On November 29, 2022 Eikonoklastes Therapeutics, a preclinical biotech company developing treatments for today’s most challenging diseases, and Forge Biologics, a gene therapy-focused contract development and manufacturing organization, reported a manufacturing partnership that will advance Eikonoklastes’ AAV-based gene therapy, ET-101, into clinical trials for the treatment of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (Press release, Eikonoklastes Therapeutics, NOV 29, 2022, View Source [SID1234624562]).
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
Forge will provide adeno-associated viral (AAV) process development and manufacturing services for ET-101. Eikonoklastes will utilize Forge’s platform process including its proprietary HEK 293 suspension Ignition Cells and pEMBR adenovirus helper plasmid. All development and AAV manufacturing activities will occur at the Hearth, Forge’s 200,000 square foot gene therapy facility in Columbus, Ohio.
"Eikonoklastes is conducting promising research into treating patients with ALS, and we are honored to work together with them during this critical phase of development to help ET-101 enter clinical trials," said Timothy J. Miller, Ph.D., CEO, President, and Co-Founder of Forge Biologics. "Our primary goal is to deliver the AAV resources, scale, technology, and expertise for our partners to help patients living with diseases like ALS with no known cure."
ALS is a rare neurological disease with significant socioeconomic impact, whose patients are desperate for novel, safe and effective therapies. ALS is the lead indication for Eikonoklastes’ ET-101, which has just received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA—an important regulatory milestone reflecting the compelling data underlying the ET-101 program and its potential as a first-in-class treatment option for both familial and sporadic ALS.
"We are excited to advance ET-101, our novel treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, towards a first-in-human clinical trial in ALS patients. Partnering our AAV manufacturing with Forge will further our ability to advance into clinical trials," said Bruce Halpryn, Ph.D., Chair, CEO, and Co-Founder of Eikonoklastes Therapeutics. "With their end-to-end platform supporting AAV therapies, Forge is accelerating our development to reach patients suffering from ALS."
About Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a rare, progressive, debilitating, and universally fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting the motor neurons connecting the brain and spinal cord. Degeneration of these neurons leads to paralysis as the brain loses its ability to control muscle movement. Most people with ALS succumb to respiratory failure, usually within three to five years from when symptoms first appear. An estimated 10 percent of ALS is familial and caused by genetic mutations that are inherited. The 90%+ of sporadic ALS may be due to a combination of environment and genetic risk factors. There is currently no cure for either familial or sporadic ALS.