LEIDEN, the Netherlands (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ProQR Therapeutics N.V. (Nasdaq:PRQR), a company dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA medicines for the treatment of severe genetic rare diseases, today announced that a Phase 1/2 clinical trial called “WINGS”, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of QR-313 in patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is open for enrollment.
“The initiation of our first human clinical trial for QR-313 is an exciting next step in the development of this novel investigational therapy for DEB. WINGS is designed to initially provide molecular proof of mechanism and subsequently clinical proof of concept for QR-313,” said David M. Rodman, MD, Executive Vice President of Research and Development at ProQR. “Now that the study is initiated we expect to dose the first set of adult and pediatric patients over the next few months and provide interim proof of mechanism results late this year.”
Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is a severe blistering disease that causes fragile skin. People with DEB live with constant pain and have a high risk of malnutrition and infections. Symptoms of the disease include poorly healing wounds, skin infections, fusion of fingers and toes, anemia and gastrointestinal tract problems. Some patients develop very aggressive forms of skin cancer in adulthood. There are currently no approved treatment options available that target the underlying cause of DEB.
David M. Rodman, MD continued: “The WINGS study marks the second of three clinical trials that we are conducting at ProQR this year. Beyond WINGS for DEB we have an ongoing QR-110 study in LCA 10 patients and plan to start a clinical trial of QR-421a in patients that suffer from Usher syndrome type 2.”
About QR-313
QR-313 is a potential first-in-class RNA-based oligonucleotide designed to address the underlying cause of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) due to mutations in exon 73 of the COL7A1 gene. Mutations in this exon can cause loss of functional collagen type VII (C7) protein. Absence of C7 results in the loss of anchoring fibrils that normally link the dermal and epidermal layers of the skin together. QR-313 is designed to exclude exon 73 from the mRNA (exon skipping) and produce a functional C7 protein, thereby restoring functionality of the anchoring fibrils. The clinical development of QR-313 is supported with funding from EB Research Partnership and EB medical Research Foundation. QR-313 has been granted orphan drug designation in the United States and the European Union.
About Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of rare genetic skin diseases of which dystrophic EB (DEB) is one of the most severe forms. DEB is caused by a mutation in the COL7A1 gene which is responsible for the formation of the collagen type C7 protein that anchors fibrils that bind the inner and outer skin layers together. This mutation causes a loss of the anchoring fibrils resulting in fragile skin. People with DEB live with constant pain and have a high risk of malnutrition and infections. Symptoms include poorly healing wounds, skin infections, fusion of fingers and toes, anemia, gastrointestinal tract problems and with adulthood some develop very aggressive forms of skin cancer. There are no approved treatment options available that target the underlying cause of DEB.
About ProQR
ProQR Therapeutics is dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA medicines for the treatment of severe genetic rare diseases such as Leber’s congenital amaurosis 10, dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa and cystic fibrosis. Based on our unique proprietary RNA repair platform technologies we are growing our pipeline with patients and loved ones in mind.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “look forward to”, “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information available to management only as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding QR-313, QR-110, QR-421a, their clinical development, including timing and design of clinical trials investigating these product candidates, and therapeutic potential. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including, without limitation, risks associated with our clinical development activities, including that positive results observed in our prior and ongoing studies may not be replicated in later trials or guarantee approval of any product candidate by regulatory authorities, that a Fast Track designation by the FDA may not actually lead to a faster development, regulatory review or approval process, manufacturing processes and facilities, regulatory oversight, product commercialization, intellectual property claims, and the risks, uncertainties and other factors in our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including certain sections of our annual report filed on Form 20-F. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future, except as required by law.