1. Antisense oligonucleotides extend survival and reverse decrement in muscle response in ALS models.
- Author
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McCampbell A, Cole T, Wegener AJ, Tomassy GS, Setnicka A, Farley BJ, Schoch KM, Hoye ML, Shabsovich M, Sun L, Luo Y, Zhang M, Comfort N, Wang B, Amacker J, Thankamony S, Salzman DW, Cudkowicz M, Graham DL, Bennett CF, Kordasiewicz HB, Swayze EE, and Miller TM
- Subjects
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis enzymology, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis genetics, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis pathology, Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Humans, Muscle, Skeletal pathology, Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense genetics, Rats, Rats, Transgenic, Superoxide Dismutase genetics, Superoxide Dismutase-1 genetics, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis drug therapy, Muscle, Skeletal enzymology, Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense pharmacology, Superoxide Dismutase metabolism, Superoxide Dismutase-1 metabolism
- Abstract
Mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) are responsible for 20% of familial ALS. Given the gain of toxic function in this dominantly inherited disease, lowering SOD1 mRNA and protein is predicted to provide therapeutic benefit. An early generation antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting SOD1 was identified and tested in a phase I human clinical trial, based on modest protection in animal models of SOD1 ALS. Although the clinical trial provided encouraging safety data, the drug was not advanced because there was progress in designing other, more potent ASOs for CNS application. We have developed next-generation SOD1 ASOs that more potently reduce SOD1 mRNA and protein and extend survival by more than 50 days in SOD1G93A rats and by almost 40 days in SOD1G93A mice. We demonstrated that the initial loss of compound muscle action potential in SOD1G93A mice is reversed after a single dose of SOD1 ASO. Furthermore, increases in serum phospho-neurofilament heavy chain levels, a promising biomarker for ALS, are stopped by SOD1 ASO therapy. These results define a highly potent, new SOD1 ASO ready for human clinical trial and suggest that at least some components of muscle response can be reversed by therapy.
- Published
- 2018
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