ANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDES TO SUPPRESS EICOSANOID FORMATION

The present invention provides new antisense oligonucleotides for the treatment of premature labor, premature rupture of the fetal membranes, premature cervical dilation and effacement, preeclampsia, endometriosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ARDs, and glomerulitis. The drugs are antisense oligonucleotides which attenuate the expression of either the mRNA encoding the cyclooxygenase protein or the mRNA encoding the thromboxane A2 synthase protein. Once the mRNA encoding for cyclooxygenase is inhibited, the production of the cyclooxygenase is inhibited thereby inhibiting the production of the cyclooxygenase products such as prostaglandins and thromboxane. Thus, the antisense oligonucleotides provide novel therapy for the treatment of diseases involving cyclooxygenase products, prostaglandins and thromboxane metabolisms. Such diseases include immunological reproductive, cardiovascular, dermatologic, central nervous system disorders in which the release of cyclooxygenase products effects the genesis and progression of the disease. A second object of the invention is to provide new reagents for the research and study of the diseases involving cyclooxygenase products.