Magenta Therapeutics Presents Updated Phase 2 Clinical Data on MGTA-456 Cell Therapy at American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting

May 9, 2019 11:30 UTC

Six-month follow-up on patients with cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (cALD) shows stable neurological function scores and early and persistent resolution of brain inflammation on MRI

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Magenta Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MGTA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel medicines to bring the curative power of stem cell transplant to more patients, today announced that the Company presented Phase 2 clinical data on its cell therapy, MGTA-456, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

MGTA-456 is a cell therapy designed to provide a high dose of hematopoietic stem cells that are well-matched to the patient. The Company plans to enroll 12 patients in the ongoing Phase 2 study in inherited metabolic disorders, which include cALD, Hurler syndrome, metachromatic leukodystrophy and globoid cell leukodystrophy. The primary endpoint of the study is neutrophil engraftment after transplantation. The study is also collecting both short- and long-term disease-specific outcomes. Data from the first five evaluable patients treated in this study were highlighted in a poster presented by Ashish Gupta, MBBS, M.P.H., Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota.

In a separate oral presentation today, Kevin Goncalves, Ph.D., Magenta Therapeutics, will highlight preclinical data demonstrating that the high stem cell dose in MGTA-456 accelerates and improves engraftment of human microglia in the brains of transplanted mice.

“We are very pleased to see signs of durable disease benefit in patients with cALD,” said John Davis, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Medical Officer, Magenta Therapeutics. “cALD is a rapidly progressive disease, and patients whose disease progresses quickly typically have poor long-term outcomes. The stable neurological function score and persistent decrease in brain inflammation in these two patients suggest that we have halted the inflammatory process associated with the disease which may provide long-term benefits. We look forward to providing an additional update from the study before the end of the year.”

Patients with Inherited Metabolic Disorders (IMDs) transplanted with MGTA-456, a CD34+ Expanded Cell Therapy Product, Show Rapid Engraftment in Preliminary Phase 2 Trial Results

Key results in patients with cALD:

  • Both patients had stable neurological function scores, which remained unchanged between baseline and six months post-transplant, suggesting progress of the disease has been arrested.
  • The Loes score, a method for quantifying the severity of brain abnormalities and atrophy found on MRI, also remained stable in both patients after six months.
  • Both patients showed resolution of gadolinium enhancement on MRI, an indicator of brain inflammation, by one month post-transplant, and the resolution persisted at six months.
    • Durable resolution of gadolinium enhancement is correlated with long-term disease benefit in patients with cALD.

Key results in patients with Hurler Syndrome:

  • As previously reported, all three patients with Hurler syndrome achieved normal levels of blood leukocyte IDUA enzyme, the enzyme that is deficient in untreated patients with Hurler syndrome, by Day 42 post-transplant. This suggests that transplant with MGTA-456 is affecting the disease process in these patients.
    • Normalization of blood leukocyte IDUA enzyme after transplant has been significantly associated with improvement in disease.
    • Patients showed a marked decline in urine total glycosaminoglycan (GAG), the toxic metabolites implicated in disease, after transplant.
    • Both of these findings are correlated with improved long-term disease outcomes.

Overall results:

  • All five patients met the primary endpoint of neutrophil engraftment
  • MGTA-456 was well tolerated

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. The use of words such as “may,” “will,” “could”, “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,” “endeavor,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of such words or other similar expressions can be used to identify forward-looking statements.

The express or implied forward-looking statements included in this press release are only predictions and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation: uncertainties inherent in clinical studies and in the availability and timing of data from ongoing clinical studies; whether interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of the trial; whether results from preclinical studies or earlier clinical studies will be predictive of the results of future trials; the expected timing of submissions for regulatory approval or review by governmental authorities, including review under accelerated approval processes; orphan drug designation eligibility; regulatory approvals to conduct trials or to market products; whether Magenta's cash resources will be sufficient to fund Magenta's foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements; and other risks set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in Magenta’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as updated by Magenta’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although Magenta believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur.

Moreover, except as required by law, neither Magenta nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements included in this press release. Any forward-looking statement included in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it was made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts

Magenta Therapeutics:
Manisha Pai, Vice President, Communications & Investor Relations
617-510-9193
mpai@magentatx.com

 

Source: Magenta Therapeutics

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