REGENXBIO ANNOUNCES NEW POSITIVE INITIAL EFFICACY DATA FROM AFFINITY DUCHENNE® TRIAL
- New three-month assessment in first patient at dose level 2 demonstrates robust microdystrophin expression
- Patient aged 12 years at dosing had expression level at 75.7% of control
- Early evidence of strength and motor function improvement observed
- On track to initiate pivotal trial in second half of 2024
- Webcast this morning,
Tuesday, March 5 ,8:30 a.m. ET , with principal investigator
"RGX-202 at dose level 2 is demonstrating significantly increased microdystrophin expression in a 12-year-old patient," said
"There is a need for treatment options for boys with Duchenne that have the potential to alter the disease trajectory," said Aravindhan Veerapandiyan, M.D.,
Safety Update
As of
Biomarker Data and Recorded Strength and Functional Observations
In new data from the first patient, aged 12.1 years, who received RGX-202 at dose level 2, RGX-202 microdystrophin expression was measured to be 75.7% compared to control at three months. A reduction from baseline in serum creatinine kinase (CK) levels of 77% was observed at ten weeks.
All four patients, across both dose levels, who completed three-month trial assessments indicate encouraging increases in expression of RGX-202 microdystrophin and reduction from baseline in serum CK levels, supporting evidence of clinical improvement.
RGX-202 microdystrophin levels were measured using an automated and precise western blot method (Jess), and comparable results were confirmed with a proprietary liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method. Elevated CK levels are associated with muscle injury and are uniformly elevated in patients with Duchenne. Among patients aged 8 to 11 years old at screening, RGX-202 microdsytrophin expression levels (change from baseline) at three months following RGX-202 administration was higher in dose level 2. The patient data is presented below.
Patient |
Age at Dosing |
Weight at |
Western blot (Jess method), |
CK Levels, |
|
Dose level 1 |
1 |
4.4 |
17.8 |
38.8 |
-43 |
2 |
10.5 |
28.3 |
11.1 |
-44 |
|
3 |
6.6 |
26.8 |
83.4 |
-93 |
|
Dose level 2 |
4 |
12.1 |
24.3 |
75.7 |
-77 |
Dose Comparison of RGX-202 Microdystrophin Expression Levels in Older Boys
Dose level 1 |
Dose level 2 |
|
Ages > 8 years |
11.1 |
75.7 |
In addition, new recordings of the AFFINITY DUCHENNE trial clinic assessments and home videos shared with trial investigators by caregivers illustrate patients treated with RGX-202 are demonstrating initial evidence of strength and functional improvement.
"Several of the items in the clinic recordings are timed tasks and they are also measured on the NSAA. We plan to present strength and functional assessment data for both dose levels from the trial later this year, but today this is a glimpse of how these boys are gaining functional skills since dosing," said Dr. Veerapandiyan, "The montage of home videos provides some insight into a family's experience with RGX-202. Being able to do these activities, which can be quite difficult for boys with Duchenne, is informal, but a set of important observations of their experience."
Clinical Program Updates
Conference Call Details
AFFINITY DUCHENNE Trial Design
The Phase I/II AFFINITY DUCHENNE trial is a multicenter, open-label dose escalation and dose expansion clinical study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and clinical efficacy of a one-time intravenous (IV) dose of RGX-202 in patients with Duchenne. In the dose evaluation phase of the trial, four ambulatory, pediatric patients (ages 4 to 11 years old) are expected to enroll in two cohorts with doses of 1x1014 GC/kg body weight (n=2) and 2x1014 GC/kg body weight (n=2). After an independent safety data review for each cohort, a dose expansion phase of the trial may allow for additional patients to be enrolled.
The trial design was informed by the Duchenne community and engagement with key opinion leaders, including a comprehensive, short-term, prophylactic immunosuppression regimen to proactively mitigate potential complement-mediated immunologic responses, and inclusion criteria based on dystrophin gene mutation status, including DMD gene mutations in exons 18 and above. Trial endpoints include safety, immunogenicity assessments, pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic measures of RGX-202, including microdystrophin protein levels in muscle, and strength and functional assessments, including the North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) and timed function tests.
About RGX-202
RGX-202 has differentiated and important biology most similar to naturally occurring dystrophin that protects from the muscle degradation associated with Duchenne. RGX-202 is designed to deliver a transgene for a novel microdystrophin that includes the functional elements of the C-Terminal (CT) domain found in naturally occurring dystrophin. Presence of the CT domain has been shown in preclinical studies to recruit several key proteins to the muscle cell membrane, leading to improved muscle resistance to contraction-induced muscle damage in dystrophic mice. Additional design features, including codon optimization and reduction of CpG content, may potentially improve gene expression, increase translational efficiency and reduce immunogenicity. RGX-202 is designed to support the delivery and targeted expression of genes throughout skeletal and heart muscle using the NAV AAV8 vector, a vector used in numerous clinical trials, and a well-characterized muscle-specific promoter (Spc5-12).
About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne is a severe, progressive, degenerative muscle disease, affecting 1 in 3,500 to 5,000 boys born each year worldwide. Duchenne is caused by mutations in the Duchenne gene which encodes for dystrophin, a protein involved in muscle cell structure and signaling pathways. Without dystrophin, muscles throughout the body degenerate and become weak, eventually leading to loss of movement and independence, required support for breathing, cardiomyopathy and premature death.
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