— PCRX-201 is the first gene therapy product candidate to receive RMAT designation for osteoarthritis —
— Designation supported by encouraging preliminary data from 72-patient Phase 1 study —
— 52-Week Data Accepted for Presentation at OARSI 2024 and 104-week data to be submitted for presentation later this year —
Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCRX), the industry leader in its commitment to non-opioid pain management and regenerative health solutions, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation to PCRX-201 (enekinragene inzadenovec), the company’s novel, intra-articular helper-dependent adenovirus (HDAd) gene therapy product candidate that codes for interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.
“We are honored to receive FDA’s first-ever RMAT designation for a gene therapy product candidate in osteoarthritis,” said Frank D. Lee, chief executive officer of Pacira BioSciences, Inc. “We continue to be encouraged by the preliminary clinical findings supporting PCRX-201 as a potential disease-modifying therapy for osteoarthritis, and we look forward to presenting additional follow-up data later this year.”
The company’s RMAT application was supported by the preliminary safety and efficacy findings from a Phase 1 open-label, proof-of-concept, single ascending dose trial that enrolled 72 patients in two three-dose cohorts: a co-administered intra-articular steroid cohort and a cohort that did not receive a steroid. PCRX-201 was well tolerated, with efficacy observed through at least 52 weeks at all doses and cohorts. The highest level of efficacy was achieved in the co-administered steroid group, which showed a greater percentage of patients with at least a 50% improvement in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and stiffness scores, as well as a meaningful improvement in (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score) KOOS functional assessment. Preliminary 36-week data were presented at the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) 2023 World Congress, the premier annual international forum in osteoarthritis research and treatment. The 52-week data have been accepted for presentation at OARSI 2024 taking place in Vienna, Austria in April 2024 and the company expects to present 104-week efficacy and safety data later this year.
Established under the 21st Century Cures Act, RMAT designation is a dedicated program designed to expedite the development and review processes for promising therapies, including genetic therapies, that are intended to treat, modify, reverse, or cure a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, and for which preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug or therapy has the potential to address an unmet medical need.
RMAT designation provides the benefits of intensive FDA guidance on efficient drug development, including the ability for early interactions with FDA to discuss surrogate or intermediate endpoints, potential ways to support accelerated approval and satisfy post-approval requirements, potential priority review of the Biologics License Application (BLA), and other opportunities to expedite development and review. PCRX-201 was also granted Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) designation by the European Medicines Agency in May 2023.
About PCRX-201
PCRX-201 was acquired from GQ Bio Therapeutics GmbH, a privately held biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. GQ Bio’s product candidates are next-generation gene transfer vehicles. These gene therapy vectors are highly efficient in entering joint cells to confer multi-year clinical benefit. In PCRX-201, the high-capacity adenoviral gene therapy vector codes for the expression of IL-1Ra, a cytokine inhibitor that plays a central role in blocking inflammation and catabolic processes that are associated with pain and disease progression in osteoarthritis. Its unique design includes an inducible promoter so that, only in the presence of inflammation signaling, the vector turns joint cells into factories to produce sustained therapeutic levels of IL-1Ra to manage pain and mitigate osteoarthritis-related joint damage while remaining localized to the joint space.
About Pacira
Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCRX) is committed to providing a non-opioid option to as many patients as possible to redefine the role of opioids as rescue therapy only. Pacira has three commercial-stage non-opioid treatments: EXPAREL® (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension), a long-acting local analgesic currently approved for infiltration, fascial plane block, and as an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block for postsurgical pain management; ZILRETTA® (triamcinolone acetonide extended-release injectable suspension), an extended-release, intra-articular injection indicated for the management of osteoarthritis knee pain; and ioveraº®, a novel, handheld device for delivering immediate, long-acting, drug-free pain control using precise, controlled doses of cold temperature to a targeted nerve.
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/03/13/2845287/0/en/Pacira-BioSciences-Announces-PCRX-201-Granted-Regenerative-Medicine-Advance-Therapy-RMAT-Designation-for-the-Treatment-of-Osteoarthritis-of-the-Knee.html
PackGene Biotech is a world-leading CRO and CDMO, excelling in AAV vectors, mRNA, plasmid DNA, and lentiviral vector solutions. Our comprehensive offerings span from vector design and construction to AAV, lentivirus, and mRNA services. With a sharp focus on early-stage drug discovery, preclinical development, and cell and gene therapy trials, we deliver cost-effective, dependable, and scalable production solutions. Leveraging our groundbreaking π-alpha 293 AAV high-yield platform, we amplify AAV production by up to 10-fold, yielding up to 1e+17vg per batch to meet diverse commercial and clinical project needs. Moreover, our tailored mRNA and LNP products and services cater to every stage of drug and vaccine development, from research to GMP production, providing a seamless, end-to-end solution.
Related News
Skyline Therapeutics Receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation for Gene Therapy for Retinitis Pigmentosa
BOSTON & SHANGHAI, September 2, 2024 – Skyline Therapeutics, a gene therapy company focused on innovative treatments for rare and severe diseases, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for SKG1108....
Novavax Receives Emergency Use Authorization for Updated Covid-19 Vaccine
Novavax has received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its updated Covid-19 vaccine, NVX-CoV2705, joining other vaccine manufacturers in addressing evolving virus variants. The EUA permits the use of Novavax's...
Turn Biotechnologies Reports Historic Skin Cell Rejuvenation Breakthroughs at ESDR this Week
Company will present data from its successful rejuvenation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes to influential gathering of international dermatologists MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Turn Biotechnologies, a developer of novel mRNA medicines and...
H5 influenza vaccines: What needs to be done to reduce the risk of a pandemic
As the global threat of H5N1 influenza looms with outbreaks across species and continents including the U.S., three international vaccine and public health experts say it is time to fully resource and support a robust strategy to address this and future potential...
Related Services
![](https://static.packgene.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/9-1.png)
Plasmids GMP Services
![](https://static.packgene.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/10-2.png)
AAV GMP Services
![aav icon](https://static.packgene.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/9-1.png)