CLN7 program currently in Phase 1 clinical proof-of-concept trial with preliminary data anticipated by year-end 2021
Intrathecal dosing of the high dose first-generation construct resulted in nearly complete normalization of impaired open field and motor function and more than doubled median life expectancy in MSFSD8 knockout mice; data to be presented at upcoming 17th Annual
Taysha also enters into a research collaboration with UT Southwestern to develop next-generation construct for CLN7 disease, which is expected to improve potency, safety profile, packaging efficiency and manufacturability over first-generation construct
Initiation of a planned pivotal CLN7 clinical trial with next-generation construct anticipated in 2022, with reference to human proof-of-concept data generated from first-generation construct
Provides a grant to Batten Hope, the leading CLN7 patient advocacy group, to support patient awareness, disease education and newborn screening initiatives
Estimated prevalence of CLN7 disease is 4,000 patients worldwide
Taysha expected to have five clinical stage programs by year-end 2021
Webcast today at
The first-generation construct for the CLN7 program was developed in the laboratory of
In addition, Taysha has provided a grant to Batten Hope to support patient awareness, disease education and newborn screening initiatives.
CLN7 disease is a rare, fatal and rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease that is a form of Batten disease. CLN7 is caused by autosomal recessive mutations in the MFSD8 gene that results in lysosomal dysfunction. Disease onset occurs around two to five years of age, with death often ensuing in young adolescence. Patients experience gradual nerve cell loss in certain parts of the brain and typically present with seizures, vision loss, speech impairment and mental and motor regression. Currently, there are no approved therapies to treat CLN7 disease, which impacts an estimated 4,000 patients globally.
Preclinical data in rodents supported advancement of the first-generation construct into a Phase 1 clinical proof-of-concept study in patients with CLN7 disease. In an in vivo efficacy study, intrathecal (IT) administration of the first-generation construct to MFSD8 knockout mice with high or low doses resulted in clear age and dose effects with early intervention and high dose achieving the best therapeutic benefits. IT high dose of the first-generation construct in younger knockout mice resulted in: 1) widespread MFSD8 mRNA expression in all tissues assessed; 2) nearly complete normalization of impaired open field and rotarod performance at 6 and 9 months post injection; 3) more than doubled median life expectancy (16.82 months versus 7.77 months in untreated knockout mice); and 4) maintained healthy body weight for a prolonged period of time. Toxicology studies in wild type rodents demonstrated safety and tolerability of IT administration of the first-generation construct. These preclinical data will be presented by
“The CLN7 program is a strategic addition to our gene therapy pipeline focused on monogenic CNS diseases. Encouraging preclinical data generated in relevant rodent models suggest that the first-generation construct has the potential to reduce overall disease pathology, preserve motor function and ultimately prolong survival,” said RA Session II, President, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Taysha. “The first-generation construct is currently in a Phase 1 clinical proof-of-concept trial with two patients dosed to date, and we look forward to the availability of preliminary data by year-end. With human proof-of-concept clinical data to reference, we expect to advance a next-generation construct into a planned pivotal trial in 2022, which we anticipate should improve potency, safety, packaging efficiency and manufacturability over the first-generation construct. Importantly, we are also pleased to announce our grant to Batten Hope, the leading CLN7 disease nonprofit patient advocacy organization, to support patient awareness, disease education and newborn screening initiatives. We believe a gene therapy approach has the potential to address a significant unmet need in an estimated 4,000 patients globally.”
UTSW is currently enrolling patients in an investigator-sponsored Phase 1 open-label, dose escalation clinical proof-of-concept trial at Dallas Children’s
With the addition of the CLN7 program, Taysha expects to have five clinical stage programs by year-end. As such, the TSHA-104 program for the treatment of SURF1-associated Leigh syndrome will transition to the company’s collaborators at UTSW to complete IND-enabling studies, followed by a planned investigator-initiated clinical trial by the end of 2022. Taysha will continue to support the SURF1 natural history study in partnership with UTSW.
Financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed.
Webcast Information
Taysha management will host a webcast today at
About
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “projects,” and “future” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning the potential of our product candidates, as well as the CLN7 program, to positively impact quality of life and alter the course of disease in the patients we seek to treat, our expectations regarding the benefits of a next-generation construct for CLN7, our research, development and regulatory plans for our product candidates, the potential for these product candidates to receive regulatory approval from the FDA or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies, and whether, if approved, these product candidates will be successfully distributed and marketed, and the potential market opportunity for these product candidates. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Risks regarding our business are described in detail in our
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