Long-Term Bleeding Protection, Sustained FIX Activity, Reduction of FIX Consumption and Safety of Hemophilia B Gene Therapy: Results from the HOPE-B Trial 3 Years after Administration of a Single Dose of Etranacogene Dezaparvovec in Adult Patients with Severe or Moderately Severe Hemophilia B
Steven W. Pipe, Paul van der Valk, Peter Verhamme, Peter Kampmann, Frank W.G. Leebeek, Michiel Coppens, Karina Meijer, Priyanka Raheja, Nigel S. Key, Nathan Visweshwar, Guy Young, Richard S. Lemons, Robert Klamroth, Wolfgang Miesbach, Jan Astermark, Niamh O’Connell, Rashid Kazmi, Nicholas Galante, Sandra LeQuellec, Paul E. Monahan, Cédric Hermans
Abstract
Introduction: Etranacogene dezaparvovec (formerly AMT-061) is the first approved gene therapy for hemophilia B in the US and Europe. It is an adeno-associated virus serotype 5 (AAV5) vector containing a codon-optimized, highly active factor IX (FIX) Padua R338L transgene under the control of the liver-specific promoter LP-1. The pivotal phase 3 HOPE-B clinical trial (NCT03569891) of etranacogene dezaparvovec demonstrated superiority of bleeding protection compared to standard of care FIX prophylaxis up to 24 months post-treatment; long-term follow-up from Year 2 post-administration onward is currently ongoing. Aim: To report long-term efficacy and safety data of etranacogene dezaparvovec from the HOPE-B trial over a period of 3 years post-treatment. Methods: In this pivotal phase 3 open-label, single-arm trial, adult male participants with severe or moderately severe hemophilia B (FIX ≤2%), with or without preexisting AAV5 neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), were infused with a single dose (2×10 13 gc/kg) of etranacogene dezaparvovec, following a ≥6-month lead-in period of receiving their usual FIX prophylaxis. Efficacy (bleeding rates, aPTT-based FIX activity levels, FIX consumption) and safety data (adverse events [AEs]) during Years 1, 2, and 3 post-treatment with etranacogene dezaparvovec are reported. Results: Of 54 participants who received etranacogene dezaparvovec, 52 completed 36 months of follow-up. Mean annualized bleeding rate (ABR) for all bleeds during Months 7-36 post-treatment was significantly reduced by 64% (mean ABR 1.52) compared with the ≥6-month lead-in period (mean ABR 4.17; P=0.0004). Total number of bleeds (all types) were 136 during the ≥6-month lead-in period and decreased to 55 during Year 1, 48 during Year 2, and 37 during Year 3 post-treatment. Median [range] bleeds per participant decreased from 2.0 [0-10] during the lead-in period and remained stable to 0.0 [0-4] during Year 1, 0.0 [0-10] during Year 2, and 0.0 [0-8] during Year 3. Superior bleeding protection was in line with the level of transgene-derived endogenous FIX expression. The mean±SD (median; range) endogenous FIX activity level (ie. in the absence of exogenous FIX exposure) of participants was 41.5 IU/dL ±21.7 (39.9; 5.9-113, n=50) at Year 1, 36.7 IU/dL ±19.0 (33.9; 4.7-99.2, n=50) at Year 2, and sustained at 38.6 IU/dL ±17.8 (36.0; 4.8-80.3, n=48) at Year 3 post-treatment. Pharmacodynamic profile was not significantly different in participants with AA5 NAb undetected or titer ≤1:678. At 3 years post-treatment, 51 (94%) remained free of continuous FIX prophylaxis. One participant who lacked efficacy (highest AAV5 NAbs titer of 1:3212) and 1 who received a 10% partial dose of treatment did not discontinue prophylaxis; 1 participant eventually had his FIX levels declined to 2-5% range; his bleeding phenotype returned, and he resumed prophylaxis per protocol at month 30 post-treatment. During Year 2 and Year 3 post-treatment, 37 (70%) and 39 (75%) participants received no FIX infusion, respectively. Overall mean annualized FIX consumption decreased by 96% over 3 years post-treatment compared to the ≥6-month lead-in period (-246,763 IU/kg/participant, including those receiving FIX prophylaxis post-treatment; P<0.0001). During the 3 years post-dose, all participants experienced at least 1 treatment-emergent AE (TEAE); of 709 events, 541 (76%) were mild, 137 (19%) were moderate, and 31 (4%) were severe. There were no serious AEs related to treatment [a serious AE of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and a death were reported previously before Year 2 and determined to be unrelated to treatment]. A total of 38/54 (70%) participants experienced 96 treatment-related TEAEs, of which 95% occurred before 6 months post-treatment. The most common AE was an increase in alanine transaminase (ALT), for which 9 (16.7%) participants received supportive care with reactive corticosteroids for a mean duration of 81.4 days (SD: 28.6; range: 51-130 days). No new deaths, no new HCC, and no late treatment-related ALT elevations or thromboembolic events were reported. Conclusion: Long-term follow-up during the HOPE-B trial has shown that a single-dose of etranacogene dezaparvovec resulted in long-term endogenous FIX Padua expression and superior bleeding protection compared to FIX prophylaxis in participants without or with AAV NAb titer ≤1:678, with a favorable safety profile over 3 years post-administration.