French biotech EG 427 reports positive results from a trial of its gene therapy to target incontinence in people with spinal cord injury where nerve damage has caused bladder control problems.
Nerve damage impacting the bladder, known as neurogenic detrusor overactivity, impacts at least two million patients with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological diseases around the world. While treatments are available for this condition, they are associated with potentially significant side effects and are not very effective or long lasting.
EG 427’s initial Phase I/II trial results show an 88% reduction in urinary incontinence in participants with neurogenic detrusor overactivity and spinal cord injury who received the lowest possible dose of the company’s gene therapy EG110A at 12 weeks.
The trial is ongoing at four locations in the U.S.—California, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas—and will continue to test a higher dose of the therapy in another group of patients. So far, no significant adverse effects of the therapy have been observed.
EG 427 was founded in Paris in 2019 and has a focus on developing localized gene therapies for common neurological conditions, particularly in the neuro-urology space. It is using a unique, non-replicative Herpes Simplex Virus type 1-based vector to deliver its gene therapy, which is useful for this indication because it is good at evading the immune system, targets nerve cells, and is highly localized so it will not spread beyond the bladder.
“These initial clinical results showing a significant reduction in the number of incontinence episodes at the lowest dose are truly remarkable. Treatment with EG110A to date has been well tolerated, and we are currently dosing the second cohort of patients,” said Cornelia Haag-Molkenteller, MD, PhD, chief medical officer at EG 427, in a press statement about the results.
“Although we are still early in the clinical development, for patients living with neurogenic detrusor overactivity who struggle with frequent, unpredictable urinary incontinence, we believe EG110A could represent a medical breakthrough.”
EG110A is the first genetic therapy that selectively targets a specific subtype of sensory neurons (type C sensory neurons) at the local level to treat bladder overactivity, while preserving other bladder functions.
The company is also developing similar therapies for overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis, and other undisclosed neuromuscular and sensory conditions that are not yet in clinical trials.
