Prime Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRME), a biotechnology company
committed to delivering a new class of differentiated one-time
curative genetic therapies, today presented data from multiple
studies showcasing the potential of its proprietary, universal
lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform to precisely deliver Prime
Editors to correct disease-causing mutations in the liver. The in
vivo proof-of-concept data shared at the European Society of Gene
and Cell Therapy (ESGCT) 31st Annual Congress demonstrated
successful correction of disease-causing mutations in Wilson’s
Disease in both mouse and non-human primate (NHP) models.
Additionally, the Company highlighted the ability of its universal
liver-targeted LNP platform to deliver Prime Editors to correct the
underlying mutational cause of Glycogen Storage Disease Type 1b
(GSD1b) in humanized mice and NHPs, reinforcing the potential for
its modular LNP to support future programs in rare and non-rare
liver indications.
“Our liver-targeted LNP platform represents a significant step
forward in gene editing, providing a novel framework that can be
used repeatedly to generate candidates that we believe can safely
and precisely correct pathogenic mutations across a range of liver
diseases,” said Jeremy Duffield, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific
Officer of Prime Medicine. “We believe the modularity of our LNP
platform allows us to seamlessly introduce alternative guide RNAs
that address different genetic targets, while the shared components
of the LNP platform enable increased potency, as well as an
improved safety profile and biodistribution compared to other
commonly used LNPs in development. The preclinical data from our
GSD1b program played a critical role in validating our universal
LNP approach, and findings from this work laid the groundwork for
our current efforts in Wilson’s Disease, where we believe we can
efficiently advance our program into the clinic with the potential
to deliver benefit to thousands of patients.”
Dr. Duffield continued, “At ESGCT, we will present the first in
vivo data from our Wilson’s Disease program. We are very encouraged
by these interim results, which show that LNP delivery of our Prime
Editors results in efficient editing, well above the threshold
anticipated to be necessary to reverse disease manifestations. As
we continue to optimize toward our final drug candidate, we expect
to share updated data and initiate IND-enabling activities by year
end. We remain confident in the potential for our universal LNP to
deliver transformative treatments not only for Wilson’s Disease and
GSD1b, but also for other rare and non-rare liver indications.”
Prime Medicine’s universal LNP contains a GalNAc-targeting
ligand (GalNAc-LNP), a validated mechanism for liver-specific
delivery of gene editors. In preclinical studies, delivery of Prime
Editors using a GalNAc-LNP has demonstrated increased potency and
both an improved safety profile and biodistribution when
benchmarked against other LNPs that have gone into the clinic.
Preclinical studies in GSD1b animal models, including new data
presented at ESGCT, demonstrated that delivery of GalNAc-LNP Prime
Editors restored glycogen metabolism in a humanized mouse model and
achieved up to 85% precise liver cell editing of the L348 mutation
in NHPs at a dose that was well tolerated and durable up to 44
weeks, with an excellent safety profile, and no detectable
off-target edits or unintended edits at the target site. The
Company believes these findings validate Prime Medicine’s LNP
platform and support its continued evaluation in other
liver-related diseases, including Wilson’s Disease.
Wilson’s Disease is a rare and severe disorder caused by excess
copper accumulation in the liver and brain that can lead to liver
failure and neurocognitive decline, and without liver transplant
can be fatal. Research suggests that correcting a Wilson’s Disease
mutation in 20-30% of hepatocytes could be potentially curative. To
address Wilson’s Disease, Prime Medicine is advancing its
GalNAc-LNP Prime Editor program that targets two prevalent
mutations in the ATP7B gene – H1069Q and R778L – which combined
account for up to 50% of Wilson’s Disease patients.
In the data presented today, GalNAc-LNP delivery of Prime
Editors targeting the H1069Q mutation in Wilson’s Disease
demonstrated up to 80% precise correction of the H1069Q mutation
and restoration of ATP7B mRNA to wild-type levels in a humanized
mouse model, as well as precise editing of liver cells in NHPs,
with up to 51% precise editing with a surrogate H1069Q Prime
Editor. In preclinical studies completed to-date, Prime Medicine
observed significant reductions in copper accumulation in the
livers of humanized mice. In both mouse and NHP studies, no
detectable off-target edits or unintended edits at the target site
were observed. Prime Medicine is completing the final stages of
lead optimization and expects to initiate IND-enabling activities
of its Wilson’s Disease program by year-end, with an IND and/or CTA
filing expected in the first half of 2026.
Details of the presentations are as
follows:
- Presentation Title: LNP delivered Prime
Editors restore glycemic control in humanized rodent models of
Glycogen Storage Disease Type 1b (GSD1b)Date &
Time: October 24, 2024, 5:00 p.m. CEST
- Poster Title: Prime Editing advancements
enable in vivo therapeutic correction of ATP7B p.H1069Q and p.R778L
mutations in Wilson’s DiseaseDate & Time:
October 24, 2024, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. CEST
About Wilson’s DiseaseWilson’s Disease is a
devastating rare disease of the liver, with manifestations
throughout the body, that is caused by copper accumulation. Most
people are diagnosed between ages five and 35 years. With reported
prevalence rates ranging between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 30,000,
Wilson’s Disease is believed to affect upwards of 35,000 to 100,000
patients in the United States and Europe. Normally, excessive
copper is excreted through the liver in bile. For patients with
Wilson’s Disease, copper is not eliminated correctly and
accumulates to toxic levels. While the key site of pathology is the
liver, and many patients present with liver disease, patients often
show persistent neurological problems including involuntary
movements, tremor, and gait disturbance, as well as kidney,
hematological or psychiatric problems. Wilson’s Disease is caused
by mutations, including H1069Q and R778L, in both genomic copies of
the ATP7B gene, which encodes a copper transporter that removes
excess copper. Prime Medicine is advancing a liver-directed Prime
Editor program that aims to correct mutations in ATP7B to restore
copper metabolism.
About Prime MedicinePrime Medicine is a leading
biotechnology company dedicated to creating and delivering the next
generation of gene editing therapies to patients. The Company is
deploying its proprietary Prime Editing platform, a versatile,
precise and efficient gene editing technology, to develop a new
class of differentiated one-time curative genetic therapies.
Designed to make only the right edit at the right position within a
gene while minimizing unwanted DNA modifications, Prime Editors
have the potential to repair almost all types of genetic mutations
and work in many different tissues, organs and cell types. Taken
together, Prime Editing’s versatile gene editing capabilities could
unlock opportunities across thousands of potential indications.
Prime Medicine is currently progressing a diversified portfolio
of investigational therapeutic programs organized around our core
areas of focus: hematology, immunology and oncology, liver and
lung. Across each core area, Prime Medicine is focused initially on
a set of high value programs, each targeting a disease with
well-understood biology and a clearly defined clinical development
and regulatory path, and each expected to provide the foundation
for expansion into additional opportunities. Over time, the Company
intends to maximize Prime Editing’s broad and versatile therapeutic
potential, as well as the modularity of the Prime Editing platform,
to rapidly and efficiently expand beyond the diseases in its
current pipeline, potentially including additional genetic
diseases, immunological diseases, cancers, infectious diseases, and
targeting genetic risk factors in common diseases, which
collectively impact millions of people. For more information,
please visit www.primemedicine.com.
© 2024 Prime Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. PRIME MEDICINE,
the Prime Medicine logos, and PASSIGE are trademarks of Prime
Medicine, Inc. All other trademarks referred to herein are the
property of their respective owners.
Forward Looking StatementsThis press release
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended,
including, without limitation, implied and express statements about
Prime Medicine’s beliefs and expectations regarding: the timing,
progress, and results of its Wilson’s Disease program, including
the timing of the release of updated data, IND-enabling activities,
and the opening of an IND and/or CTA application; the potential for
its modular universal LNP platform to precisely deliver Prime
Editors, correct disease-causing mutations in the liver, and
deliver transformative treatments for Wilson’s Disease, GSD1b, and
other rare and non-rare liver indications; the modular universal
LNP platform’s ability to be used repeatedly to generate candidates
that offer an improved safety profile and biodistribution compared
to other LNPs in development; the potential for the treatment of
Wilson’s Disease with Prime Editors to result in efficient editing
well above the threshold anticipated to be necessary to reverse
disease manifestations; the safety profile, tolerability, and
durability of its universal LNP; the initiation, timing, progress,
and results of its research and development programs, preclinical
studies and future clinical trials; the modularity of the Prime
Editing platform and the benefits thereof; the potential for Prime
Editors to more precisely and effectively achieve genetic
modification; the potential for Prime Editors to repair genetic
mutations and offer curative genetic therapies for a wide spectrum
of diseases; the potential of Prime Editors to reproducibly correct
disease-causing genetic mutations across different tissues, organs
and cell types; its expectations regarding the breadth of Prime
Editing technology and the implementation of its strategic plans
for its business, programs, and technology; and the potential of
Prime Editing to unlock opportunities across thousands of potential
indications. The words “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,”
“should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,”
“expect,” “estimate,” “seek,” “predict,” “future,” “project,”
“potential,” “continue,” “target” and similar words or expressions
are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not
all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.
Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based
on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to
a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may
cause actual events or results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in
this press release, including, without limitation, risks associated
with: the authorization, initiation, and conduct of preclinical and
IND-enabling studies and other development requirements for
potential product candidates, including uncertainties related to
opening INDs and obtaining regulatory approvals; risks related to
the development and optimization of new technologies, the results
of preclinical studies, or clinical studies not being predictive of
future results in connection with future studies; the scope of
protection Prime Medicine is able to establish and maintain for
intellectual property rights covering its Prime Editing technology;
and the effect of unfavorable macroeconomic conditions or market
volatility resulting from general economic, industry and market
conditions, including rising interest rates, inflation, and adverse
developments affecting the financial services industry. These and
other risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail in
the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Prime Medicine’s most recent
Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended June 30, 2024, as well as any subsequent filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any
forward-looking statements represent Prime Medicine’s views only as
of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as
of any subsequent date. Prime Medicine explicitly disclaims any
obligation to update any forward-looking statements subject to any
obligations under applicable law. No representations or warranties
(expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such
forward-looking statements.
Investor ContactHannah DeresiewiczPrecision
AQ212-362-1200hannah.deresiewicz@precisionaq.com
Media ContactDan Budwick,
1ABdan@1ABmedia.com
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