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4 years ago
SELB~~$2.94,,Selecta Biosciences : Announces Data in Non-Human Primates, Further Validating Multiple Potential Benefits of the ImmTORTM Platform in Gene Therapy
01/06/2021 | 08:00am EST
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- Co-administration of AAV8 and ImmTOR shows first dose benefit of higher and more durable transgene expression, in addition to mitigating the formation of neutralizing antibodies, compared to AAV8 alone โ
- Data support rapid advancement of Selectaโs gene therapy pipeline, including lead candidate, MMA-101, for the treatment of methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) in collaboration with AskBio, and ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency -
WATERTOWN, Mass., Jan. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Selecta Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: SELB, โSelectaโ), a biotechnology company leveraging its clinically validated ImmTORโข platform to develop tolerogenic therapies that selectively mitigate unwanted immune responses, today announced preclinical data that validate the ImmTOR platformโs potential to enhance the efficacy, safety and durability of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector gene therapies. In the study, Selecta observed that co-administration of AAV vector and ImmTOR in non-human primates (NHP) enabled higher and more durable transgene expression as well as robust inhibition of anti-AAV8 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and neutralizing antibodies.
The observation that co-administration of AAV vector and ImmTOR leads to higher transgene expression demonstrates the potential for dosing lower levels of AAV gene therapies when combined with ImmTORโimproving patient safety and lowering costs. Further, long-term gene therapy data demonstrate that expression of systemic AAV gene therapies may wane over time, a limitation that ImmTOR has the potential to address. Finally, AAV gene therapies cannot currently be re-dosed due to the formation of neutralizing antibodies to the AAV vector. In this study, ImmTOR mitigated the formation of these neutralizing antibodies in NHPs, thereby potentially allowing for redosing, another key unmet need in the gene therapy field.
โWe are encouraged by the promising data announced today, demonstrating ImmTORโs potential to address current limitations in the gene therapy field by both increasing transgene expression levels and durability following the first dose as well as inhibiting the formation of AAV-specific antibodies,โ said Carsten Brunn, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Selecta. โOur findings indicate that ImmTOR potentially enables gene therapy administration at a lower initial dose and could allow for incremental gene therapy redosing, firmly supporting ImmTORโs ability to enhance the efficacy, safety, and durability of these therapies. Our results, along with previous studies supporting ImmTORโs hepatoprotective properties in liver injury models, move us one step closer to transforming the lives of patients and realizing the full potential of gene therapy. We look forward to leveraging these findings in our OTC deficiency and our MMA programs, the latter of which we expect to initiate in the first half of 2021 in collaboration with AskBio.โ
In the study, researchers evaluated the administration of a single intravenous (IV) infusion of a recombinant adeno-associated serotype eight capsid directing expression of a transgene encoding secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (AAV8-SEAP), a widely used reporter gene transgene, either alone or co-administered with ImmTOR in NHP. Five cohorts of NHP each received 2x1012 vector genomes (vg)/kilogram (kg) of AAV8-SEAP either alone (cohort 1) or in combination with a single dose of 6 mg/kg ImmTOR (cohorts 2 and 3) or three-monthly doses of 3 mg/kg ImmTOR (cohorts 4 and 5). Cohort 3 received ImmTOR admixed with AAV8-SEAP prior to infusion. All other cohorts received sequential infusions of ImmTOR followed by AAV8-SEAP on Day 0. Cohorts four and five received additional doses of 3 mg/kg ImmTOR at day 28 and day 56 of the study, with cohort five also receiving additional low doses of AAV8-SEAP (0.2x1012 vg/kg) at day 28 and day 56.
Selecta intends to present these findings at the annual meeting of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) in May.
Key findings include:
Transgene expression peaked at Day 28 in animals receiving AAV8-SEAP alone (cohort 1). At Day 28, cohorts 2-5 treated with 2x1012 vg/kg AAV8-SEAP + ImmTOR showed an average of 1.6x higher levels of transgene expression, indicating a substantial first dose benefit of ImmTOR on transgene expression.
After Day 28, serum SEAP levels in cohort 1 treated with AAV8-SEAP alone dropped precipitously, declining 93.5% by Day 84, whereas cohorts treated with AAV8-SEAP + ImmTOR showed stable expression of SEAP through Day 84, demonstrating ImmTORโs notable impact on durability of transgene expression. At Day 84, cohorts 2-4 treated with ImmTOR plus a single dose of AAV8-SEAP showed an average of 23.3x higher SEAP expression compared to cohort 1. Cohort 5 that received two additional low doses of AAV8-SEAP on Days 28 and 56 showed 36.7x higher transgene expression than cohort 1 on Day 84.
All ImmTOR-treated cohorts achieved robust inhibition of anti-AAV8 IgG antibodies through day 56. This effect was strengthened with repeat-dosing of ImmTOR at days 28 and 56. Five out of six animals in cohorts 4 and 5 that received three monthly doses of ImmTOR had neutralizing antibody titers of less than 1:5 at day 84, as measured with a cell-based neutralizing assay, while the sixth animal showed a low titer of 1:8. In contrast, all three animals in cohort 1, treated with AAV8-SEAP alone, had neutralizing antibody titers greater than 1:3400.
Overall, there was a high degree of correlation between Day 84 anti-AAV8 IgG and neutralizing antibody titers across all animals and all cohorts.
โImmTOR holds significant promise and could be revolutionary for the gene therapy field,โ said Jude Samulski, Ph.D., president and chief scientific officer of Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio). โThe data announced today suggest the use of ImmTOR in conjunction with gene therapy has the potential to overcome significant challenges in the fieldโmaking these therapies safer and more effective at lower doses as well as allowing for repeat dosing. We are proud to partner with Selecta and look forward to advancing our investigational therapy through clinical development for patients with MMA and their families.โ
Selecta, in partnership with AskBio, expects to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of MMA-101 and ImmTOR for patients with MMA in the first half of 2021, with preliminary data expected by the end of 2021.
About Methylmalonic Acidemia
Methylmalonic Acidemia (MMA) is a rare monogenic disorder in which the body cannot break down certain proteins and fats. This metabolic disease may lead to hyperammonemia and is associated with long-term complications including feeding problems, intellectual disability, chronic kidney disease and inflammation of the pancreas. Symptoms of MMA usually appear in early infancy and vary from mild to life-threatening. Without treatment, this disorder can lead to coma and in some cases death.
About Ornithine Transcarbamylase (OTC) Deficiency
OTC deficiency is an X-linked genetic disorder caused by genetic mutations in the OTC gene, which is critical for proper function of the urea cycle. Individuals with OTC experience accumulation of excessive levels of ammonia in the blood. The most severe form of the disorder presents within the first few days of life and is characterized by an inability to control body temperature and breathing rate, seizures, coma, developmental delays and intellectual disability. Because the disorder is X-linked, males are most often affected by the severe form of the disease. Less severe forms of the disorder are characterized by delirium, erratic behavior, aversion to high protein foods, vomiting and seizures. Most approved therapies are focused on reducing the amount of ammonia in the blood and are not curative. Currently, the only curative approach is liver transplantation at an early age, which can be associated with severe side effects and complications.
About Selecta Biosciences, Inc.
Selecta Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: SELB) is leveraging its clinically validated ImmTORโข platform to develop tolerogenic therapies that selectively mitigate unwanted immune responses. With a proven ability to induce tolerance to highly immunogenic proteins, ImmTOR has the potential to amplify the efficacy of biologic therapies, including redosing of life-saving gene therapies, as well as restore the bodyโs natural self-tolerance in autoimmune diseases. The companyโs first program aimed at addressing immunogenicity to AAV gene therapies is expected to enter clinical trials in early 2021 in partnership with AskBio for the treatment of methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), a rare metabolic disorder. A wholly-owned program focused on addressing IgA nephropathy driven by ImmTOR and a therapeutic enzyme is also in development among additional product candidates. Selecta recently licensed its Phase 3 clinical product candidate, SEL-212, in chronic refractory gout to Sobi. For more information, please visit www.selectabio.com.
Selecta Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about the future expectations, plans and prospects of Selecta Biosciences, Inc. (โthe companyโ), including without limitation, statements regarding the unique proprietary technology platform of the company, and the unique proprietary platform of its partners, the potential of ImmTOR to enable re-dosing of AAV gene therapy, the potential treatment applications of product candidates utilizing the ImmTOR platform in areas such as gene therapy, the ability of the Company and AskBio to develop gene therapy products using ImmTOR and AskBioโs technology, the novelty of treatment paradigms that the Company is able to develop, whether the observations made in non-human primate study subjects will translate to studies performed with human beings, the potential of any therapies developed by the company and AskBio to fulfill unmet medical needs, the companyโs plan to apply its ImmTOR technology platform to a range of biologics for rare and orphan genetic diseases, the potential of the companyโs intellectual property to enable repeat administration in gene therapy product candidates and products, the ability to re-dose patients and the potential of ImmTOR to allow for re-dosing, the potential to safely re-dose AAV, the ability to restore transgene expression, the potential of the ImmTOR technology platform generally and the companyโs ability to grow its strategic partnerships, and other statements containing the words โanticipate,โ โbelieve,โ โcontinue,โ โcould,โ โestimate,โ โexpect,โ โhypothesize,โ โintend,โ โmay,โ โplan,โ โpotential,โ โpredict,โ โproject,โ โshould,โ โtarget,โ โwould,โ and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, but not limited to, the following: the uncertainties inherent in the initiation, completion and cost of clinical trials including proof of concept trials, including the uncertain outcomes, the availability and timing of data from ongoing and future clinical trials and the results of such trials, whether preliminary results from a particular clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of that trial or whether results of early clinical trials will be indicative of the results of later clinical trials, the ability to predict results of studies performed on human beings based on results of studies performed on non-human primates, the unproven approach of the companyโs ImmTOR technology, potential delays in enrollment of patients, undesirable side effects of the companyโs product candidates, its reliance on third parties to manufacture its product candidates and to conduct its clinical trials, the companyโs inability to maintain its existing or future collaborations, licenses or contractual relationships, its inability to protect its proprietary technology and intellectual property, potential delays in regulatory approvals, the availability of funding sufficient for its foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements, the companyโs recurring losses from operations and negative cash flows from operations raise substantial doubt regarding its ability to continue as a going concern, substantial fluctuation in the price of its common stock, and other important factors discussed in the โRisk Factorsโ section of the companyโs most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and in other filings that the company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the companyโs views only as of the date of its publication and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. The company specifically disclaims any intention to update any forward-looking statements included in this press release.
For Investors:
Bruce Mackle
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
+1-929-469-3859
bmackle@lifesciadvisors.com
For Media:
Meredith Sosulski, Ph.D.
LifeSci Communications, LLC
+1-929-469-3851
msosulski@lifescicomms.com
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Source: Selecta Biosciences, Inc.
2021 GlobeNewswire, Inc., source Press Releases
realfast95
4 years ago
First Patient Randomized in the Phase 3 DISSOLVE Clinical Program of SEL-212 for Chronic Refractory Gout
September 23 2020 - 07:00AM
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) (Sobiโข) (STO:SOBI) and Selecta Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SELB) today announced the commencement of the phase 3 clinical program of SEL-212 for chronic refractory gout, with the randomization of the first patient in the study.
โWe are pleased to have commenced the phase 3 DISSOLVE program evaluating SEL-212 in two phase 3 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies,โ said Carsten Brunn, Ph.D., President and CEO of Selecta. โSEL-212 serves as an important validation of Selectaโs ImmTORTM platform, and we are proud to have advanced it into late-stage clinical studies. In partnership with Sobi, we look forward to enrolling patients in the studies and continuing to evaluate SEL-212 as a new, once-monthly treatment option for patients with chronic refractory gout.โ
Guido Oelkers, President and CEO of Sobi, added, โSEL-212 has the potential to significantly improve outcomes for patients with chronic refractory gout, and we are proud to have taken the next step towards making this therapy accessible to patients unable to maintain treatment with the currently available options.โ
Sobi has in-licensed SEL-212 from Selecta and will be responsible for development, regulatory and commercial activities in all markets outside of China. The phase 3 program for SEL-212 is being run by Selecta and funded by Sobi. Topline data from the Phase 3 clinical program is expected in the second half of 2022. Biologics license application (BLA) filing to the US FDA for SEL-212 is expected in Q1, 2023.
On commencement of this phase 3 program, Sobi will pay a milestone of 5M USD to Selecta.
About the DISSOLVE Clinical Program
The phase 3 DISSOLVE clinical program consists of two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of SEL-212 (NCT04513366), titled โA Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of SEL-212 in Patients With Gout Refractory to Conventional Therapy,โ in which SEL-212 will be evaluated at two doses of ImmTOR (0.1 mg/kg and 0.15 mg/kg), and one dose of pegadricase (0.2 mg/kg) in both studies. Each trial will aim to enroll 105 patients (35 at each dose level and 35 on placebo). In DISSOLVE I, safety and efficacy will be evaluated at six months and will have a six-month extension. DISSOLVE II will assess safety and efficacy at only the six-month time point, with no extension. The primary endpoint in both studies is serum uric acid levels (SUA) at six months, a well-validated measure of disease severity in chronic refractory gout. Secondary endpoints include tender and swollen joint counts, tophus burden, patient reported outcomes of activity limitation and quality of life and gout flare incidence. For more details about the study, visit clinicaltrials.gov.
About SEL-212
SEL-212 is a novel combination product candidate designed to sustain control of serum uric acid (SUA) levels in patients with chronic refractory gout, potentially reducing harmful tissue urate deposits which when left untreated can lead to debilitating gout flares and joint deformity.1 SEL-212 consists of pegadricase, Selectaโs proprietary pegylated uricase, co-administered with ImmTOR, designed to mitigate the formation of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs). ADAs develop due to unwanted immune responses to biologic medicines, may reduce their efficacy and tolerability, which remains an issue across multiple therapeutic modalities and disease states including chronic refractory gout.
About Chronic Refractory Gout
Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis with more than 8.3 million patients in the United States having been diagnosed with gout, which is caused by high levels of uric acid in the body that accumulate around the joints and other tissues, and can result in flares that cause intense pain. Approximately 160,000 patients in the United States suffer from chronic refractory gout, a painful and debilitating condition in which patients are not able to get their SUA levels below 6 mg/dL and therefore have several flares per year and can develop nodular masses of uric acid crystals known as tophi.1 Elevated SUA levels have been associated with diseases of the heart, vascular system, metabolism, kidney and joints.2
About Selecta Biosciences, Inc.
Selecta Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: SELB) is leveraging its clinically validated ImmTORโข platform to develop tolerogenic therapies that selectively mitigate unwanted immune responses. With a proven ability to induce tolerance to highly immunogenic proteins, ImmTOR has the potential to amplify the efficacy of biologic therapies, including redosing of life-saving gene therapies, as well as restore the bodyโs natural self-tolerance in autoimmune diseases. The companyโs first program aimed at addressing immunogenicity to AAV gene therapies is expected to enter clinical trials in early 2021 in partnership with AskBio for the treatment of methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), a rare metabolic disorder. A wholly-owned program focused on addressing IgA nephropathy driven by ImmTOR and a therapeutic enzyme is also in development among additional product candidates. Selecta recently licensed its Phase 3 clinical program in chronic refractory gout to Sobi. For more information, please visit www.selectabio.com.