Analysis sheds light on patient deaths in Astellas gene therapy trial
16 Nov 2023
Clinical ResultGene TherapyAcquisitionClinical Study
A preliminary data analysis published in The Lancet Neurology throws light on four deaths that occurred in a Phase I/II study of children with X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) who received Astellas' experimental MTM1 gene replacement therapy AT132 (resamirigene bilparvovec). The ASPIRO trial, which has been on FDA clinical hold since 2020 following the first two reported deaths, also revealed a potential risk factor that could inform future trials of patients with the rare neuromuscular disease.
Astellas acquired the gene therapy through its purchase of Audentes Therapeutics for around $3 billion in 2020. "We are grateful for the opportunity to share this important analysis," stated Richard Wilson, senior vice president and primary focus lead for genetic regulation at Astellas. "While we continue our efforts to address the ongoing clinical hold for ASPIRO, this publication serves to provide information that may guide efforts aimed at advancing promising therapies for XLMTM," he said.
The analysis focuses on data as of February 2022 from 24 boys with XLMTM who received a single infusion of AT132 at one of two doses – 1.3 x 1014 vg/kg or 3.5 x 1014 vg/kg – compared with a control group comprised of two subjects who were enrolled, but not dosed, and 12 children from a natural history study. All participants were ventilator-dependent at baseline, and only three were able to sit independently for 30 seconds, although none had achieved more advanced milestones.
'Substantial' motor function benefit
By 24 weeks post-dosing, the lower-dose cohort demonstrated an estimated 77.7% greater reduction in mean hours of ventilator support, while in the higher-dose group, the rate was 22.8%. In addition, 16 participants, including six at the lower-dose and 10 at the higher-dose, achieved ventilator-independence as of the data cut, with researchers noting this was an "unexpected outcome." There were also "substantial improvements" in motor function, including acquiring the ability to sit, stand and walk independently, "an exceedingly rare occurrence in this population," investigators added. Five participants at the lower-dose and three in the higher-dose cohort were able to walk independently.
By contrast, among the 14 total participants in the non-treated cohort, none achieved ventilator-independence while five were able to sit unassisted for 30 seconds by the end of 48 weeks. No other motor milestones were achieved in this group.
Key issues with liver health
However, researchers wrote that "the unprecedented findings of ventilator-independence and acquisition of motor milestones in ASPIRO should be carefully weighed against the potential for fatal adverse events in the context of a life-threatening disease." Three deaths occurred in the higher-dose cohort, followed by one death in the lower-dose cohort.
Beginning within the first four weeks after dosing, all participants saw increases above the upper limit of normal range (>ULN) in direct and total bilirubin values, with similar increases in ALT, AST and γ-glutamyl transferase. Further, they experienced progression to severe treatment-related decompensated liver injury, characterised by ascites, poor hepatic synthetic function, or both. All had progressed to cholestatic liver failure at the time of death. Researchers noted that the four patients had evidence of cholestasis that pre-dated dosing with AT132, but they still met dosing eligibility criteria for the study.
"The deaths of four dosed participants with evidence of pre-existing cholestasis highlights the need to better understand the role of hepatobiliary disease in the natural history of XLMTM and the potential interaction of AAV-mediated gene therapy in this setting," the study authors wrote.
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