Singapore-based biotechnology company Nuevocor has received FDA clearance for its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for NVC-001, an adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy designed to treat LMNA-related dilated cardiomyopathy (LMNA DCM). The regulatory milestone enables the company to initiate a first-in-human Phase 1/2 clinical trial in early 2026.
Addressing an Aggressive Genetic Heart Condition
LMNA DCM represents one of the most aggressive forms of dilated cardiomyopathy, affecting approximately 100,000 individuals in the United States and Europe. The condition is caused by mutations in the LMNA gene, which encodes lamin A/C, a protein essential for maintaining nuclear envelope integrity and regulating gene expression in cardiac cells. These mutations lead to weakening of the heart muscle, arrhythmias, and rapid progression to end-stage heart failure.
"This IND clearance marks a significant milestone in our mission to develop transformative therapies for patients with genetic cardiomyopathies by leveraging unique insights from our proprietary PrOSIA mechanobiology platform," said Dr. Yann Chong Tan, co-founder and CEO of Nuevocor. "NVC-001 is the first disease-modifying therapy for LMNA DCM designed to address the underlying mechanobiological root cause of disease."
Novel Mechanobiological Approach
NVC-001 is engineered to address the functional mechanical root cause of disease by reducing aberrant mechanical stress on the nucleus, thereby restoring nuclear envelope integrity. Nuclear envelope disruption represents a hallmark of LMNA DCM. In preclinical studies, treatment with NVC-001 demonstrated significant benefits, including improvements in survival and cardiac function.
The therapy's approach differs from traditional gene replacement therapy by targeting defects in shared disease pathways across multiple cardiomyopathies rather than treating individual gene mutations. This mechanobiology-focused strategy addresses genetic cardiomyopathies that are not amenable to conventional gene replacement therapy and currently have no effective treatment options.
Clinical Trial Design
The planned Phase 1/2 clinical trial is designed as a first-in-human, 52-week open-label, multicenter, ascending-dose study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of NVC-001 in adult subjects with LMNA-DCM. NVC-001 will be administered as a one-time intravenous infusion to patients in ascending-dose cohorts.
The study represents a significant step forward for patients with LMNA DCM, a condition that represents a significant unmet medical need given its aggressive nature and lack of disease-modifying treatment options. Nuevocor's proprietary PrOSIA mechanobiology platform enables this unique therapeutic approach that surpasses the limitations of traditional gene replacement therapy.
