Ocugen, Inc. (NASDAQ: OCGN) has announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted orphan medicinal product designation for OCU410ST, a modifier gene therapy candidate, for the treatment of ABCA4-associated retinopathies, including Stargardt disease. This designation provides Ocugen with several benefits, including protocol assistance, reduced regulatory fees, research grants, and 10 years of market exclusivity in the European Union following regulatory approval. The announcement follows the completion of Phase 1 dosing in the Phase 1/2 OCU410ST GARDian trial, with the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) recommending progression to Phase 2. Preliminary data showcased an 84% reduction in atrophic lesion growth in treated eyes compared to untreated eyes.
Clinical Efficacy and Safety Data
Preliminary efficacy and safety data from the Phase 1 dose-escalation portion of the Phase 1/2 OCU410ST GARDian clinical trial, recently presented at Ocugen’s Clinical Showcase, demonstrated a notable 84% reduction in atrophic lesion growth in treated eyes versus untreated fellow eyes at six months. Furthermore, the safety and tolerability profile of OCU410ST has been favorable to date. These findings suggest that OCU410ST has the potential to stabilize or improve visual function and retinal structure outcomes in treated eyes.
Regulatory and Market Landscape
The EMA's orphan medicinal product designation complements the orphan drug designation granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2023. Stargardt disease affects approximately 100,000 individuals in the U.S. and Europe combined, representing a substantial unmet medical need. The orphan drug designation in Europe offers certain benefits to drug developers while they develop drugs intended for safe and effective treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of rare diseases or conditions that impact fewer than 5 in 10,000 patients in the European Union.
Mechanism of Action
OCU410ST utilizes an adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery platform for the retinal delivery of the RORA (RAR Related Orphan Receptor A) gene. This approach leverages Ocugen’s modifier gene therapy platform, which is based on Nuclear Hormone Receptors (NHRs) that regulate diverse physiological functions such as photoreceptor development and maintenance, metabolism, phototransduction, inflammation, and cell survival networks.
Future Plans
Ocugen intends to pursue an accelerated marketing authorization application (MAA) for OCU410ST, aiming to expedite the availability of this potential therapy to patients in need. According to Dr. Arun Upadhyay, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of R&D at Ocugen, the company is committed to advancing this treatment with urgency and dedication, with the hope of making a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected by this challenging disease.
