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Clinical trial launched to treat Sanfilippo B syndrome using gene therapy

A phase I/II gene therapy clinical trial for children suffering from Sanfilippo B syndrome, a rare genetic disease, enrolled a first patient in October of this year. The trial is being carried out and coordinated by the Institut Pasteur (the trial’s sponsor), Inserm, AFM-Téléthon and Vaincre les Maladies Lysosomales (VML). It is being conducted at Bicêtre Hospital (AP-HP) in Paris. If the treatment is successful it will pave the way towards the development of other gene therapy treatments using the same process.

Asthme enfant

© Inserm / Latron

Sanfilippo syndrome is a rare genetic disease (also referred to as an orphan disease) that affects approximately 1 in 100,000 children. It is caused by a gene mutation that affects lysosomes – organelles that play essential roles in cell functions – including digestion and protein recycling mechanisms. The first symptoms of the disease – hyperactivity, speech disorders – arise at roughly 2 years of age and lead to neurodegeneration, progressive hearing loss, gradual loss of autonomy and premature death, in most cases before the age of 20. There is currently no cure or treatments available to address either the symptoms or the progression of the disease.

This clinical trial is the result of 10 years of collaborative research* carried out by Professor Jean-Michel Heard and his team at the Institut Pasteur (Biotherapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases Unit, Institut Pasteur/Inserm U1115) in partnership with AFM-Téléthon and Vaincre les Maladies Lysosomales (VML). It is based on the development of a viral vector capable of delivering one of the four potentially mutated genes in Sanfilippo patients (corresponding to four essential lysosomal enzymes) to the patient’s brain cells. This trial focuses on the B form of the disease. Cells incorporate the missing gene, provided by the viral vector, into their DNA thus enabling them to produce the missing enzyme.

The treatment consists of several intracerebral vector deposits in several areas of the brain. It was administered to the first patient in October 2013 by Professors Marc Tardieu, from the pediatric neurology department at Bicêtre Hospital (AP-HP), and Michel Zerah, from the pediatric neurosurgery center at Necker Hospital (AP-HP). Scientists and medical professionals consider that the patient’s very young age – two and a half years old –increases the chances of the therapy’s success. Three other children will be enrolled into the trial over the coming months thanks to the cooperation and support of Vaincre les Maladies Lysosomales (VML).

The original construction of the viral vector, produced by the company uniQure, uses innovative technology which enables batches to be manufactured with a high level of purity. Because of this, the process is already compatible for large-scale use. uniQure was chosen as a partner  because it is the first company to receive market approval in Europe for a gene therapy treatment, Glybera®.

Due to the slow progression of Sanfilippo syndrome, benefits of the treatment on the natural progression of the disease will not be appreciated before several years. This trial, if successful, could also open the door to future applications of the viral vector in gene therapy treatments, particularly in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Medias
Press Contact
Service de presse de l’Institut Pasteur Nadine Peyrolo 01 45 68 81 47 rf.ruetsap@esserp Service de presse AFM-Téléthon Stéphanie Bardon, Gaëlle Monfort 01.69.47.28.28 rf.nohteneg.mfa@esserp
Sources
Safe, efficient, and reproducible gene therapy of the brain in the dog models of Sanfilippo and Hurler syndromes, Molecular Therapy, février 2011. Ellinwood NM, Ausseil J, Desmaris N, Bigou S, Liu S, Jens JK, Snella EM, Mohammed EE, Thomson CB, Raoul S, Joussemet B, Roux F, Chérel Y, Lajat Y, Piraud M, Benchaouir R, Hermening S, Petry H, Froissart R, Tardieu M, Ciron C, Moullier P, Parkes J, Kline KL, Maire I, Vanier MT, Heard JM, Colle MA. Incidence and natural history of mucopolysaccharidosis type III in France and comparison with United Kingdom and Greece, American Journal of Human Genetics, janvier 2011. Héron B, Mikaeloff Y, Froissart R, Caridade G, Maire I, Caillaud C, Levade T, Chabrol B, Feillet F, Ogier H, Valayannopoulos V, Michelakakis H, Zafeiriou D, Lavery L, Wraith E, Danos O, Heard JM, Tardieu M. Improved behavior and neuropathology in the mouse model of Sanfilippo type IIIB disease after adeno-associated virus-mediated gene transfer in the striatum, The Journal of Neuroscience, 10 novembre 2004. Cressant A, Desmaris N, Verot L, Bréjot T, Froissart R, Vanier MT, Maire I, Heard JM
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