Thryv Therapeutics' LQT-1213, a first-in-class serum glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) inhibitor, has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Long QT Syndrome (LQTS). This designation aims to accelerate the development of LQT-1213 as a potential therapy for this rare and potentially life-threatening cardiac condition.
Addressing Unmet Needs in Long QT Syndrome
LQTS is a rare cardiac conduction disorder characterized by a prolonged QT interval on an electrocardiogram, predisposing individuals to life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Currently, there are no FDA-approved therapies specifically for congenital LQTS, highlighting a significant unmet medical need. The FDA's Orphan Drug Designation underscores the potential of LQT-1213 to address this critical gap in treatment options.
Debra Odink, PhD, President and Chief Development Officer of Thryv Therapeutics, stated, "People with Long QT Syndrome deserve a properly studied and FDA-approved therapy to help in their battle against this potentially lethal genetic disease... This designation reinforces the potential of LQT-1213 to fulfill this unmet need and provides critical incentives for Thryv to accelerate our efforts to deploy prospectively designed, pivotal efficacy studies in people with congenital Long QT Syndrome."
LQT-1213: A Novel SGK1 Inhibitor
LQT-1213 is designed to treat Long QT Syndrome Types 1, 2, and 3. By inhibiting SGK1, LQT-1213 aims to shorten the prolonged QTc interval, thereby reducing the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias. The drug is currently being evaluated in clinical studies to assess its efficacy and safety in treating congenital LQTS.
Clinical Trial Data and Ongoing Research
The FDA's decision to grant Orphan Drug Designation was supported by clinical data from the ongoing Wave I clinical study (NCT05906732), a Phase 1/2 trial evaluating LQT-1213 in healthy individuals with dofetilide-induced LQTS and patients with congenital LQTS. Preliminary results from Part 1 of the Wave I study, presented at the American College of Cardiology Conference, demonstrated that LQT-1213 led to statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in QTcF (QTc corrected by Fridericia's formula) from baseline in participants with dofetilide-induced QTc prolongation. No QTcF over-shortening was reported during the trial, and there were no significant effects on ECG morphology, heart rate, or blood pressure.
Benefits of Orphan Drug Designation
The FDA Orphan Drug Designation provides several benefits to Thryv Therapeutics, including tax credits for qualified clinical trial costs, exemption from certain FDA fees, and the potential for up to seven years of market exclusivity in the United States upon FDA approval. These incentives are designed to encourage the development of therapies for rare diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S.
Thryv Therapeutics is focused on developing highly selective SGK1 inhibitors for the treatment of Long QT Syndrome, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. The company is pioneering a precision medicine approach to address cardiometabolic stress associated with arrhythmic diseases.
