Halting Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency With Recombinant AAV in ChildrEn

Last updated: November 3, 2023
Sponsor: University College, London
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

1/2

Condition

Arginase Deficiency

Urea Cycle Disorder

Hyperargininemia

Treatment

AAVLK03hOTC

Clinical Study ID

NCT05092685
18/0123
  • Ages < 16
  • All Genders

Study Summary

Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) is an inherited metabolic liver disease which means that the body cannot maintain normal levels of ammonia. Ammonia levels can rise (called hyperammonaemic decompensations) which can be life-threatening and may result in impaired neurological development in children. OTCD is a rare genetic disorder characterised by complete or partial lack of the enzyme ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC).

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Patient (male or female) aged ≤16 years at time of written informed consent. For thedose escalation phase patients must be aged 6-16, for the dose expansion phasepatients must be aged 0-16 (at the time of written informed consent).
  2. OTC deficiency confirmed via enzymatic or molecular analysis. This may includeidentification of pathogenic mutations or liver OTC activity that is <20% of normalactivity.
  3. Patient has severe disease defined by reduced protein allowance and prescribed atleast one ammonia scavenger drug.
  4. Patient (if capable of signing) and parents or legal representative have signed awritten informed consent form.
  5. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test in serum orurine at the screening and Day 0 infusion visits, and use an adequate contraceptionmethod from the screening visit until 4 weeks after the first negative plasma samplemonitoring vector genomes copies or the week 52 visit, whatever comes first.
  6. Sexually active boys must use an adequate contraception method (abstinence or use ofcondom with spermicide) from at least 14 days prior to the infusion and until 4 weeksafter the first negative plasma sample monitoring vector genomes copies or the week 52visit, whatever comes first.
  7. Patient's ammonia level at baseline visit (pre-gene therapy infusion) is <100µmol/Land is within the range of historical ammonia levels obtained when the patient wasclinically stable.
  8. Patient has been on a stable dose of ammonia scavenger and stable protein allowancefor the last 4 weeks at the baseline visit.
  9. Patient is willing to commit to an additional 4 years of long-term safety follow-up.

Exclusion

Exclusion criteria:

  1. Titres of the neutralising antibodies against AAV-LK03 >1:5 serum dilution.
  2. Significant hepatic inflammation as evidenced by the following laboratoryabnormalities: alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase or bilirubin >2x upper limit of normal (ULN), alkaline phosphatase >3 x ULN.
  3. Evidence of severe unexplained liver disease including but not limited to livermalignancy, liver cirrhosis, or acute liver failure.
  4. Evidence of active hepatitis B or C virus (HBV and HCV respectively) documented byhepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or HCV RNA positivity.
  5. Positive PCR for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
  6. Liver transplant including hepatocytes/cells infusion.
  7. Current participation in another clinical trial of an investigational medicinalproduct or medical device, or participation within previous 12 months.
  8. Patient has contraindication to immunosuppression.
  9. Active infection (bacterial or viral).
  10. Pregnant or breastfeeding females.
  11. Patients with other serious underlying medical conditions including malignancy andsevere (≥ grade 3) functional organ impairment (liver, kidney, respiratory) accordingto CTCAE v5.0. For neurological symptoms considered as sequelae of previoushyperammonaemic decompensation and which are considered as stable (i.e. not evolving),a grade 3 will be acceptable. Grade 4 and 5 will preclude inclusion.
  12. Patients with any other significant condition or disability that, in the investigatoropinion, may interfere with the patient's optimal participation in the study.

Study Design

Total Participants: 12
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: AAVLK03hOTC
Phase: 1/2
Study Start date:
November 01, 2023
Estimated Completion Date:
June 30, 2027

Study Description

OTC is a key element of the urea cycle, which is how the liver breaks down and removes extra nitrogen from the body. For people with OTCD the extra nitrogen builds up in the form of excess ammonia (hyperammonemia) in the blood.

Ammonia is toxic and people with OTCD suffer 'hyperammonaemic decompensations' when ammonia levels in the blood rise too high. The symptoms of these hyperammonaemic decompensations include vomiting, impaired movement, and progressive lethargy. If left untreated these hyperammonaemic decompensations may result in life-threatening complications or coma. OTCD is managed with drugs that reduce the amount of ammonia in the blood (ammonia-scavenging drugs) and a low protein diet. However, sometimes hyperammonaemic decompensations still occur.

Liver transplants for people with OTCD can be life-saving but there may be a long wait for a suitable liver and neurological damage may occur before a liver transplant is possible.

The HORACE study is testing a new gene therapy (AAVLK03hOTC) which specifically targets the liver so that it can start making OTC. The investigators hope that a single injection of gene therapy for children with OTCD could help the liver work normally and reduce hyperammonaemic decompensations and their associated risks.

This gene-therapy treatment could serve as a 'bridge-to-transplant' where children could grow up in a metabolically stable condition until a liver transplant is possible. This could minimise longer-term neurological damage caused by hyperammonaemic decompensations.

Connect with a study center

  • Great Ormond Street Hospital

    London, WC1N 3JH
    United Kingdom

    Active - Recruiting

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