- Antisense Therapeutics is one of the top gainers this morning, up 83 per cent after a review of its ATL1102 which indicates a positive drug effect in patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- DMD affects one in every 3500 to 6000 male births and is described as the ongoing deterioration of muscles
- ATL1102 is being developed as an original treatment for the inflammation that aggravates muscle fibre damage in DMD patients who are currently using corticosteroids
- Trials have shown no serious adverse effects
Antisense Therapeutics has advised a review from the Phase II clinical trial of ATL1102 indicates positive drug effect in disease progression and effects in patients suffering Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
DMD is an X-chromosome disease that affects one in every 3500 to 6000 male births. It occurs as a result of malnutrition in the dystrophin gene (protein found in skeletal and heart muscles). This then causes a substantial reduction or absence of the dystrophin protein.
Ongoing deterioration in the muscles can cause weakness and often affects the lower and upper limbs resulting in impaired ability, loss of function and a loss of self-caring ability.
There are currently no cures, but medication such as corticosteroids and ongoing therapy can help control the symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life.
However, corticosteroids do not sufficiently suppress muscle inflammation, are usually not tolerated well and have serious side effects such as negatively-affecting growing rate.
Antisense’s ATL1102 is an inhibitor of CD49d expression on certain immune cells such as T cells (cells that hunt down and destroy infected and cancerous cells).
It has been reported that patients with DMD, who have a greater number of T cells with high levels of CD49d, have a more severe and rapid disease progression.
ATL1102 is being developed as an original treatment for the inflammation that aggravates muscle fibre damage in DMD patients who are currently using corticosteroids.
The primary endpoints of the trial relate to the safety and tolerability of ATL1102 with the efficacy of ATL1102 in DMD assess in terms of its effects on disease process and progression. So far no serious adverse events have been reported.
Antisense expects these results will be important in supporting a longer dosing, compared to the six months just completed, in the Phase IIb trial.
“Given that there is currently no effective treatment for non-ambulant DMD patients, we are particularly encouraged by the preliminary data from the first six patients in the trial,” CEO Mark Diamond said.
“We expect this preliminary data to assist us in our planned regulatory interactions on the design and conduct of the Phase IIb clinical trial that should allow examination of dosages of 25mg and higher to determine the optimal dosage,” he continued.
Based on these results Antisense Therapeutics is up 83 per cent trading for 8.6 cents apiece at 12:56 pm AEST.