Affinia Therapeutics has announced the nomination of AFTX-201 as its development candidate for BAG3 dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This decision follows a successful pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late 2024, marking a significant step toward addressing this severe genetic heart condition.
BAG3 DCM is a monogenic disease impacting over 70,000 patients across the U.S., Europe, and the U.K. The disease stems from mutations in the BAG3 gene, which encodes a protein crucial for the structure and function of heart cells. Patients with BAG3 DCM experience a deficiency in functional BAG3 protein, leading to early-onset heart failure that progresses rapidly. Despite standard treatments, nearly 25% of patients require a heart transplant.
AFTX-201 is designed as a one-time intravenous (IV) gene therapy to address the root cause of BAG3 DCM. The therapy utilizes Affinia's cardiotropic capsid to deliver a functional copy of the BAG3 gene to heart cells, aiming to restore normal BAG3 protein levels and improve cardiac function. Preclinical data indicates that AFTX-201 can effectively replenish the BAG3 protein in the heart, leading to the restoration of cardiac structure and function.
"BAG3 DCM is a disease that greatly impairs both quality of life and survival. Although conventional treatments including guideline-directed medical therapies, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and implanted defibrillators can be used in patients with BAG3 DCM, there is no specific disease-modifying treatment available and patients still may progress to heart failure, die prematurely, or require advanced therapies like heart transplantation," said Barry Greenberg, M.D., Director of the Advanced Heart Failure Treatment Program at University of California San Diego Health. "Development of AFTX-201 as a one-time therapy that addresses the genetic root cause of BAG3 DCM could be transformative."
Affinia is currently conducting IND-enabling studies for AFTX-201 and anticipates submitting an IND application to the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2025. If approved, AFTX-201 could offer a significant advancement in the treatment of BAG3 DCM, potentially reducing the need for heart transplants and improving patient outcomes.
