Chapter 2:Genasense (G3139): An Antisense Bcl-2 Oligodeoxyribonucleotide with Substantial Clinical Activity and a Complex Mechanism of Action

Genasense (G3139 or oblimersen) is an 18-mer phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotide (oligo) that is complementary to codons 1–6 of the Bcl-2 messenger RNA (mRNA).1 The compound was ultimately derived from a 20-mer phosphorothioate oligo called T1-AS that straddled the Bcl-2 initiation codon regio...