Amphipathic, nucleic acid-based polymers optimized to treat hepatitis B virus infection in patients do not harbour immune stimulatory properties in primary isolated blood or liver…

Background: Nucleic acid polymers (NAPs) are phosphorothioate oligonucleotides which interfere protein interactions involved in viral replication. This property is length dependent and sequence-independent. It has been demonstrated that NAPs are active against hepatitis B virus (HBV) where the antiviral mechanism is still being investigated. In this study, the immune stimulatory properties of NAPs optimized for the treatment of HBV infection in vivo and in the clinic were examined in primary isolated human blood and liver cells. Methods: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as well as primary isolate…