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Published in: Neurology and Therapy 1/2021

Open Access 01-06-2021 | Polyneuropathy | Study Protocol

Design and Rationale of the Global Phase 3 NEURO-TTRansform Study of Antisense Oligonucleotide AKCEA-TTR-LRx (ION-682884-CS3) in Hereditary Transthyretin-Mediated Amyloid Polyneuropathy

Authors: Teresa Coelho, Yukio Ando, Merrill D. Benson, John L. Berk, Márcia Waddington-Cruz, Peter J. Dyck, Julian D. Gillmore, Sami L. Khella, William J. Litchy, Laura Obici, Cecilia Monteiro, Li-Jung Tai, Nicholas J. Viney, Gustavo Buchele, Michela Brambatti, Shiangtung W. Jung, Louis St. L. O’Dea, Sotirios Tsimikas, Eugene Schneider, Richard S. Geary, Brett P. Monia, Morie Gertz

Published in: Neurology and Therapy | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Introduction

AKCEA-TTR-LRx is a ligand-conjugated antisense (LICA) drug in development for the treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR), a fatal disease caused by mutations in the transthyretin (TTR) gene. AKCEA-TTR-LRx shares the same nucleotide sequence as inotersen, an antisense medicine approved for use in hATTR polyneuropathy (hATTR-PN). Unlike inotersen, AKCEA-TTR-LRx is conjugated to a triantennary N-acetylgalactosamine moiety that supports receptor-mediated uptake by hepatocytes, the primary source of circulating TTR. This advanced design increases drug potency to allow for lower and less frequent dosing. The NEURO-TTRansform study will investigate whether AKCEA-TTR-LRx is safe and efficacious, with the aim of improving neurologic function and quality of life in hATTR-PN patients.

Methods/Design

Approximately 140 adults with stage 1 (independent ambulation) or 2 (requires ambulatory support) hATTR-PN are anticipated to enroll in this multicenter, open-label, randomized, phase 3 study. Patients will be assigned 6:1 to AKCEA-TTR-LRx 45 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks or inotersen 300 mg once weekly until the prespecified week 35 interim efficacy analysis, after which patients receiving inotersen will receive AKCEA-TTR-LRx 45 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks. All patients will then receive AKCEA-TTR-LRx through the remainder of the study treatment period. The final efficacy analysis at week 66 will compare the AKCEA-TTR-LRx arm with the historical placebo arm from the phase 3 trial of inotersen (NEURO-TTR). The primary outcome measures are between-group differences in the change from baseline in serum TTR, modified Neuropathy Impairment Score + 7, and Norfolk Quality of Life—Diabetic Neuropathy questionnaire.

Conclusion

NEURO-TTRansform is designed to determine whether targeted delivery of AKCEA-TTR-LRx to hepatocytes with lower and less frequent doses will translate into clinical and quality-of-life benefits for patients with hATTR-PN.

Trial Registration

The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04136184) and EudraCT (2019-001698-10).
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Design and Rationale of the Global Phase 3 NEURO-TTRansform Study of Antisense Oligonucleotide AKCEA-TTR-LRx (ION-682884-CS3) in Hereditary Transthyretin-Mediated Amyloid Polyneuropathy
Authors
Teresa Coelho
Yukio Ando
Merrill D. Benson
John L. Berk
Márcia Waddington-Cruz
Peter J. Dyck
Julian D. Gillmore
Sami L. Khella
William J. Litchy
Laura Obici
Cecilia Monteiro
Li-Jung Tai
Nicholas J. Viney
Gustavo Buchele
Michela Brambatti
Shiangtung W. Jung
Louis St. L. O’Dea
Sotirios Tsimikas
Eugene Schneider
Richard S. Geary
Brett P. Monia
Morie Gertz
Publication date
01-06-2021
Publisher
Springer Healthcare
Keyword
Polyneuropathy
Published in
Neurology and Therapy / Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 2193-8253
Electronic ISSN: 2193-6536
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40120-021-00235-6

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