Key Updates
LEIDEN, the Netherlands (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ProQR Therapeutics N.V. (Nasdaq:PRQR), today announced that dosing of cystic fibrosis patients in its Phase 1b clinical trial of QR-010 has been completed and top-line data are scheduled to be announced post-market close on Monday, September 25, 2017.
About the PQ-010-01 Phase 1b Clinical Trial
The PQ-010-001 study is a Phase 1b, 28-day, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled safety and tolerability trial, conducted in patients that have cystic fibrosis (CF) due to two copies of the F508del mutation (homozygotes). A total of 4 dose levels were studied: 6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50mg of QR-010 in solution per dose administered via inhalation. The study design consisted of 8 cohorts of 8 patients for a total of 64 patients. In each cohort, 6 patients received QR-010 and 2 patients received placebo. In cohorts 1-4, a single dose of QR-010 was administered, and in cohorts 5-8 twelve doses of QR-010 were administered over a 4-week period. Patients included in the study were adult patients with mild CF disease with a baseline predicted FEV1 value above 70%. The Phase 1b study is a first-in-human trial designed to primarily assess safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of QR-010. A number of exploratory efficacy endpoints are also being assessed including sweat chloride, weight gain, change in CFQ-R Respiratory Symptom Score and FEV1, however, the study is not powered for statistical significance on the exploratory efficacy endpoints.
“QR-010 has the potential to be an innovative RNA therapy for patients with CF due to the F508del mutation. Completion of the Phase 1b study is an important step in development, and builds upon the pre-clinical data and positive PQ-010-002 study where QR-010 demonstrated a direct effect on restoring CFTR function,” said Noreen R. Henig MD, Chief Medical Officer at ProQR. “We are grateful to the patients and the medical community who participated in this early trial. ProQR is committed to creating meaningful RNA therapies for patients with CF.”
Conference Call
Following the press release announcing top-line data, scheduled for post-market close on Monday, September 25, 2017, the Company will host a conference call and webcast. The details of the conference call will be included in the press release and posted to the Company’s website.
About Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common fatal inherited disease in the Western world and affects an estimated 65,000 patients worldwide. In people with CF, a defective CFTR gene causes a thick, buildup of mucus in the lungs, pancreas and other organs. In the lungs, the mucus clogs the airways and traps bacteria leading to infections, extensive lung damage and eventually, respiratory failure. There is no cure for CF. Disease manifestations lead to a shortened life expectancy with a median age of death of 30 years. Although over 1,900 CF-causing gene mutations have been identified, approximately 85% of all CF patients are affected by the F508del mutation. Among all CF patients, approximately 50% are homozygous for the F508del mutation.
About QR-010
QR-010 is a first-in-class RNA-based oligonucleotide designed to address the underlying cause of the disease by targeting the mRNA in CF patients that have the F508del mutation. The F508del mutation is a deletion of three of the coding base pairs, or nucleotides, in the CFTR gene, which results in the production of a misfolded CFTR protein that does not function normally. QR-010 is designed to bind to the defective CFTR mRNA and to restore CFTR function. QR-010 is designed to be self-administered via an optimized eFlow(r) Nebulizer (PARI Pharma GmbH). eFlow(r) is a small, handheld aerosol delivery device which nebulizes QR-010 into a mist inhaled directly into the lungs. QR-010 has been granted orphan drug designation in the United States and the European Union and fast-track status by the FDA. The QR-010 project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 633545.
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 cystic fibrosis, Leber’s congenital amaurosis Type 10 and dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Based on our unique proprietary RNA repair platform technologies we are growing our pipeline with patients and loved ones in mind.