Division of Carbohydrate Chemistry--recent developments in oligonucleotide therapeutics

This session from the Carbohydrate Division of the ACS was overviewed by P Dan Cook of ISIS Pharmaceuticals Inc, who described what had already been accomplished in this field, as well as research efforts at his own company. The general message to emerge was that antisense drug discovery and development is very much alive and is progressing rapidly. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of the pharmacodynamic (ie, absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination) properties of the new second and third generation therapeutics which are emerging from various sources.