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Lopes FM, Grenier C, Jarvis BW, Al Mahdy S, Lène-McKay A, Gurney AM, Newman WG, Waddington SN, Woolf AS, Roberts NA. Human HPSE2 gene transfer ameliorates bladder pathophysiology in a mutant mouse model of urofacial syndrome. eLife 2024; 13:RP91828. [PMID: 38990208 PMCID: PMC11239176 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Rare early-onset lower urinary tract disorders include defects of functional maturation of the bladder. Current treatments do not target the primary pathobiology of these diseases. Some have a monogenic basis, such as urofacial, or Ochoa, syndrome (UFS). Here, the bladder does not empty fully because of incomplete relaxation of its outflow tract, and subsequent urosepsis can cause kidney failure. UFS is associated with biallelic variants of HPSE2, encoding heparanase-2. This protein is detected in pelvic ganglia, autonomic relay stations that innervate the bladder and control voiding. Bladder outflow tracts of Hpse2 mutant mice display impaired neurogenic relaxation. We hypothesized that HPSE2 gene transfer soon after birth would ameliorate this defect and explored an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-based approach. AAV9/HPSE2, carrying human HPSE2 driven by CAG, was administered intravenously into neonatal mice. In the third postnatal week, transgene transduction and expression were sought, and ex vivo myography was undertaken to measure bladder function. In mice administered AAV9/HPSE2, the viral genome was detected in pelvic ganglia. Human HPSE2 was expressed and heparanase-2 became detectable in pelvic ganglia of treated mutant mice. On autopsy, wild-type mice had empty bladders, whereas bladders were uniformly distended in mutant mice, a defect ameliorated by AAV9/HPSE2 treatment. Therapeutically, AAV9/HPSE2 significantly ameliorated impaired neurogenic relaxation of Hpse2 mutant bladder outflow tracts. Impaired neurogenic contractility of mutant detrusor smooth muscle was also significantly improved. These results constitute first steps towards curing UFS, a clinically devastating genetic disease featuring a bladder autonomic neuropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa M Lopes
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Celine Grenier
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin W Jarvis
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Al Mahdy
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Lène-McKay
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Alison M Gurney
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - William G Newman
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Division of Evolution Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Simon N Waddington
- Maternal & Fetal Medicine, EGA Institute for Women's Health, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Adrian S Woolf
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Neil A Roberts
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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2
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Mattar CN, Chew WL, Lai PS. Embryo and fetal gene editing: Technical challenges and progress toward clinical applications. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101229. [PMID: 38533521 PMCID: PMC10963250 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Gene modification therapies (GMTs) are slowly but steadily making progress toward clinical application. As the majority of rare diseases have an identified genetic cause, and as rare diseases collectively affect 5% of the global population, it is increasingly important to devise gene correction strategies to address the root causes of the most devastating of these diseases and to provide access to these novel therapies to the most affected populations. The main barriers to providing greater access to GMTs continue to be the prohibitive cost of developing these novel drugs at clinically relevant doses, subtherapeutic effects, and toxicity related to the specific agents or high doses required. In vivo strategy and treating younger patients at an earlier course of their disease could lower these barriers. Although currently regarded as niche specialties, prenatal and preconception GMTs offer a robust solution to some of these barriers. Indeed, treating either the fetus or embryo benefits from economy of scale, targeting pre-pathological tissues in the fetus prior to full pathogenesis, or increasing the likelihood of complete tissue targeting by correcting pluripotent embryonic cells. Here, we review advances in embryo and fetal GMTs and discuss requirements for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Citra N.Z. Mattar
- Experimental Fetal Medicine Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 12, Singapore, Singapore 119228
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Health System, Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 12, Singapore, Singapore 119228
| | - Wei Leong Chew
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, 60 Biopolis St, Singapore, Singapore 138672
| | - Poh San Lai
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 12, Singapore, Singapore 119228
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3
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Waddington SN, Peranteau WH, Rahim AA, Boyle AK, Kurian MA, Gissen P, Chan JKY, David AL. Fetal gene therapy. J Inherit Metab Dis 2024; 47:192-210. [PMID: 37470194 PMCID: PMC10799196 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Fetal gene therapy was first proposed toward the end of the 1990s when the field of gene therapy was, to quote the Gartner hype cycle, at its "peak of inflated expectations." Gene therapy was still an immature field but over the ensuing decade, it matured and is now a clinical and market reality. The trajectory of treatment for several genetic diseases is toward earlier intervention. The ability, capacity, and the will to diagnose genetic disease early-in utero-improves day by day. A confluence of clinical trials now signposts a trajectory toward fetal gene therapy. In this review, we recount the history of fetal gene therapy in the context of the broader field, discuss advances in fetal surgery and diagnosis, and explore the full ambit of preclinical gene therapy for inherited metabolic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon N Waddington
- EGA Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - William H Peranteau
- The Center for Fetal Research, Division of General, Thoracic, and Fetal Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ahad A Rahim
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ashley K Boyle
- EGA Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Manju A Kurian
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, GOS-Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | - Paul Gissen
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- National Institute of Health Research Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Jerry K Y Chan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Academic Clinical Program in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Experimental Fetal Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anna L David
- EGA Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
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4
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Herzeg A, Borges B, Lianoglou BR, Gonzalez-Velez J, Canepa E, Munar D, Young SP, Bali D, Gelb MH, Chakraborty P, Kishnani PS, Harmatz P, Cohen JL, MacKenzie TC. Intrauterine enzyme replacement therapies for lysosomal storage disorders: Current developments and promising future prospects. Prenat Diagn 2023; 43:1638-1649. [PMID: 37955580 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are a group of monogenic condition, with many characterized by an enzyme deficiency leading to the accumulation of an undegraded substrate within the lysosomes. For those LSDs, postnatal enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) represents the standard of care, but this treatment has limitations when administered only postnatally because, at that point, prenatal disease sequelae may be irreversible. Furthermore, most forms of ERT, specifically those administered systemically, are currently unable to access certain tissues, such as the central nervous system (CNS), and furthermore, may initiate an immune response. In utero enzyme replacement therapy (IUERT) is a novel approach to address these challenges evaluated in a first-in-human clinical trial for IUERT in LSDs (NCT04532047). IUERT has numerous advantages: in-utero intervention may prevent early pathology; the CNS can be accessed before the blood-brain barrier forms; and the unique fetal immune system enables exposure to new proteins with the potential to prevent an immune response and may induce sustained tolerance. However, there are challenges and limitations for any fetal procedure that involves two patients. This article reviews the current state of IUERT for LSDs, including its advantages, limitations, and potential future directions for definitive therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akos Herzeg
- Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Beltran Borges
- Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Billie R Lianoglou
- Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Juan Gonzalez-Velez
- Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Emma Canepa
- Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Dane Munar
- Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Sarah P Young
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Deeksha Bali
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michel H Gelb
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Pranesh Chakraborty
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Priya S Kishnani
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Paul Harmatz
- Benioff Children's Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jennifer L Cohen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Tippi C MacKenzie
- Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Benioff Children's Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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5
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Rodriguez M, Trevisan B, Ramamurthy RM, George SK, Diaz J, Alexander J, Meares D, Schwahn DJ, Quilici DR, Figueroa J, Gautreaux M, Farland A, Atala A, Doering CB, Spencer HT, Porada CD, Almeida-Porada G. Transplanting FVIII/ET3-secreting cells in fetal sheep increases FVIII levels long-term without inducing immunity or toxicity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4206. [PMID: 37452013 PMCID: PMC10349136 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39986-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hemophilia A is the most common X-linked bleeding disorder affecting more than half-a-million individuals worldwide. Persons with severe hemophilia A have coagulation FVIII levels <1% and experience spontaneous debilitating and life-threatening bleeds. Advances in hemophilia A therapeutics have significantly improved health outcomes, but development of FVIII inhibitory antibodies and breakthrough bleeds during therapy significantly increase patient morbidity and mortality. Here we use sheep fetuses at the human equivalent of 16-18 gestational weeks, and we show that prenatal transplantation of human placental cells (107-108/kg) bioengineered to produce an optimized FVIII protein, results in considerable elevation in plasma FVIII levels that persists for >3 years post-treatment. Cells engraft in major organs, and none of the recipients mount immune responses to either the cells or the FVIII they produce. Thus, these studies attest to the feasibility, immunologic advantage, and safety of treating hemophilia A prior to birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Rodriguez
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Brady Trevisan
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Ritu M Ramamurthy
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Sunil K George
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Jonathan Diaz
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Jordan Alexander
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Diane Meares
- Special Hematology Laboratory, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | | | - David R Quilici
- The Mick Hitchcock Ph.D. Nevada Proteomics Center, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Jorge Figueroa
- Center for Research in Obstetrics and Gynecology, WFSOM, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Michael Gautreaux
- HLA/Immunogenetics and Immunodiagnostics Laboratories, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Andrew Farland
- Special Hematology Laboratory, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Anthony Atala
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Christopher B Doering
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - H Trent Spencer
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Christopher D Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Graça Almeida-Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA.
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6
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Stapleton PA. The Application of Engineered Nanomaterials in Perinatal Therapeutics. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2303072. [PMID: 37438678 PMCID: PMC10784409 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202303072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancy is a vulnerable life stage for the mother and developing fetus. Because of this dual concern, approved therapeutic options for pre-existing conditions or pregnancy-induced pathologies, placental deformities, or fetal concerns are extremely limited. These cases often leave patients and clinicians having to choose between maternal health and fetal development. Recent advancements in nanomedicine and nanotherapeutic devices have made the development of perinatal therapeutics an attractive objective. However, perinatal medicine requires a multifaceted approach given the interactions between maternal, placental, and fetal physiology. Maternal-fetal interactions are centralized to the placenta, a specialized transient barrier organ, to allow for nutrient and waste exchange. Perinatal nanotherapeutics must be designed for placental avoidance or uptake. In this review, pregnancy-related conditions, experimental models, and modes of drug delivery during pregnancy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe A Stapleton
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, 160 Frelinghuysen Rd., Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd., Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
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7
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Pham QDM, Thomson SM, Schaible BN, Mills KD, Atala A, Porada CD, Almeida-Porada G. Acceptability of prenatal diagnosis and prenatal treatment of haemophilia using cell and gene therapies within US haemophilia community. Haemophilia 2023; 29:1024-1031. [PMID: 37228173 PMCID: PMC10524589 DOI: 10.1111/hae.14805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The overall burden of disease in persons with haemophilia continues to be high despite the latest advancements in therapeutics. Clinical trials testing prenatal treatments for several genetic disorders are underway or are recruiting subjects, attesting to the much-needed change in paradigm of how patients with monogenic disorders can be treated. Here we investigate the overall attitude towards prenatal diagnosis, preferences on types of prenatal therapies for haemophilia, the level of 'acceptable' risk tolerated, and which social and moral pressures or disease personal experiences may predict willingness of individuals to consider foetal therapy in a future pregnancy. RESULTS A multidisciplinary team designed the survey, and the study was carried out using REDCap, and publicized through the National Haemophilia Foundation. Subjects ≥18 years of age were eligible to participate in the study. We assessed participants' attitudes towards prenatal therapy and their level of 'acceptable' risk towards the procedure and therapy. The survey was completed by 67 adults, the majority females. Respondents were willing to undergo prenatal diagnosis, and their main concerns related to the well-being of the pregnant woman and the foetus regarding lasting therapeutic efficacy, side effects of the therapy, and procedural risks, but they were likely to accept a wide range of prenatal therapeutic options, particularly if the foetal therapy proved to be long-lasting and safe. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate the willingness of persons with haemophilia, and the haemophilia community, to explore new treatment options beyond the currently offered approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan D. M. Pham
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Sharon M. Thomson
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Burk N. Schaible
- Center for Research in Obstetrics and Gynecology, WFSOM, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | | | - Anthony Atala
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Christopher D. Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Graça Almeida-Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
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8
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Mattar CNZ, Chan JKY, Choolani M. Gene modification therapies for hereditary diseases in the fetus. Prenat Diagn 2023; 43:674-686. [PMID: 36965009 PMCID: PMC10946994 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
Proof-of-principle disease models have demonstrated the feasibility of an intrauterine gene modification therapy (in utero gene therapy (IUGT)) approach to hereditary diseases as diverse as coagulation disorders, haemoglobinopathies, neurogenetic disorders, congenital metabolic, and pulmonary diseases. Gene addition, which requires the delivery of an integrating or episomal transgene to the target cell nucleus to be transcribed, and gene editing, where the mutation is corrected within the gene of origin, have both been used successfully to increase normal protein production in a bid to reverse or arrest pathology in utero. While most experimental models have employed lentiviral, adenoviral, and adeno-associated viral vectors engineered to efficiently enter target cells, newer models have also demonstrated the applicability of non-viral lipid nanoparticles. Amelioration of pathology is dependent primarily on achieving sustained therapeutic transgene expression, silencing of transgene expression, production of neutralising antibodies, the dilutional effect of the recipient's growth on the mass of transduced cells, and the degree of pre-existing cellular damage. Safety assessment of any IUGT strategy will require long-term postnatal surveillance of both the fetal recipient and the maternal bystander for cell and genome toxicity, oncogenic potential, immune-responsiveness, and germline mutation. In this review, we discuss advances in the field and the push toward clinical translation of IUGT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Citra N. Z. Mattar
- Yong Loo Lin School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- National University Health SystemsSingaporeSingapore
| | - Jerry K. Y. Chan
- KK Women's and Children's HospitalSingaporeSingapore
- Duke‐NUS Medical SchoolSingaporeSingapore
| | - Mahesh Choolani
- Yong Loo Lin School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- National University Health SystemsSingaporeSingapore
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9
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Moskowitzova K, Fauza DO. Transamniotic stem cell therapy (TRASCET): An emerging minimally invasive strategy for intrauterine stem cell delivery. Semin Perinatol 2023; 47:151728. [PMID: 36990923 DOI: 10.1016/j.semperi.2023.151728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Transamniotic stem cell therapy (TRASCET) is an emerging strategy for prenatal stem cell therapy involving the least invasive method described to date of delivering select stem cells to virtually any anatomical site in the fetus, including the blood and bone marrow, as well as to fetal annexes, including the placenta. Such broad therapeutic potential derives, to a large extent, from unique routing patterns following stem cell delivery into the amniotic fluid, which have commonalities with naturally occurring fetal cell kinetics. First reported experimentally only less than a decade ago, TRASCET has yet to be attempted clinically, though a first clinical trial appears imminent. Despite significant experimental advances, much promise and perhaps excessive publicity, most cell-based therapies have yet to deliver meaningful large-scale impact to patient care. The few exceptions typically consist of therapies based on the amplification of the normal biological role played by the given cells in their natural environment. Therein lays much of the appeal of TRASCET, in that it, too, is in essence a magnification of naturally occurring processes in the distinctive environment of the maternal-fetal unit. As much as fetal stem cells possess unique characteristics compared with other stem cells, so does the fetus when compared with any other age group, converging into a scenario that enables therapeutic paradigms exclusive to prenatal life. This review summarizes the diversity of applications and biological responses associated with the TRASCET principle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Moskowitzova
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue - Fegan 3, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dario O Fauza
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue - Fegan 3, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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10
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de Coppi P, Loukogeorgakis S, Götherström C, David AL, Almeida-Porada G, Chan JKY, Deprest J, Wong KKY, Tam PKH. Regenerative medicine: prenatal approaches. THE LANCET. CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2022; 6:643-653. [PMID: 35963269 PMCID: PMC10664288 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(22)00192-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
This two-paper Series focuses on recent advances and applications of regenerative medicine that could benefit paediatric patients. Innovations in genomic, stem-cell, and tissue-based technologies have created progress in disease modelling and new therapies for congenital and incurable paediatric diseases. Prenatal approaches present unique opportunities associated with substantial biotechnical, medical, and ethical obstacles. Maternal plasma fetal DNA analysis is increasingly adopted as a noninvasive prenatal screening or diagnostic test for chromosomal and monogenic disorders. The molecular basis for cell-free DNA detection stimulated the development of circulating tumour DNA testing for adult cancers. In-utero stem-cell, gene, gene-modified cell (and to a lesser extent, tissue-based) therapies have shown early clinical promise in a wide range of paediatric disorders. Fetal cells for postnatal treatment and artificial placenta for ex-utero fetal therapies are new frontiers in this exciting field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo de Coppi
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Section, Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research and Teaching, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK; Department of Specialist Neonatal and Paediatric Surgery, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Stavros Loukogeorgakis
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Section, Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research and Teaching, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK; Department of Specialist Neonatal and Paediatric Surgery, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Cecilia Götherström
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna L David
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Womens Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Graça Almeida-Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem NC, USA
| | - Jerry K Y Chan
- Academic Clinical Program in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore; Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | - Jan Deprest
- Clinical Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kenneth Kak Yuen Wong
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Paul Kwong Hang Tam
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China; Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau Special Administrative Region, China.
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11
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David AL, Spencer RN. Clinical Assessment of Fetal Well-Being and Fetal Safety Indicators. J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 62 Suppl 1:S67-S78. [PMID: 36106777 PMCID: PMC9544851 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.2126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Delivering safe clinical trials of novel therapeutics is central to enable pregnant women and their babies to access medicines for better outcomes. This review describes clinical monitoring of fetal well-being and safety. Current pregnancy surveillance includes regular antenatal checks of blood pressure and urine for signs of gestational hypertension. Fetal and placental development is assessed routinely using the first-trimester "dating" and mid-trimester "anomaly" ultrasound scans, but the detection of fetal anomalies can continue throughout pregnancy using targeted sonography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Serial sonography can be used to assess fetal size, well-being, and placental function. Carefully defined reproducible imaging parameters, such as the head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL), are combined to calculate an estimate of the fetal weight. Doppler analysis of maternal uterine blood flow predicts placental insufficiency, which is associated with poor fetal growth. Fetal doppler analysis can indicate circulatory decompensation and fetal hypoxia, requiring delivery to be expedited. Novel ways to assess fetal well-being and placental function using MRI, computerized cardiotocography (CTG), serum circulating fetoplacental proteins, and mRNA may improve the assessment of the safety and efficacy of maternal and fetal interventions. Progress has been made in how to define and grade clinical trial safety in pregnant women, the fetus, and neonate. A new system for improved safety monitoring for clinical trials in pregnancy, Maternal and Fetal Adverse Event Terminology (MFAET), describes 12 maternal and 18 fetal adverse event (AE) definitions and severity grading criteria developed through an international modified Delphi consensus process. This fills a vital gap in maternal and fetal translational medicine research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L. David
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH)Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| | - Rebecca N. Spencer
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- School of MedicineUniversity of LeedsLeedsUK
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12
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Michie M. Beyond Abortion Clinics: How Overturning Roe Will Obstruct Life-Saving Research and Fetal Therapy. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2022; 22:62-64. [PMID: 35917428 PMCID: PMC9721389 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2022.2089278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
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13
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Improving Development of Drug Treatments for Pregnant Women and the Fetus. Ther Innov Regul Sci 2022; 56:976-990. [PMID: 35881237 PMCID: PMC9315086 DOI: 10.1007/s43441-022-00433-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The exclusion of pregnant populations, women of reproductive age, and the fetus from clinical trials of therapeutics is a major global public health issue. It is also a problem of inequity in medicines development, as pregnancy is a protected characteristic. The current regulatory requirements for drugs in pregnancy are being analyzed by a number of agencies worldwide. There has been considerable investment in developing expertise in pregnancy clinical trials (for the pregnant person and the fetus) such as the Obstetric-Fetal Pharmacology Research Centers funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Progress has also been made in how to define and grade clinical trial safety in pregnant women, the fetus, and neonate. Innovative methods to model human pregnancy physiology and pharmacology using computer simulations are also gaining interest. Novel ways to assess fetal well-being and placental function using magnetic resonance imaging, computerized cardiotocography, serum circulating fetoplacental proteins, and mRNA may permit better assessment of the safety and efficacy of interventions in the mother and fetus. The core outcomes in women’s and newborn health initiative is facilitating the consistent reporting of data from pregnancy trials. Electronic medical records integrated with pharmacy services should improve the strength of pharmacoepidemiologic and pharmacovigilance studies. Incentives such as investigational plans and orphan disease designation have been taken up for obstetric, fetal, and neonatal diseases. This review describes the progress that is being made to better understand the extent of the problem and to develop applicable solutions.
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Abstract
Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) have become a prime target for gene therapy given the morbidity, mortality, and the single gene etiology. Given that outcomes are better the earlier gene therapy is implemented, it is possible that fetal gene therapy may be an important future direction for the treatment of PIDs. In this chapter, the current treatments available for several PIDs will be reviewed, as well as the history and current status of gene therapy for PIDs. The possibility of in utero gene therapy as a possibility will then be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne H Mardy
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services, University of California, San Francisco, California
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15
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Shear MA, Massa A. In Utero Fetal Therapy: Stem Cells, Cell Transplantation, Gene Therapy, and CRISPR-Cas9. Clin Obstet Gynecol 2021; 64:861-875. [PMID: 34668889 DOI: 10.1097/grf.0000000000000663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In utero fetal therapy offers the opportunity to prevent and treat diseases with a cellular or genetic basis. Components of successful fetal treatment include isolation of a replacement cell population, in utero stem cell transplantation, cell engraftment with fetal immune tolerance, and ongoing cell function. Fetal gene therapy with CRISPR-Cas9 represents an exciting potential therapy for genetic diseases not amenable to gene supplementation via adenoviral vector transduction. These fetal therapies have unique ethical and safety considerations. Clinical trials for in utero cell therapy are underway, as additional discoveries in stem cell biology and gene therapy move closer to clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Shear
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Andrew Massa
- Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York
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Götherström C, David AL, Walther-Jallow L, Åström E, Westgren M. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Clin Obstet Gynecol 2021; 64:898-903. [PMID: 34510048 DOI: 10.1097/grf.0000000000000656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to provide a brief overview on the background and rationale on treating fetuses and children suffering from osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs ability to migrate, engraft, and differentiate into bone cells and to act via paracrine effects on the recipient's tissues makes these cells promising candidates as a clinical therapy for OI. Animal work and limited clinical studies in humans support the use of MSC in treating OI. Off-the-shelf MSC have a good safety profile and exhibit multilineage differentiation potential and a low immunogenic profile and thereby may enable this potential therapy to become widely available. MSC transplantation before and after birth to treat OI is an experimental therapy that is currently tested in the international multicentre phase I/II clinical trial BOOSTB4 that aims to assess the safety and efficacy of fetal MSC transplantation for the treatment of severe types of OI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna L David
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Eva Åström
- Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institutet
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magnus Westgren
- Departments of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC)
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Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Fetal Gene Therapy. Clin Obstet Gynecol 2021; 64:933-940. [PMID: 34668890 DOI: 10.1097/grf.0000000000000653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
As fetal gene therapies move from experimental animal models to human in utero phase I clinical trials, there is a need to consider the ethical, legal, and social implications. While fetal gene therapies are attracting more regulatory oversight than previous fetal interventions such as fetal surgery, old sociological questions should be applied to this new context. As health care pathways around fetal therapy are shaped by the ways in which a pregnant person and the fetus are constituted, and as risks and benefits are evaluated, we cannot afford to lose sight of long-term consequences, especially those pertaining to social inclusion.
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Mattar CNZ, Labude MK, Lee TN, Lai PS. Ethical considerations of preconception and prenatal gene modification in the embryo and fetus. Hum Reprod 2021; 36:3018-3027. [PMID: 34665851 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deab222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The National Academies of Sciences and Medicine 2020 consensus statement advocates the reinstatement of research in preconception heritable human genome editing (HHGE), despite the ethical concerns that have been voiced about interventions in the germline, and outlines criteria for its eventual clinical application to address monogenic disorders. However, the statement does not give adequate consideration to alternative technologies. Importantly, it omits comparison to fetal gene therapy (FGT), which involves gene modification applied prenatally to the developing fetus and which is better researched and less ethically contentious. While both technologies are applicable to the same monogenic diseases causing significant prenatal or early childhood morbidity, the benefits and risks of HHGE are distinct from FGT though there are important overlaps. FGT has the current advantage of a wealth of robust preclinical data, while HHGE is nascent technology and its feasibility for specific diseases still requires scientific proof. The ethical concerns surrounding each are unique and deserving of further discussion, as there are compelling arguments supporting research and eventual clinical translation of both technologies. In this Opinion, we consider HHGE and FGT through technical and ethical lenses, applying common ethical principles to provide a sense of their feasibility and acceptability. Currently, FGT is in a more advanced position for clinical translation and may be less ethically contentious than HHGE, so it deserves to be considered as an alternative therapy in further discussions on HHGE implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Citra Nurfarah Zaini Mattar
- Experimental Fetal Medicine Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Markus Klaus Labude
- Science, Health and Policy-Relevant Ethics in Singapore (SHAPES) Initiative, Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Timothy Nicholas Lee
- Science, Health and Policy-Relevant Ethics in Singapore (SHAPES) Initiative, Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Poh San Lai
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Ethical and Regulatory Considerations of Placental Therapeutics. Clin Ther 2021; 43:297-307. [PMID: 33610291 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2021.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Placental therapeutics aim to treat placental disease; however, ethical and regulatory issues should be considered if the drug also potentially affects the fetus. Drugs that might transfer or edit genes carry a specific challenge because currently fetal gene editing and fetal gene therapy are considered unethical. METHODS This article reviews the literature on ethical and regulatory considerations for placental therapeutics. FINDINGS Proposals for maternal gene therapy, directed to the maternal side of the placenta, have been discussed with patients and stakeholders. No absolute ethical, legal, or regulatory barriers to this potential treatment were identified. Patients who have experienced placental disease, such as fetal growth restriction, are interested in these therapies; some would participate in first-in-human trials. Such trials need careful regulatory considerations, such as the steps required to indicate tolerability and efficacy in preclinical models and the optimal animals for reproductive toxicology studies. Ex vivo dual human placenta perfusion experiments and villous explant in vitro studies allow drugs to be tested in normal and diseased human placenta, providing short-term tolerability and toxicologic assessment. Testing drugs in nonhuman primates is an option but carries ethical and feasibility considerations. Selection of inclusion and exclusion criteria for clinical trial participants is important to ensure that the most suitable patients are exposed to a first-in-human drug. These patients will almost certainly be pregnant women with a high risk of perinatal loss and/or perinatal and maternal morbidity. Criteria should identify sufficient numbers of patients to make a trial feasible as well as a phenotype that will respond to the mechanism of action. How to dose escalate and to capture information on adverse events are also key to optimal clinical trial design. IMPLICATIONS Developing placental therapeutics requires input from scientists, practitioners, and regulators and close liaison with patients to ensure that new drugs are tested as carefully as possible.
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