Dicerna Pharma (DRNA) Reports First Patient Dosing in Phase 1 Clinical Trial of DCR-HBVS for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRNA) today announced the dosing of the first patient in its Phase 1 clinical trial of DCR-HBVS, the Company’s investigational GalXCTM-based therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in adults. The Company anticipates human proof-of-concept data from the Phase 1 trial, which is known as DCR-HBVS-101, in the fourth quarter of 2019. In January 2019, Dicerna announced the dosing of the first human volunteer in this Phase 1 study.
“Dosing of the first patient in the DCR-HBVS-101 trial signals a major step toward our ultimate goal of developing a viable therapeutic option for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus, a serious liver infection that can result in advanced liver disease or liver cancer if not treated effectively,” said Ralf Rosskamp, M.D., chief medical officer of Dicerna. “Based upon our encouraging preclinical data with DCR-HBVS and our initial experience with the healthy volunteers who are enrolled in this trial, we are optimistic about the clinical potential of RNA interference as an innovative approach to effectively treat chronic hepatitis B virus infection.”
The DCR-HBVS-101 clinical trial is a Phase 1, randomized, placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of DCR-HBVS in healthy volunteers (HVs) and in patients with non-cirrhotic chronic HBV infection. Secondary objectives are to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile of DCR-HBVS and to evaluate preliminary pharmacodynamics and antiviral efficacy on plasma levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA in blood.
DCR-HBVS is comprised of a single GalXC molecule that targets HBV messenger RNAs within the HBsAg gene sequence region. Preclinical studies with a standard mouse model of HBV infection showed DCR-HBVS led to greater than 99% reduction in circulating HBsAg, suggesting a level of HBsAg suppression (both in magnitude and duration of suppression) that may be greater than that achieved from targeting within the X gene sequence region.
“Given the encouraging inhibitory activity of DCR-HBVS in animal studies, its favorable preclinical safety profile, and the lack of major safety signals among healthy volunteers dosed thus far in the DCR-HBVS-101 trial, we eagerly anticipate the results from patients with chronic hepatitis B who are treated with DCR-HBVS,” said Man-Fung Yuen, D.Sc., M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and Chair of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Hong Kong. “Unlike other therapeutic approaches to treating chronic HBV infection, DCR-HBVS leverages the power of RNA interference to silence multiple viral genes in addition to the S antigen, potentially reducing HBsAg to very low levels, which could allow the patient’s own immune system to generate an effective immune response. With its long-acting mechanism, DCR-HBVS may help patients with chronic HBV infection achieve a functional cure.”
DCR-HBVS-101 Trial Design
The DCR-HBVS-101 clinical trial is divided into three phases or groups:
In Group A, 30 HVs are to receive a single ascending-dose of DCR-HBVS (0.1, 1.5, 3, 6, or 12 mg/kg) or placebo, with a four-week follow-up period.
Group B is a single-dose arm in which eight participants with HBV who are naïve to nucleoside analog therapy will receive a 3 mg/kg dose of DCR-HBVS or placebo; these participants will be followed for at least 12 weeks. The Company expects to initiate Group B dosing in the third quarter of 2019, in parallel with Group C at the 3 mg/kg dose level.
Group C is a multiple ascending dose arm in which DCR-HBVS (1.5, 3, or 6 mg/kg) or placebo will be administered to 18 participants with HBV who are already being treated with nucleoside analogs, with a treatment and follow-up period of 16 weeks or more. The first participant dosed was from this group, at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg.
Study participants in Groups B and C, in whom HBsAg will have dropped by more than 1 log10 IU/mL below baseline at their last scheduled study visit, will continue to be followed until their HBsAg level is less than 1 log10 IU/mL below the baseline value.
For more information about the DCR-HBVS-101 clinical trial, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov and use the identifier NCT03772249.作者: StephenW 时间: 2019-5-17 21:06