cat. 4351370) as probe and a GAPDH probe (cat. 4352339E, Thermo Fisher Scientific) for normalization. The data was analyzed using the QuantStudioTM Real_time PCR Software, and the readouts of the technical duplicates were averaged. The results are shown in Table 12 as % of average control samples (PBS-treated mice) i.e. the lower the value the larger the inhibition.

Table 12: In vivo efficacy of oligonucleotides targeting TMEM106B.

Table 13: Acute response and body mass change observed in mice injected with

oligonucleotides targeting TMEM106B.

From Table 12 and 13 it can be seen that all the TMEM106B targeting oligonucleotides were capable of reducing TMEM106B mRNA after a single injection. Of the 10 oligonucleotides tested one was found to cause severe acute toxicity. Compound ID NO 161 was administered to only three animals, which were euthanized immediately following observation of severe response, consequently there is not TMTM106B reduction measured for this compound. Some animals administered with compound 144 _ 1 showed signs of significant body mass loss, which could be due to non-acute toxicity of this compound. All the remaining oligonucleotide compounds seemed to be well tolerated 7 days after treatment. Example 5: Treatment of human iPSC neurons and astrocytes mix culture

In Example 2, human TMEM106b were initially screened in the human neuroblastoma cell line. To assess the ability of these ASO’s to reduce the target in human neurons, the efficacy of five human TMEM106b ASOs: CMP ID 74 1 , 65_1 , 75 1 , 71 1 , 66 1 , were evaluated in a cell culture mixture of human iPSC neurons and astrocytes.

Human iPSC-derived neural stem cells (MTI-GlobalStem, GSC-4311 ) were maintained in NSC Maintenance Medium (DMEM/F12 (Genentech)/Neurobasal (ThermoFisher Scientific,

21103049), 1X GS22 (MTI-Global STEM, GSM-3200), 20 ng/ml BDNF (Peprotech, 450-02),

20 ng/ml FGF-basic (Peprotech, 100-18b), 20 ng/ml EGF (Peprotech, AF-100-15), 0.5 mM Glutamax (Gibco, 35050061 ), 0.1 1 mM b-Mercaptoethanol (Sigma-Aldrich CHECKCAT) , 1X Normocin (InvivoGen, ant-nr-1 ), 50 U/ml Penicillin-Streptomycin (ThermoFisher 15160122)) in a 37°C CO2 cell culture incubator; NSC Maintenance Medium was changed every 3-4 days until cells were confluent. For neuronal differentiation, the cells were plated onto a 50 μg/ml PDL (Sigma-Aldrich, P6407) and 10 μg/ml Recombinant Human Laminin (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO, USA) T-650 cell culture flask at an approximate concentration of 0.7 x 10 ⁶ - 1.0 x 10 ⁶ cells/ml. Cells were plated in Neuron Differentiation Media ((DMEM/F12

(Genentech)/Neurobasal (ThermoFisher Scientific 21103049), 1X GS21 (MTI-Global STEM GSM-3100), 1X N2 (MTI-GlobalStem GSM3300), 5 g/ml Cholesterol (Sigma-Aldrich C3045),

1 mM Creatine (Sigma-Aldrich C0780), 100 mM Ascorbic Acid (Sigma-Aldrich A8960), 0.5 mM cAMP (Sigma-Aldrich D0627), 20 ng/ml BDNF (Peprotech, 450-02), 20 ng/ml GDNF

(Peprotech, 450-10), 1 μg/ml Mouse Laminin (Invitrogen, 23017-015), 0.5 mM Glutamax (Gibco, 35050061 ), 1X Normocin (InvivoGen, ant-nr-1 ), 50 U/ml Penicillin-Streptomycin (ThermoFisher, 15160122)) supplemented with Y27632 (Tocris, 1254), SU9516 (Tocris, 2907), and Cumate (System Biosciences AM100A-1 ). The plated cells were differentiated for 1 week; one half volume differentiation media was changed every 3-4 days. After differentiation, cells were plated onto 384-well or 96-well, PDL-Laminin coated plates at an approximate concentration of 2.5 x 10 ⁵ - 5.5 x 10 ⁵ in pre-warmed differentiation medium supplemented with Y27632 Rock inhibitor (Tocris, 1254) and 1X RevitaCell (Gibco, A2644501 ) and maintained for 1 week; one half volume differentiation media was changed every 3-4 days.

Primary human astrocytes (LifeTechnologies, N7805100) were maintained in Astrocyte Medium (DMEM High Glucose (Genentech), 10% FBS (VWR, 89510-198), 1X N2 (MTI-GlobalStem GSM3300), 1X Normocin (InvivoGen, ant-nr-1 ), 50 U/ml Penicillin-Streptomycin (ThermoFisher, 15160122)) in a 37°C CO2 cell culture incubator; medium was change every 3-4 days until cells were confluent. Astrocytes were subsequently added to the human iPSC neurons (described in the previous paragraph) in 384-well or 96-well plates at an approximate concentration of 3.0 x 10 ⁴ - 8.0 x 10 ⁴ cells/ml in BrainPhys Maintenance Medium (BrainPhys Basal (STEMCELL Technologies, 05790), 1X GS21 (MTI-Global STEM GSM-3100), 1X N2 (MTI-GlobalStem GSM3300), 5 μg/ml Cholesterol (Sigma-Aldrich C3045), 1 mM Creatine (Sigma-Aldrich C0780), 10 nM b-estradiol (Sigma-Aldrich E2758), 200 nM Ascorbic Acid (Sigma-Aldrich A8960), 1 mM cAMP (Sigma-Aldrich D0627), 20 ng/ml BDNF (Peprotech, 450-02), 20 ng/ml GDNF

(Peprotech, 450-10), 1 μg/ml Mouse Laminin (Invitrogen, 23017-015), 0.5mM Glutamax (Gibco, 35050061 ), 1X Normocin (InvivoGen, ant-nr-1 ), 50 U/ml Penicillin-Streptomycin (ThermoFisher, 15160122), 1 ng/ml TGF31 (Peprotech, 100-21 ); one half volume of the BrainPhus Maintenance Medium was changed every 3-4 days for 6-8 weeks.

For ASO treatment of the human iPSC neurons CMP ID 74 _ 1 , 65 _ 1 , 75 _ 1 , 71 _ 1 , 66_1 were diluted from stock in an intermediate 96 well plate in a 9 point 3 fold serial dilution (10 pM,

3.3 pM, 1.1 pM, 0.37 pM, 0.12 pM, 0.04 pM, 0.0137 pM, 0.0045 mM, 0.0015 mM) or a 5 point 10 fold serial dilution (10 pM, 1 pM, 0.1 pM, 0.01 pM, 0.001 pM).

In a continuous 10 days incubation experiment, the ASO’s were added the human iPSC neurons and astrocytes mix after 2 months of culture at the ASO concentrations indicated above (5 point 10 fold). On day 3 and day 7, 50% of media were changed to maintain optimal cell health (no additional ASO was added). 10 days after ASO treatment was initiated, cells were harvested for Taqman assay following the manufacturer’s instructions from TaqMan Gene Expression Cells-to-Ct Kit (ThermoFisher Scientific, AM1728). The human neuron TMEM106b Taqman assay was performed following the manufacturer’s instruction with specific gene expression assay probes for human TMEM106b and POL2RB as housekeeping gene normalizer (assay ID Hs00998849_m1 and Hs00946293_m1 , respectively). The TMEM106b expression levels were normalized to the POL2RB housekeeping gene and the relative expression in relation to the media control (100%) was calculated (i.e. lower numbers indicate high TMEM106b reduction). Graph Pad Prism software was used to conduct the IC50 analysis using the software curve fit option. The results are shown in Tables 14 and 15, and Figures 7A and 7B. The structural formulas of CMP IDs 74 _ 1 , 65_1 , 75 _ 1 , 71 _ 1 , 66_1 are shown in Figures 9-13.

Table 14: % TMEM106b mRNA reduction in relation to saline in human iPSC neurons and astrocytes mix culture following 10 days consecutive treatment with serial dilution of ASOs (n=3).

It can be taken from the data that the ASOs show high potency in the range of 7.6 nM to

128.7 nM (Table 14, Figure 7A). Furthermore, it can be seen that the near complete elimination of human neuronal TMEM106b mRNA.

The ASOs were furthermore evaluated in a 24 hour pulse experiment to assess whether short term ASO treatment can have a long-lasting effect. The five human TMEM106b ASOs CMP ID 74 _ 1 , 65 _ 1 , 75 _ 1 , 71 _ 1 , 66 _ 1 , were added to human iPSC neurons and astrocytes mix after

2 months of culture at the ASO concentrations indicated above (9 point 3 fold dilutions). The ASO treatment was only for 24 hrs then cells were washed with neuronal culture media 3X. On day 3 and day 7, 50% of media were changed to maintain optimal cell health. 10 days after ASO treatments, cells were harvest and TMEM106B mRNA were accessed with the Taqman assay described above. The results are shown in Table 15 and Figure 7B.

Table 15: % TMEM106b mRNA reduction in relation to saline in human iPSC neurons and astrocytes mix culture after 24 hour pulse treatment with serial dilution of ASOs (n=3).

These results show IC50 in the range of 62.5 nM to 1 mM (Table 15, Figure 7B), and that with only 24 hrs incubation, all five human TMEM106b ASOs at 10 mM can effectively and nearly completely eliminate human TMEM106b mRNA and have a long lasting effect for at least 10 days similar to long term incubation (Table 14, Figure 7A).

It was further investigated if the ASO treatment of the human iPSC neurons and astrocytes results in reduction of TMEM106b protein levels. In a continuous 10 days incubation

experiment, the ASO’s were added to the human iPSC neurons and astrocytes mix after 2 months of culture at a final ASO concentration of 10 mM. On day 3 and day 7, 50% of media were changed to maintain optimal cell health (no additional ASO was added). 10 days after ASO treatment was initiated, cells were harvested with RIPA buffer (Pierce 89900) with proteinase inhibitors (Roche 11836153001 ) for protein analysis. BCA micro protein

concentration analysis was performed according to the manufacture’s instruction on all lysates to measure total protein concentration (Thermo Fisher Scientific, 23235). Protein analysis was performed on the Peggy Sue automated western instrument (Protein Simple) following manufacturer’s instruction using Peggy Sue kit (SM-S001 ). Equal amount of total protein was loaded. Antibody for TMEM106b is from Bethyl (A303-439A) and GAPDH for housekeeping gene normalization is from Norvus (NB100-56875).

Figure 7C shows the automated western blot result. On the left panel the neuronal lysates after 10 days treatment with control and CMP ID 65_1 ASO 10 mM were load in the indicated lanes.

Then the lanes were probed with anti TMEM106b antibodies. The right panel shows the same sample lanes probed with anti GAPDH antibodies. It can be seen that CMP ID 65_1 is able to reduce human TMEM106b protein level after 10 days of treatment.

Example 6: Time course for in vivo reduction in mice of TMEM106b mRNA and protein The present example tests the ability of selected mouse ASOs, also used in Example 4 above, for long term reduction of mRNA and protein 1 , 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after a single ICV injection. The data generated in Example 4 related to the reduction of mRNA 1 week after a single ICV injection has been taken over in this Example. Additional data were generated on the mRNA and protein reduction 1 , 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after a single ICV injection.

C57BL/6J males from Jackson Laboratory, age 3-6 months, were used in these experiments. Mice were housed on a regular light/dark cycle (14:10 hours) with ad libitum access to food (LabDiet 5010) and water. All injections and tissue collections were conducted during the light phase. All protocols for mouse experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and were conducted in accordance with the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

Animals were anesthetized with isoflurane, the hair above the parietal region of the skull was removed by shaving and skin cleaned with either antimicrobial betadine solution and 70% ethanol or Cloraprep solution. A midline incision of the skin was made between the occiput and forehead to identify Bregma. Mice were injected 100 μg of ASO in a volume of 5 μl (saline) into the right lateral ventricle (-0.5 AP, 1.0 ML, 3.0 DV) at a rate of I mI/sec, using a 26-gauge 10 mI Hamilton syringe. One minute after the injection the needle was slowly withdrawn. The incision was closed with tissue glue and buprenorphine was given for up to 3 days to reduce any pain caused by the procedure.

At 1 (for mRNA original data from Example 4), 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the injection, mice were euthanized by decapitation under a constant flow of inhalant anesthetic (isoflurane).

Brains were placed on an ice cold brain matrix and the right hemibrain was sectioned into two 2 mm sections. One section was immediately place into RNALater (Ambion), and stored at 4°C for qPCR. The second 2 mm slice was weighed, immediately flash frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80°C for protein analysis.

For qPCR, tissues were then transferred to RLT Buffer (Qiagen) lysis reagent and lysed using a TissueLyser (Qiagen). RNA was extracted using RNeasy Mini QIAcube Kit (cat. 74116) with QIACUBE workstation. RNA concentrations were checked on Nanodrop (as RNA-40, blank H20) and then each sample was diluted with water to yield 2 ng/mI solutions. RNA was heat denatured at 90°C for 40 seconds. qPCR assay was performed on Applied Biosystems VNA7 thermal cycler using qScript TM XLT One-Step RT-qPCR ToughMix® Low ROX (QuantaBio, cat. 95134-02K), using TMEM106b (cat. 4351368, ThermoFisher Scientific) as the probe and GAPDH (cat. 4352339E, ThermoFisher Scientific) probe for normalization. Results are shown in Table 16 and Figure 8A.

Table 16: Long term reduction of TMEM106b mRNA in vivo

As can be taken from Table 16 and Figure 8A, reductions of TMEM106b mRNA for both CMP ID NO:152_1 and 155_1 were maximal between 1 and 4 weeks post-injection. Compared to saline controls (n=3-6/group), TMEM106b mRNA in the ASO treated animals did not return to baseline (saline control animals) 12 weeks post-injection, with 30-35% mRNA reduction detected for both CMP ID NO:152_1 and 155_1 (n=6-7/group) after 12 week.

For western blot, the second flash frozen slice was homogenized in 10 volumes of RIPA buffer with Complete Roche protease inhibitor cocktail (Roche) and PhosStop (Roche) using a TissueLyser (Qiagen, 3min at 30cycles/s). Samples were then rotated for 20 min at 4°C, then centrifuged at 14,000 rpm (Gs) at 4°C for 20 min. Supernatants were collected and stored at - 80°C. Protein samples were diluted 1/5 in LDS loading buffer (4x, Invitrogen) with Reducing agent (10x, Invitrogen) and heat denatured for 5 min at 95°C. Samples were then kept on ice and stored at -20°C. Equal volumes of sample were separated on a 10% Bis-Tris gel with 1x MOPS running buffer, transferred to nitrocellulose membrane (iBlot2, ThermoFisher) and blocked at room temperature with 5% non-fat dried milk in TBS-Tween. Blots were probed with Rabbit anti-TMEM106b (A303-439;Bethyl, 1 :500) or beta-Tubulin in 5% BSA overnight at 4°C. Blots were washed with TBST and incubated with HRP-conjugated secondary antibodies at room temperature for 2 h, then developed using Supersignal West Dura ECL (ThermoFisher) on a ChemiDoc (Bio-Rad). Blots were quantified using Image Lab 5.2 (BioRad) and each lane was normalized to beta-Tubulin, then to control samples. The results are shown in Table 17 and Figure 8B.

Table 17: Long term reduction of TM EM 106b protein in vivo

Similarly, as can be taken from Table 17 and Figure 8B, TMEM106b protein was maximally reduced by 40-50% between 2-4 weeks post-injection. Compared to saline controls (n=2- 6/group), TMEM106b protein did not return to baseline during the 12 weeks post-injection, with 39% reduction in CMP ID NO: 152_1 -treated animals (n=6-7/group) and 14% reduction in CMP

ID NO: 155_1 -treated (n=5-7/group) animals.