Oligonucleotides (I) having at least one non-terminal pyrimidine nucleoside modified and additionally having the 5'- and/or 3'-terminal modified are new, with some specific exclusions. Oligonucleotides (I) having at least one non-terminal pyrimidine nucleoside modified and additionally having the 5'- and/or 3'-terminal modified are new, with the exception of oligonucleotides in which all of the nucleosides are modified and Cys asterisk -Ala-Cys-Cys-Ala asterisk -Ala-Cys-Cys-Thr asterisk -Cys-Thr-Thr-Cys asterisk -Cys-Ala-Cys-Ala-, Cys asterisk -Ala-Cys asterisk -Cys-Ala asterisk -Ala-Cys asterisk -Thr-Thr-Cys-Thr asterisk -Thr-Cys asterisk -Cys-Ala asterisk -Cys-Ala-, Cys-Ala asterisk -Cys-Cys asterisk -Ala-Ala asterisk -Cys-Thr asterisk -Thr-Cys asterisk -Thr-Thr asterisk -Cys-Cys asterisk -Ala-Cys asterisk -Ala- and Cys-Ala-Cys asterisk -Cys asterisk -Ala-Ala-Cys asterisk -Thr asterisk -Thr-Cys-Thr asterisk -Thr asterisk -Thr-Cys-Cys-Ala asterisk -Cys asterisk -Ala. An Independent claim is included for the preparation of (I) by chemical synthesis.