Study of Intraventricular Cerliponase Alfa for CLN2 Disease.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human tripeptidyl peptidase 1 (cerliponase alfa) is an enzyme-replacement therapy that has been developed to treat neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2) disease, a rare lysosomal disorder that causes progressive dementia in children. METHODS: In a multicenter, open-label study, we evaluated the effect of intraventricular infusion of cerliponase alfa every 2 weeks in children with CLN2 disease who were between the ages of 3 and 16 years. Treatment was initiated at a dose of 30 mg, 100 mg, or 300 mg; all the patients then received the 300-mg dose for at least 96 weeks. The primary outcome was the time until a 2-point decline in the score on the motor and language domains of the CLN2 Clinical Rating Scale (which ranges from 0 to 6, with 0 representing no function and 3 representing normal function in each of the two domains), which was compared with the time until a 2-point decline in 42 historical controls. We also compared the rate of decline in the motor-language score between the two groups, using data from baseline to the last assessment with a score of more than 0, divided by the length of follow-up (in units of 48 weeks). RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were enrolled, 23 of whom constituted the efficacy population. The median time until a 2-point decline in the motor-language score was not reached for treated patients and was 345 days for historical controls. The mean (±SD) unadjusted rate of decline in the motor-language score per 48-week period was 0.27±0.35 points in treated patients and 2.12±0.98 points in 42 historical controls (mean difference, 1.85; P<0.001). Common adverse events included convulsions, pyrexia, vomiting, hypersensitivity reactions, and failure of the intraventricular device. In 2 patients, infections developed in the intraventricular device that was used to administer the infusion, which required antibiotic treatment and device replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Intraventricular infusion of cerliponase alfa in patients with CLN2 disease resulted in less decline in motor and language function than that in historical controls. Serious adverse events included failure of the intraventricular device and device-related infections. (Funded by BioMarin Pharmaceutical and others; CLN2 ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT01907087 and NCT02485899 .).

Characterization of Fluid Biomarkers Reveals Lysosome Dysfunction and Neurodegeneration in Neuronopathic MPS II Patients.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) and characterized by the accumulation of the primary storage substrate, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Understanding central nervous system (CNS) pathophysiology in neuronopathic MPS II (nMPS II) has been hindered by the lack of CNS biomarkers. Characterization of fluid biomarkers has been largely focused on evaluating GAGs in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the periphery; however, GAG levels alone do not accurately reflect the broad cellular dysfunction in the brains of MPS II patients. We utilized a preclinical mouse model of MPS II, treated with a brain penetrant form of IDS (ETV:IDS) to establish the relationship between markers of primary storage and downstream pathway biomarkers in the brain and CSF. We extended the characterization of pathway and neurodegeneration biomarkers to nMPS II patient samples. In addition to the accumulation of CSF GAGs, nMPS II patients show elevated levels of lysosomal lipids, neurofilament light chain, and other biomarkers of neuronal damage and degeneration. Furthermore, we find that these biomarkers of downstream pathology are tightly correlated with heparan sulfate. Exploration of the responsiveness of not only CSF GAGs but also pathway and disease-relevant biomarkers during drug development will be crucial for monitoring disease progression, and the development of effective therapies for nMPS II.

Immunogenicity to cerliponase alfa intracerebroventricular enzyme replacement therapy for CLN2 disease: Results from a Phase 1/2 study.

Treatment with intracerebroventricular (ICV)-delivered cerliponase alfa enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in a Phase 1/2 study of 24 subjects with CLN2 disease resulted in a meaningful preservation of motor and language (ML) function and was well tolerated. Treatment was associated with anti-drug antibody (ADA) production in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 6/24 (25%) and in the serum of 19/24 (79%) of clinical trial subjects, respectively, over a mean exposure of 96.4 weeks (range 0.1-129 weeks). Neutralizing antibodies (NAb) were not detected in the CSF of any of the subjects. No events of anaphylaxis were reported. Neither the presence of serum ADA nor drug-specific immunoglobulin E was associated with the incidence or severity of hypersensitivity adverse events. Serum and CSF ADA titers did not correlate with change in ML score. Therefore, the development of an ADA response to cerliponase alfa is not predictive of an adverse safety profile or poor treatment outcome.

Outcomes of neonatal candidiasis: the impact of delayed initiation of antifungal therapy.

Objective/Methods. To determine the outcomes of invasive neonatal candidiasis before institution of routine antifungal prophylaxis, we conducted a retrospective review of cases of invasive candidiasis in newborns in a referral-based neonatal intensive care unit located in a single tertiary academic center between January 1998 and December 2002. Results. Sixty-three newborns with invasive neonatal candidiasis were identified. Overall mortality rate was 35%. Virtually every infant had a central venous catheter (CVC), required mechanical ventilation and previous administration of antibacterial agents. Delayed institution of antifungal therapy was associated with increased mortality. In addition, length of hospitalization, duration of prior antibacterial therapy, mechanical ventilation, and CVC use, as well as evidence of end-organ disease, were associated with an adverse outcome. Conclusions. Reliance on available laboratory tools in cases of invasive neonatal candidiasis can result in delayed diagnosis and increased mortality. A risk-factor-based approach to empirical treatment could be justified in this setting.