Adverum Biotechnologies has sufficient cash to fund operations at least through the first half of 2020, to advance Novel Gene Therapy ADVM-022 for Wet AMD in OPTIC Phase 1 clinical trial

Adverum Biotechnologies, a California-based ophthalmology and rare diseases focused biotech company, says it has cash to maintain it’s progress at least until mid 2020, during which time it expects to provide an update on enrollment from the OPTIC phase 1 clinical trial in the first half of 2019, and interim data on the three cohorts from the OPTIC phase 1 clinical trial by the first quarter of 2020, it said in an outlook for 2019.

Adverum said it also plans to provide an update on rare disease program’s preclinical development plan in the first half of 2019. The company’s cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $217.9 million as of September 30, 2018. Adverum expects this quarter-end cash position to fund operations at least through the first half of 2020.

Leone Patterson, chief executive officer of Adverum Biotechnologies, said: ““For our lead gene therapy ADVM-022 for the treatment of wet AMD, we are building off of last year’s momentum to execute our ongoing OPTIC phase 1 clinical trial. In a very short period, we have dosed our first patient in the OPTIC phase 1 trial, published long-term preclinical efficacy data in a leading scientific journal, and received Fast Track designation for ADVM-022. With this key groundwork complete, this year our primary focus is on advancing this gene therapy for an initial indication in wet AMD and evaluating additional anti-VEGF indications to pursue. We have sufficient cash to fund operations at least through the first half of 2020, including interim data from the three cohorts in the OPTIC trial. Our team is excited to be working on developing this novel single intravitreal injection therapy for patients.”

Key Accomplishments for 2018

In a review of its recent progress and giving an outlook for 2019, the company said that in December 2018, long-term preclinical expression and efficacy data on ADVM-022 in wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) were published in Molecular Therapy, a leading peer-reviewed scientific journal. The data in this publication combined with two year preclinical expression data presented in October 2018 at the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT) showed the following:

A single intravitreal injection of ADVM-022 in non-human primates (NHPs) at dose ranges of 2 x 10 11 vg/eye to 2 x 10 12 vg/eye provided stable intraocular expression of aflibercept at levels comparable with the levels measured in aflibercept recombinant protein-injected eyes approximately 3 to 4 weeks post-dose in all of the following: vitreous humor, aqueous humor, retina and choroid
A single intravitreal injection of ADVM-022 provided robust and durable expression of aflibercept, sustained for approximately two years post-dose in NHPs
In a laser-induced choroidal neovascularization model in NHPs, a single intravitreal injection of ADVM-022 13 months before lasering prevented the occurrence of clinically relevant choroidal neovascularization lesions, similar to animals that received a bolus of intravitreal aflibercept (standard-of-care) at the time of lesioning
A single intravitreal injection of ADVM-022 delivering a continuous supply of aflibercept may provide an effective long-term treatment option and prevent further vision loss for patients with wet AMD

In November 2018, Adverum dosed the first patient in the OPTIC phase 1 trial evaluating a single intravitreal injection of ADVM-022 for patients with wet AMD. ADVM-022 (AAV.7m8-aflibercept) is designed to provide long-lasting therapy without the need of chronic or frequent anti-VEGF injections.

In September 2018, Adverum received Fast Track designation for ADVM-022 in wet AMD from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. Despite the availability of anti-VEGF therapies, patients with wet AMD still have a significant burden from the frequency of injections and undertreatment may lead to vision loss.

In late August 2018, Adverum announced that the IND application for ADVM-022 in patients went active.