Gene transfer is a promising therapeutic approach for Duchenne muscular dystrophy as the disease results from mutations in a single gene. Fordadistrogene movaparvovec is an investigational recombinant adeno-associated virus 9 (rAAV9)-based vector encoding a mini-dystrophin transgene protein for Duchenne muscular dystrophy . We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of fordadistrogene movaparvovec in slowing the functional decline experienced by individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. CIFFREO was a phase 3, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study done at 45 academic and hospital sites in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK, and the USA. Eligible participants were male, ambulatory, aged 4 years to younger than 8 years, with a genetic diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Participants were randomly assigned (2:1) using interactive response technology, stratified by age (<6 years or ≥6 years), to cohort 1 (intravenous fordadistrogene movaparvovec 2 × 10 14 vector genomes vg/kg on day 1, placebo on day 390) or cohort 2 (placebo on day 1, intravenous fordadistrogene movaparvovec 2 × 10 14 vg/kg on day 390). Placebo vials were provided and prepared identically to fordadistrogene movaparvovec. Participants, investigators, and outcome assessors were masked to treatment assignments. The primary endpoint was change from baseline to week 52 in the North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) total score, assessed in patients in the full analysis set (all participants who were randomly assigned and received a single dose of fordadistrogene movaparvovec or placebo on day 1, excluding siblings and those meeting genetic exclusion criteria), analysed using a mixed model for repeated measures. Participants were analysed according the cohort to which they were assigned and analysis only included participants who completed the 1-year follow-up. The safety analysis set comprised all participants who were randomly assigned and received a single dose of fordadistrogene movaparvovec or placebo on day 1. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT04281485 ) and is active, not recruiting. Between Nov 5, 2020, and April 20, 2023, 226 participants were screened for eligibility, 122 of whom were randomly assigned (81 to cohort 1 and 41 to cohort 2). The primary outcome was analysed in 64 participants in the fordadistrogene movaparvovec group and 28 in the placebo group. At screening, mean age was 6·3 years (SD 1·3) in participants in the fordadistrogene movaparvovec group and 6·5 years (1·2) in participants in the placebo group; mean NSAA total score was 22·5 (SD 3·6) in the fordadistrogene movaparvovec group and 23·5 (3·9) in the placebo group. At week 52, the least squares mean change from baseline in NSAA total score was 1·46 (SE 0·43) for fordadistrogene movaparvovec and 1·37 (0·65) for placebo (difference between groups 0·09 95% CI –1·46 to 1·64; p=0·91). Adverse events occurred in 78 (99%) of 79 participants in the fordadistrogene movaparvovec group versus 27 (77%) of 35 in the placebo group. The most common adverse events in the fordadistrogene movaparvovec group versus the placebo group were vomiting (60 76% vs five 14%), pyrexia (49 62% vs three 9%), decreased appetite (26 33% vs one 3%), nausea (23 29% vs three 9%), increased liver glutamate dehydrogenase (19 24% vs zero), nasopharyngitis (19 24% vs six 17%), and abdominal pain (17 22% vs three 9%). Serious adverse events occurred in 25 (32%) participants in the fordadistrogene movaparvovec group versus five (14%) in the placebo group. There were no deaths in the study. The study did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint. Based on the efficacy and safety data from this phase 3 study, the benefit–risk profile of fordadistrogene movaparvovec was determined to be negative. Thus, the study sponsor has discontinued any further clinical development of this investigational gene therapy agent. Pfizer.
Muntoni et al. (Wed,) studied this question.