Open-label, single dose clinical trial of scAAV9.U7.ACCA via peripheral limb vein injection for Duchenne muscular dystrophy boys who have a duplication of exon 2.
The proposed clinical trial is a systemic (intravenous) delivery of scAAV9.U7.ACCA for DMD patients with a duplication of exon 2 in the DMD gene. Preclinical data shows that the small nuclear RNA (snRNA) construct delivered by the scAAV9.U7.ACCA vector causes significant skipping of exon 2, resulting in exclusion of the exon from the mature messenger RNA (mRNA) with a high degree of efficiency, leading to mRNA containing only a single exon 2 (wild type \[WT\] mRNA) or no copies of exon 2 (Del2 mRNA). Translation of the wild-type mRNA results in entirely normal dystrophin protein, whereas translation of the Del2 mRNA via translational initiation of an internal ribosome entry sequence, or IRES) results in a highly functional isoform expressed in patients known to walk into their eighth decade. The study is designed as an open-label trial to assess safety and obtain preliminary efficacy data. scAAV9.U7.ACCA will be delivered to the systemic circulation via peripheral limb vein.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
3
A single dose of scAAV9.U7.ACCA will be systemically delivered via a peripheral vein injection.
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Number of Participants With Unacceptable Toxicity.
Unacceptable toxicity is defined as the occurrence of two or more unexpected Grade III or higher treatment-related toxicities, as defined by CTCAE 5.0.
Time frame: 2 years
Change in Dystrophin Expression From Baseline Following Treatment With scAAV9.U7.ACCA.
Expression of dystrophin will be measured by immunofluorescent (IF) staining in muscle biopsies taken before and after gene therapy. This method allows for visualization of the protein and its proper location in the muscle fiber in comparison to normal protein expression.
Time frame: 1 year
Change in Dystrophin Expression From Baseline Following Treatment With scAAV9.U7.ACCA.
Expression of dystrophin will be quantified by western blotting in muscle biopsies taken before and after gene therapy. This method allows for quantification of the protein amount in comparison to normal protein expression amounts.
Time frame: 1 year
Changes in Percent of Exon 2 Skipping/Exclusion in the Dystrophin mRNA Transcript.
Exon 2 exclusion will be measured using RT-PCR analysis.
Time frame: 1 year
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.