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Tambuyzer E, Vandendriessche B, Austin CP, Brooks PJ, Larsson K, Miller Needleman KI, Valentine J, Davies K, Groft SC, Preti R, Oprea TI, Prunotto M. Therapies for rare diseases: therapeutic modalities, progress and challenges ahead. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2019; 19:93-111. [PMID: 31836861 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-019-0049-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Most rare diseases still lack approved treatments despite major advances in research providing the tools to understand their molecular basis, as well as legislation providing regulatory and economic incentives to catalyse the development of specific therapies. Addressing this translational gap is a multifaceted challenge, for which a key aspect is the selection of the optimal therapeutic modality for translating advances in rare disease knowledge into potential medicines, known as orphan drugs. With this in mind, we discuss here the technological basis and rare disease applicability of the main therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, monoclonal antibodies, protein replacement therapies, oligonucleotides and gene and cell therapies, as well as drug repurposing. For each modality, we consider its strengths and limitations as a platform for rare disease therapy development and describe clinical progress so far in developing drugs based on it. We also discuss selected overarching topics in the development of therapies for rare diseases, such as approval statistics, engagement of patients in the process, regulatory pathways and digital tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Tambuyzer
- BioPontis Alliance for Rare Diseases Foundation fup/son, Brussels, Belgium. .,BioPontis Alliance Rare Disease Foundation, Inc, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | - Benjamin Vandendriessche
- Byteflies, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering (ECSE), Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Christopher P Austin
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Philip J Brooks
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kristina Larsson
- Orphan Medicines Office, European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Kay Davies
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stephen C Groft
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Robert Preti
- Hitachi Chemical Regenerative Medicine Business Sector, Allendale, NJ, USA
| | - Tudor I Oprea
- Translational Informatics Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Marco Prunotto
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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van der Ploeg A, Carlier PG, Carlier RY, Kissel JT, Schoser B, Wenninger S, Pestronk A, Barohn RJ, Dimachkie MM, Goker-Alpan O, Mozaffar T, Pena LDM, Simmons Z, Straub V, Guglieri M, Young P, Boentert M, Baudin PY, Wens S, Shafi R, Bjartmar C, Thurberg BL. Prospective exploratory muscle biopsy, imaging, and functional assessment in patients with late-onset Pompe disease treated with alglucosidase alfa: The EMBASSY Study. Mol Genet Metab 2016; 119:115-23. [PMID: 27473031 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2016.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Late-onset Pompe disease is characterized by progressive skeletal myopathy followed by respiratory muscle weakness, typically leading to loss of ambulation and respiratory failure. In this population, enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with alglucosidase alfa has been shown to stabilize respiratory function and improve mobility and muscle strength. Muscle pathology and glycogen clearance from skeletal muscle in treatment-naïve adults after ERT have not been extensively examined. METHODS This exploratory, open-label, multicenter study evaluated glycogen clearance in muscle tissue samples collected pre- and post- alglucosidase alfa treatment in treatment-naïve adults with late-onset Pompe disease. The primary endpoint was the quantitative reduction in percent tissue area occupied by glycogen in muscle biopsies from baseline to 6months. Secondary endpoints included qualitative histologic assessment of tissue glycogen distribution, secondary pathology changes, assessment of magnetic resonance images (MRIs) for intact muscle and fatty replacement, and functional assessments. RESULTS Sixteen patients completed the study. After 6months of ERT, the percent tissue area occupied by glycogen in quadriceps and deltoid muscles decreased in 10 and 8 patients, respectively. No changes were detected on MRI from baseline to 6months. A majority of patients showed improvements on functional assessments after 6months of treatment. All treatment-related adverse events were mild or moderate. CONCLUSIONS This exploratory study provides novel insights into the histopathologic effects of ERT in late-onset Pompe disease patients. Ultrastructural examination of muscle biopsies demonstrated reduced lysosomal glycogen after ERT. Findings are consistent with stabilization of disease by ERT in treatment-naïve patients with late-onset Pompe disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ans van der Ploeg
- Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Pierre G Carlier
- Institut de Myologie, AIM and CEA NMR Laboratory - Spectroscopy Laboratory, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
| | - Robert-Yves Carlier
- Medical Imaging Department, Raymond Poincare University Hospital, Garches, France
| | - John T Kissel
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Benedikt Schoser
- Friedrich-Baur-Institut, Neurologische Klinik, Klinikum der Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Stephan Wenninger
- Friedrich-Baur-Institut, Neurologische Klinik, Klinikum der Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Alan Pestronk
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Richard J Barohn
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Mazen M Dimachkie
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Ozlem Goker-Alpan
- Lysosomal Disorders Unit and Center for Clinical Trials, O&O Alpan LLC, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Tahseen Mozaffar
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Loren D M Pena
- Division of Pediatric Medical Genetics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Volker Straub
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Michela Guglieri
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Young
- Department of Sleep Medicine and Neuromuscular Disorders, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Matthias Boentert
- Department of Sleep Medicine and Neuromuscular Disorders, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Stephan Wens
- Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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