Phase IA and IB Study of AAVrh.10hFXN Gene Therapy for the Cardiomyopathy of Friedreich's Ataxia

Overview

The purpose of this study is to test the safety and preliminary efficacy of AAVrh.10hFXN to treat the cardiomyopathy associated with Friedreich's ataxia (FA). AAVrh.10hFXN is a serotype rh.10 adeno-associated virus gene transfer vector coding for Frataxin (FXN). The drug is administered intravenously. This is a phase 1, open label, dose escalation study with a total of 25 participants.

Interventions

• Biological AAVrh.10hFXN, serotype rh.10 adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene transfer vector expressing the cDNA coding for human FXN
  AAVrh.10hFXN will be administered intravenously.
• Drug Prednisone
  All participants will remain immunosuppression therapy with prednisone for a total of 14 weeks.

Primary outcome measures

• Safety of AAVrh.10hFXN [Time frame: 5 Years]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Males and females, age 12 to 50
• Willing and able to provide informed consent
• Definitive diagnosis of FA, based on clinical phenotype and genotype (GAA expansion on both alleles)
• >600 GAA repeats in intron 1 in at least one allele
• FARS and SARA neurologic scores consistent with diagnosis of Friedreich's ataxia
• Left ventricle ejection fraction (EF) measured by cardiac MRI of ≥35% to 75%
• Evidence of FA-related cardiac disease, must meet the following criteria: must be abnormal in ≥2 of the following parameters, at least one of which is an abnormal cardiac MRI left ventricular mass index or abnormal cardiopulmonary exercise test

• Adults: In the absence of other factors known to cause left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac MRI left ventricular mass index >2 standard deviations above the normal range (males >84 gm/m2, females >69 gm/m2 or Pediatrics: In the absence of other factors known to cause left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac MRI left ventricular mass index >95th centile based on normal BSA for their age and gender
• Cardiopulmonary arm crank testing with assessment of VO2 max ≤20 mL/kg-min, peak VO2 ≥10 mL/kg-min while maintaining revolutions of ≥40/min. To insure consistency of effort, peak RER ≥1.0
• Cardiac MRI stroke volume index <45 mL/m2
• Cardiac MRI global longitudinal left ventricular strain <20%
• Serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin above the normal range
• Fibrosis ≤10% in the left ventricular wall on late gadolinium enhancement cardiac MRI
• Resting O2 saturation ≥95%
• Serum neutralizing anti-AAVrh.10 titer <1:125
• Hematocrit >30%
• White blood cell levels within normal limits
• Normal prothrombin, partial thromboplastin time
• Normal liver-related serum parameters (ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin); normal liver ultrasound and serum alpha fetoprotein
• Normal kidney function as assessed by plasma urea and creatinine; estimated GFR >30 mL/min/1.73m2
• No evidence of active infection of any types, including hepatitis virus (A, B or C), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1 and HIV-2), or SARS-CoV2
• Fertile individuals should utilize barrier birth control measures to prevent pregnancy for up to 6 months after vector administration
• Individuals not receiving experimental medications or participating in another experimental protocol for at least 12 wk prior to entry to the study (individuals who are/have received approved therapy will be included).
• Capable of undergoing cardiac MRI
• No contraindications to receiving corticosteroid immunosuppression

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals receiving corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications
• Individuals with uncontrolled diabetes (glycated hemoglobin, HbA1c levels >7%)
• Genotype FA missense mutation on one or both alleles
• Evidence of infection defined by elevated white blood cell count, temperature >38.5̊ C, infiltrate on chest x-ray
• Decompensated heart failure (NY4A class III-IV at time of baseline clinical assessment)
• Hemoglobin <10 g/dl
• Absolute neutrophil count <1500 cells/mm3
• Platelet count <100,000 cells/mm3
• Hemodynamically unstable atrial or ventricular arrhythmias which require medical intervention
• Contraindication to cardiac MRI (e.g., non-MRI compatible pacemaker/defibrillator) or gadolinium (known or suspected hypersensitivity, glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73m2)
• Any malignancy during the last five years, except basal cell skin cancer
• Unrelated clinical condition with life expectancy <12 months (prohibiting follow-up)
• Concomitant conditions (other than FA) known to produce left ventricular hypertrophy, including aortic stenosis, systemic hypertension (BP ≥140/90 on noninvasive blood pressure), or genetically mediated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Use of oxygen supplementation
• Risk for thromboembolic disease, including history of thromboembolic disease hospitalization within the last 90 days, recent trauma and/or recent surgical procedure. If the history of thromboembolic disease is not definitive, the subject will be excluded if laboratory testing suggests a risk for thromboembolic disease because of mutations in the protein-S, protein C, antithrombin, factor V Leiden or prothrombin gene
• Any uncontrolled psychiatric disease
• Pregnant or breastfeeding woman
• Prior participation in any gene and/or cell therapy
• Known obstructive coronary artery disease (as documented by clinical history of myocardial infarction, prior coronary revascularization or angina symptoms (Canadian Cardiovascular Society grade ≥2 at time of baseline clinical assessment), or epicardial obstructive coronary artery disease (≥ 50% left main, ≥ 70% of other major coronary arteries)
• Any lung function abnormalities that would affect cardiopulmonary testing
• Any condition, disorder, or abnormal laboratory test findings at screening which, in the judgment of the investigator, would interfere with the individual's ability to comply with all study requirements, or would require the administration of treatment during the study that could potentially affect the interpretation of the study data, or would place the individual at an unacceptable risk by his/her participation in the study
• If prior infection with SARS-CoV2, any related residual cardiac or pulmonary abnormalities
• Alcoholism or drug addiction (see reference 71 for alcoholism, reference 72 for drug addiction)

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Non-randomized

Model

Sequential

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

United States · 1 center

• Weill Cornell Medicine — New York

Publications

• Crystal RG, Weinsaft JW, Kaminsky SM, Caragiulo A, Savage N, Patel A, Gavrilova RH, Perlman SL, Galbraith M, Kahlon U, Krishnan U, Kaner RJ, Sanders A, Vo M, Sarva H, Yoo A, Sondhi D, De BP, Mezey JG, Aubert G, Khan A, Selvan N, Bhalla N, Adler E, Zesiewicz T. AAVrh.10hFXN Gene Therapy for the Cardiomyopathy of Friedreich Ataxia: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Cardiol. 2026 Jun 17:e261699. d PMID 42307907
• Hendrickx N, Mentre F, Hamdan A, Karlsson MO, Hooker AC, Traschutz A, Gagnon C, Schule R, Synofzik M, Comets E; ARCA Study Group, EVIDENCE-RND consortium. Comparing randomized trial designs to estimate treatment effect in rare diseases with longitudinal models: a simulation study showcased by Autosomal Recessive Cerebellar Ataxias using the SARA score. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2025 Jul 30;25(1):179. PMID 40739200
• De BP, Cram S, Lee H, Rosenberg JB, Sondhi D, Crystal RG, Kaminsky SM. Assessment of Residual Full-Length SV40 Large T Antigen in Clinical-Grade Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors Produced in 293T Cells. Hum Gene Ther. 2023 Aug;34(15-16):697-704. doi: 10.1089/hum.2023.032. PMID 37171121

Identifiers

NCT: NCT05302271 · 20-01021274 · R61HL151355

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗