Neurogene Announces RMAT Designation for NGN-401 Investigational Gene Therapy for Rett Syndrome
07 August 2024 - 9:30PM
Business Wire
Designation based on preliminary clinical
evidence from ongoing NGN-401 clinical trial that shows potential
to address unmet medical needs in Rett syndrome
RMAT designation provides an opportunity for an
Accelerated Approval pathway under the 21st Century Cures Act, and
is in addition to NGN-401’s selection by the FDA for the START
Pilot Program
Neurogene Inc. (NASDAQ: NGNE), a clinical-stage company founded
to bring life-changing genetic medicines to patients and families
affected by rare neurological diseases, today announced that
NGN-401 received Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT)
designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for
the treatment of Rett syndrome. The designation was based on
preliminary clinical evidence from the ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical
trial with NGN-401 that shows potential to address unmet medical
needs in this disease.
“We appreciate the FDA’s ongoing commitment to expedite
development of our NGN-401 gene therapy for Rett syndrome, with
RMAT designation following NGN-401’s selection for the FDA’s START
Pilot Program, two synergistic initiatives designed to more rapidly
advance promising treatments for patients with unmet medical
needs,” said Rachel McMinn, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive
Officer of Neurogene. “RMAT and START designations underscore the
therapeutic potential of NGN-401 for Rett syndrome and reflect our
commitment to accelerate development of NGN-401. We continue to
expect to share interim efficacy data from the low-dose cohort in
the fourth quarter of this year, with plans for additional data,
including from the high-dose cohort, in the second half of
2025.”
RMAT designation is granted for regenerative medicines intended
to treat, modify, reverse, or cure a serious or life-threatening
disease or condition, with preliminary clinical evidence that
indicates that the drug has the potential to address unmet medical
needs. Benefits of the RMAT designation program include all the
benefits of Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy designation
programs, including early and frequent communications with FDA
senior managers, intensive guidance on efficient drug development
and eligibility for an Accelerated Approval pathway and Priority
Review.
In addition, NGN-401 was previously selected by the FDA for its
Support for clinical Trials Advancing Rare disease Therapeutics
(START) Pilot Program based on potential for clinical benefit and
clinical development program readiness. The START Program is
designed to provide the Sponsor access to more frequent and ad hoc
interactions with FDA staff to facilitate program development and
an expectation of generating high quality and reliable data to
support a potential future marketing application.
About NGN-401
NGN-401 is an investigational AAV9 gene therapy being developed
as a one-time treatment for Rett syndrome. It is the first clinical
candidate to deliver the full-length human MECP2 gene under the
control of Neurogene’s EXACT™ transgene regulation technology.
EXACT technology is an important advancement in gene therapy for
Rett syndrome, specifically because the disorder requires a
treatment approach that enables targeted levels of MECP2 transgene
expression without causing overexpression-related toxic effects
associated with conventional gene therapy.
NGN-401 was selected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) for its START Pilot Program. In addition to Regenerative
Medicine Advance Therapy (RMAT) designation, NGN-401 previously
received orphan drug designation, Fast Track designation and rare
pediatric designation from the FDA. Neurogene was previously
granted an INTERACT meeting with the FDA regarding the EXACT
technology. NGN-401 also received orphan designation and advanced
therapy medicinal product designation from the European Medicines
Agency (EMA) and the Innovative Licensing and Application Pathway
(ILAP) designation from the United Kingdom (UK) Medicines and
Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
About Neurogene
The mission of Neurogene is to treat devastating neurological
diseases to improve the lives of patients and families impacted by
these rare diseases. Neurogene is developing novel approaches and
treatments to address the limitations of conventional gene therapy
in central nervous system disorders. This includes selecting a
delivery approach to maximize distribution to target tissues and
designing products to maximize potency and purity for an optimized
efficacy and safety profile. The Company’s novel and proprietary
EXACT transgene regulation platform technology allows for the
delivery of therapeutic levels while limiting transgene toxicity
associated with conventional gene therapy. Neurogene has
constructed a state-of-the-art gene therapy manufacturing facility
in Houston, Texas. CGMP production of NGN-401 was conducted in this
facility and is expected to support pivotal clinical development
activities. For more information, visit www.neurogene.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not historical in
nature are intended to be, and hereby are identified as,
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may
discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans,
trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or
otherwise, based on current expectations and beliefs of the
management of Neurogene, as well as assumptions made by, and
information currently available to, management of Neurogene,
including, but not limited to, statements regarding: the
therapeutic potential and utility, efficacy and clinical benefits
of NGN-401; the safety and tolerability profile of NGN-401; trial
designs, clinical development plans and timing of the presentation
of clinical trial data for NGN-401, and the anticipated benefits of
the FDA’s RMAT designation as well as participation in the FDA’s
START program. Forward-looking statements generally include
statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer
to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,”
“will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,”
“likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “on track,”
and other similar expressions or the negative or plural of these
words, or other similar expressions that are predictions or
indicate future events or prospects, although not all
forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking
statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are
subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult
to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood, and degree of
occurrence, which could cause actual results to differ materially
from anticipated results and many of which are outside of
Neurogene’s control. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions
include, among other things: risks related to the potential for
negative impacts to patients dosed in the ongoing Phase 1/2
clinical trial for NGN-401, including patients in Cohort 2
receiving a high dose of NGN-401; the risk that the Company may not
be able to report its data on the predicted timeline; risks related
to Neurogene’s ability to effectively use the RMAT designation or
the START program to accelerate development of NGN-401 or its
ability to obtain regulatory approval for, and ultimately
commercialize, NGN-401 at all; and other risks and uncertainties
identified under the heading “Risk Factors” included in the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
on March 18, 2024, or its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2024,
and other filings that the Company has made and may make with the
SEC in the future. Nothing in this communication should be regarded
as a representation by any person that the forward-looking
statements set forth herein will be achieved or that the
contemplated results of any such forward-looking statements will be
achieved. Forward-looking statements in this communication speak
only as of the day they are made and are qualified in their
entirety by reference to the cautionary statements herein. Except
as required by applicable law, Neurogene undertakes no obligation
to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any
other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
This communication contains hyperlinks to information that is
not deemed to be incorporated by reference into this
communication.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240807880017/en/
Company: Cara Mayfield Vice President, Corporate Affairs
cara.mayfield@neurogene.com Investor: Melissa Forst Argot
Partners Neurogene@argotpartners.com
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