– TransCon CNP is designed to address all aspects of achondroplasia by providing continuous exposure to C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) at safe and effective levels –
COPENHAGEN, Denmark I July 18, 2019 I Ascendis Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ASND), a biopharmaceutical company that utilizes its innovative TransCon technologies to address significant unmet medical needs, today announced the filing of an investigational new drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate the ACcomplisH Trial, a global phase 2 trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TransCon CNP in children with achondroplasia.
“With the phase 2 ACcomplisH Trial, we aim to demonstrate that once-weekly TransCon CNP, which provides continuous exposure to CNP, is a potential therapeutic option for children with achondroplasia,” said Jonathan Leff, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Ascendis Pharma. “By delivering continuous levels of CNP, TransCon CNP is expected to help restore balance to the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 pathway, thereby addressing not only height but the many skeletal complications and comorbidities that can have life-altering implications for children with achondroplasia. Our hope is to offer a potential new therapeutic option that addresses these challenges to improve the overall health and well-being of children with achondroplasia.”
TransCon CNP is a long-acting prodrug of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in development for children with achondroplasia. Phase 1 results demonstrated that TransCon CNP provided continuous exposure to CNP with a pharmacokinetic profile designed to maximize efficacy with once-weekly dosing. TransCon CNP was generally well tolerated at doses up to 150 µg/kg, with no serious adverse events or anti-CNP antibodies reported. TransCon CNP received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the U.S. FDA in February 2019.
Achondroplasia is the most common form of dwarfism for which there is no FDA-approved therapy. Individuals living with achondroplasia may experience severe skeletal complications and comorbidities. For example, abnormal development of the vertebra can lead to sleep apnea, chronic back and leg pain from lower spine impingement and sudden infant death from cervical compression. Chronic ear infections due to abnormal eustachian tubes can lead to hearing loss and speech delay.
The ACcomplisH Trial is a global, phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that will enroll approximately 60 children, ages 2 to 10 years, with achondroplasia. Subjects in each dose cohort will be randomized to receive TransCon CNP or placebo. Four doses of TransCon CNP will be tested sequentially, with the addition of a fifth dose, if needed, based on emerging data. The primary endpoint is annualized height velocity at 12 months. Key secondary endpoints include change in body proportionality at 12 months and change in body mass index at 12 months. All subjects who complete the ACcomplisH Trial will have the opportunity to receive TransCon CNP in a long-term extension trial. Ascendis expects to enroll the first subjects in the ACcomplisH Trial later this year.
The company is also conducting ACHieve, a natural history study that aims to provide important observational insights into the experience of children living with achondroplasia.
About TransCon™ Technology
TransCon is short for “transient conjugation.” The proprietary TransCon platform is an innovative technology to create new therapies that optimize therapeutic effect, including efficacy, safety and dosing frequency. TransCon molecules have three components: an unmodified parent drug, an inert carrier that protects it, and a linker that temporarily binds the two. When bound, the carrier inactivates and shields the parent drug from clearance. When injected into the body, physiologic pH and temperature conditions initiate the release of the active, unmodified parent drug in a predictable manner. Because the parent drug is unmodified, its original mode of action is expected to be maintained. TransCon technology can be applied broadly to a protein, peptide or a small molecule in multiple therapeutic areas, and can be used systemically or locally.
About Achondroplasia
Achondroplasia is the most common form of dwarfism, affecting approximately 250,000 people worldwide. Individuals living with achondroplasia may experience severe skeletal complications and comorbidities. For example, abnormal development of the vertebra can lead to sleep apnea, chronic back and leg pain from lower spine impingement and sudden infant death from cervical compression. Chronic ear infections due to abnormal eustachian tubes can lead to hearing loss and speech delay.
The condition is caused by an autosomal dominant activating mutation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene that leads to an imbalance in the effects of the FGFR3 and CNP signaling pathways. Preclinical and clinical data show that the CNP pathway stimulates growth. Increased CNP counteracts the effects of the FGFR3 mutation downstream, thus promoting bone growth.
About Ascendis Pharma A/S
Ascendis Pharma is applying its innovative platform technology to build a leading, fully integrated biopharma company focused on making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Guided by its core values of patients, science and passion, the company utilizes its TransCon™ technologies to create new and potentially best-in-class therapies.
Ascendis Pharma currently has a pipeline of three independent rare disease endocrinology product candidates in clinical development and has established oncology as its second therapeutic area of focus. Additionally, Ascendis Pharma has multi-product collaborations with Sanofi in diabetes and Genentech in the field of ophthalmology and continues to expand into additional therapeutic areas for both internal and external development.
Ascendis is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with offices in Heidelberg, Germany and Palo Alto, California.
For more information, please visit www.ascendispharma.com.
SOURCE: Ascendis Pharma
Post Views: 13
– TransCon CNP is designed to address all aspects of achondroplasia by providing continuous exposure to C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) at safe and effective levels –
COPENHAGEN, Denmark I July 18, 2019 I Ascendis Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ASND), a biopharmaceutical company that utilizes its innovative TransCon technologies to address significant unmet medical needs, today announced the filing of an investigational new drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate the ACcomplisH Trial, a global phase 2 trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TransCon CNP in children with achondroplasia.
“With the phase 2 ACcomplisH Trial, we aim to demonstrate that once-weekly TransCon CNP, which provides continuous exposure to CNP, is a potential therapeutic option for children with achondroplasia,” said Jonathan Leff, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Ascendis Pharma. “By delivering continuous levels of CNP, TransCon CNP is expected to help restore balance to the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 pathway, thereby addressing not only height but the many skeletal complications and comorbidities that can have life-altering implications for children with achondroplasia. Our hope is to offer a potential new therapeutic option that addresses these challenges to improve the overall health and well-being of children with achondroplasia.”
TransCon CNP is a long-acting prodrug of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in development for children with achondroplasia. Phase 1 results demonstrated that TransCon CNP provided continuous exposure to CNP with a pharmacokinetic profile designed to maximize efficacy with once-weekly dosing. TransCon CNP was generally well tolerated at doses up to 150 µg/kg, with no serious adverse events or anti-CNP antibodies reported. TransCon CNP received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the U.S. FDA in February 2019.
Achondroplasia is the most common form of dwarfism for which there is no FDA-approved therapy. Individuals living with achondroplasia may experience severe skeletal complications and comorbidities. For example, abnormal development of the vertebra can lead to sleep apnea, chronic back and leg pain from lower spine impingement and sudden infant death from cervical compression. Chronic ear infections due to abnormal eustachian tubes can lead to hearing loss and speech delay.
The ACcomplisH Trial is a global, phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that will enroll approximately 60 children, ages 2 to 10 years, with achondroplasia. Subjects in each dose cohort will be randomized to receive TransCon CNP or placebo. Four doses of TransCon CNP will be tested sequentially, with the addition of a fifth dose, if needed, based on emerging data. The primary endpoint is annualized height velocity at 12 months. Key secondary endpoints include change in body proportionality at 12 months and change in body mass index at 12 months. All subjects who complete the ACcomplisH Trial will have the opportunity to receive TransCon CNP in a long-term extension trial. Ascendis expects to enroll the first subjects in the ACcomplisH Trial later this year.
The company is also conducting ACHieve, a natural history study that aims to provide important observational insights into the experience of children living with achondroplasia.
About TransCon™ Technology
TransCon is short for “transient conjugation.” The proprietary TransCon platform is an innovative technology to create new therapies that optimize therapeutic effect, including efficacy, safety and dosing frequency. TransCon molecules have three components: an unmodified parent drug, an inert carrier that protects it, and a linker that temporarily binds the two. When bound, the carrier inactivates and shields the parent drug from clearance. When injected into the body, physiologic pH and temperature conditions initiate the release of the active, unmodified parent drug in a predictable manner. Because the parent drug is unmodified, its original mode of action is expected to be maintained. TransCon technology can be applied broadly to a protein, peptide or a small molecule in multiple therapeutic areas, and can be used systemically or locally.
About Achondroplasia
Achondroplasia is the most common form of dwarfism, affecting approximately 250,000 people worldwide. Individuals living with achondroplasia may experience severe skeletal complications and comorbidities. For example, abnormal development of the vertebra can lead to sleep apnea, chronic back and leg pain from lower spine impingement and sudden infant death from cervical compression. Chronic ear infections due to abnormal eustachian tubes can lead to hearing loss and speech delay.
The condition is caused by an autosomal dominant activating mutation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene that leads to an imbalance in the effects of the FGFR3 and CNP signaling pathways. Preclinical and clinical data show that the CNP pathway stimulates growth. Increased CNP counteracts the effects of the FGFR3 mutation downstream, thus promoting bone growth.
About Ascendis Pharma A/S
Ascendis Pharma is applying its innovative platform technology to build a leading, fully integrated biopharma company focused on making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Guided by its core values of patients, science and passion, the company utilizes its TransCon™ technologies to create new and potentially best-in-class therapies.
Ascendis Pharma currently has a pipeline of three independent rare disease endocrinology product candidates in clinical development and has established oncology as its second therapeutic area of focus. Additionally, Ascendis Pharma has multi-product collaborations with Sanofi in diabetes and Genentech in the field of ophthalmology and continues to expand into additional therapeutic areas for both internal and external development.
Ascendis is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with offices in Heidelberg, Germany and Palo Alto, California.
For more information, please visit www.ascendispharma.com.
SOURCE: Ascendis Pharma
Post Views: 13
