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DGAP-News: AFFiRiS AG
/ Key word(s): Study results
AFFiRiS announces publication in Movement Disorders Journal of positive clinical results of a Phase 1 trial in early Multiple System Atrophy - Specific active immunotherapies (SAITs) PD01A and PD03A targeting aSyn assessed in randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 trial with 30 patients. - Treatment with PD01A and PD03A was safe and well tolerated and triggered a rapid and long-lasting antibody response that specifically targeted the aSyn protein. - AFFiRiS has begun further clinical development planning activities for SAIT candidates in this indication. Vienna, Austria, September 10, 2020 - AFFiRiS, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel disease-modifying specific active immunotherapies (SAITs), today announced the publication of positive results of a phase 1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) in the peer-reviewed Movement Disorders Journal (). MSA is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease that is caused by the progressive loss of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Only very limited and symptomatic treatment options are available for patients with MSA. Symptoms worsen continuously with rapid progression after the onset of disease and a mean survival time of 6-10 years. The results of this 52-week phase 1 trial in 30 patients with early MSA showed that both immunotherapies, PD01A and PD03A, were safe and well tolerated after five subcutaneous injections. Treatment-related adverse events were similar to site reactions typically observed in vaccination trials. Immunization with PD01A resulted in a significant increase in IgG titers against the immunizing PD01 peptide, and 89% of treated patients developed a PD01-specific antibody response after receiving all injections. Induced antibodies displayed clear reactivity to the aSyn target epitope. Moreover, the antibody response increased rapidly following a booster injection, suggesting that the priming immunizations produced a significant memory effect, and antibody levels persisted until the end of the study. Titers and antibody responder rate (58%) were lower in the PD03A treated group. No significant changes were found in clinical rating scale scores during the study period in all groups. However, the study was not designed to determine efficacy effects. "Current treatment options for MSA are limited and provide only some symptomatic relief. Disease modifying therapies remain therefore an urgent unmet need," says Wassilios Meissner, Professor of Neurology and Chairman of the French Reference Center for MSA at the University Hospital Bordeaux, principal investigator of the trial. "The results of this trial in terms of safety, tolerability and immune reaction following repeated administrations of two active immunotherapies, PD01A and PD03A, warrant further investigation of SAITs in MSA patients." "We are encouraged by these clinical results which support aSyn targeting therapies as a promising approach to modify disease progression in MSA. Planning activities are currently ongoing for future clinical studies in MSA," adds Noel Barrett, Ph.D., CEO of AFFiRiS AG. "With our Specific Active Immunotherapies, we aim to harness the power of the body's own immune system to target and fight the root causes of neurodegenerative diseases, rather than just treating symptoms. Based on our AFFITOME(R) Technology, AFFiRiS has developed a pipeline of preclinical and clinical stage immunotherapy candidates designed to effectively treat neurodegenerative diseases such as MSA, Parkinson's and dementia with Lewy bodies, in order to improve the lives of severely ill patients." About neurodegenerative diseases:
10.09.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. |
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