Novel approach for evaluation of mitochondrial substrate utilization in fibroblasts from patients with Friedreich’s ataxia

Ahmadian N, Dallas S, Dedkova EN. Novel approach for evaluation of mitochondrial substrate utilization in fibroblasts from patients with Friedreich’s ataxia. Biophysical Journal. 8 de febrero de 2024;123(3):523a. doi:10.1016/j.bpj.2023.11.3162

We found that FA fibroblasts had decreased utilization of alpha-ketoglutaric, succinic, fumaric and malic acids. Utilization of alpha-keto-butyric acid was not changed, however, utilization of D, L-beta-hydroxybutyric acid was decreased in FA fibroblasts as compared to control cells. At the same time utilization of acetyl-L-carnitine and palmitoyl-D,L-carnitine was increased in FA fibroblasts. Utilization of L-glutamic acid, L-glutamine, L-ornithine, glycine/alanine and tryptamine was decreased in FA fibroblasts.     

Using synthetic genome readers/regulators to interrogate chromatin processes: A brief review

Philips SJ, Danda A, Ansari AZ. Using synthetic genome readers/regulators to interrogate chromatin processes: A brief review. Methods. 1 de mayo de 2024;225:20-7. doi:10.1016/j.ymeth.2024.03.001

 A major challenge for designing small molecule therapeutics aimed at targeting desired genomic loci is the minimization of widescale disruption of genomic functions. To address this challenge, we rationally design polyamide-based multi-functional molecules, i.e., Synthetic Genome Readers/Regulators (SynGRs), which, by design, target distinct sequences in the genome. Herein, we briefly review how SynGRs access chromatin-bound and chromatin-free genomic sites, then highlight the methods for the study of chromatin processes using SynGRs on positioned nucleosomes in vitro or disease-causing repressive genomic loci in vivo.

Unique combinations of ultrasound and electrophysiological findings distinguish Friedreich’s ataxia from other inherited ataxias

Pelosi L, Mulroy E, Leadbetter R, Rodrigues M, Roxburgh R. Unique combinations of ultrasound and electrophysiological findings distinguish Friedreich’s ataxia from other inherited ataxias. Clinical Neurophysiology. 1 de mayo de 2024;161:157-8. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2024.02.035

Larimar Triumphs: Significant Strides Made on the Road to Treating Friedreich’s Ataxia

BALA CYNWYD, PA — Larimar Therapeutics, Inc. March 19, 2024 

 In their ongoing discussions with the FDA, Larimar is working on a potential use of frataxin as a novel surrogate endpoint. This may unlock the potential for accelerated approval. Moreover, the company is planning for a global double-blind placebo-controlled confirmatory study. The study is expected to be initiated before the potential BLA (Biologics License Application) is submitted. The targeted timeline for the submission is the second half of 2025.

Design Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:DSGN) Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Published on March 19 on Seeking Alpha. Transcripts.

We learned from the human studies that the duration of adequate levels of exposure of DT-216 was much shorter than expected. While we knew that the drug was short-lived in plasma. Human studies showed by muscle biopsy that it was also short-lived in tissue and that what you observe in plasma is predictive of what is observed in tissue. 

 The tissue levels from human muscle biopsies were approximately only eight to 10 nanomolar at day two, and the drug was almost gone with levels of one nanomolar by day seven. Well, despite that, there was a clear increase in frataxin expression observed in treated patients in a dose dependent fashion with one patient frataxin level, going to clinically normal carrier levels as shown in the right. However, the effect was transient because the drug exposure was transient, so we needed to develop a new drug product that could sustain this drug exposure. While the drug was generally well tolerated, there were injection site thrombophlebitis events observed, which limited the frequency and levels of dosing with the prior product candidate. Nonclinical studies showed that these reactions were attributable to the formulation excipients in the drug product. 

We have now conducted new non GLP animal studies with DT-216P2, which lead us to believe that these issues have now been solved and we can progress to confirmatory GLP studies to get back into the clinic. Furthermore, this new drug product appears suitable for IV administration, compatible with injections or infusions, peripheral or central, and also appears suitable for a subcutaneous route of administration. As we showed in the beginning, the new drug product, DT-216P2 has a much more sustained exposure profile as seen in the single dose ID PK curve from non-human primates.