Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell mobilization in mice and humans by a first-in-class mirror-image oligonucleotide inhibitor of CXCL12.

NOX-A12 is a PEGylated mirror-image oligonucleotide (a so-called Spiegelmer) that binds to CXCL12 (stromal cell-derived factor-1, SDF-1) with high affinity thereby inhibiting CXCL12 signaling on both its receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR7. In animals, NOX-A12 mobilized white blood cells (WBCs) and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSCs) into peripheral blood (PB). In healthy volunteers, single doses of NOX-A12 had a benign safety profile and also dose-dependently mobilized WBCs and HSCs into PB. HSC peak mobilization reached a plateau at five times the baseline level at an i.v. dose of 5.4 mg/kg. In accordance with the plasma half-life of 38 h, the duration of the WBC and HSC mobilization was long lasting and increased dose-dependently to more than 4 days at the highest dose (10.8 mg/kg). In conclusion, NOX-A12 may be appropriate for therapeutic use in and beyond mobilization of HSCs, e.g., in long-lasting mobilization and chemosensitization of hematological cancer cells.