Wave Life Sciences Advances RNA Therapies for Obesity, AATD, DMD, and Huntington's Disease
Key Insights
Wave Life Sciences is set to initiate dosing for WVE-007 in its Phase 1 INLIGHT trial for obesity (search) in Q1 2025, with proof-of-concept data expected later in the year.
The company anticipates sharing multi-dose data for WVE-006 in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (search) (AATD) from the RestorAATion-2 trial in 2025.
Wave Life Sciences expects to release 48-week data from the FORWARD-53 trial of WVE-N531 for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (search) (DMD) and receive regulatory feedback in Q1 2025.
Wave Life Sciences is making strides in the development of RNA-based therapeutics for a range of diseases, including obesity (search), Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (search) (AATD), Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (search) (DMD), and Huntington's Disease (HD). The company highlighted its strategic priorities and expected milestones for 2025, emphasizing its commitment to advancing innovative treatments using its proprietary RNA medicines platform, PRISM.
Obesity Program: WVE-007
Wave Life Sciences is advancing WVE-007, a GalNAc-conjugated small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting Inhibin βE (INHBE) mRNA, a genetically validated target for obesity (search). Preclinical data showcased WVE-007's potential to induce weight loss comparable to semaglutide in a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model, without muscle loss. Notably, when combined with semaglutide, a single dose of WVE-007 doubled the amount of weight loss, and it also prevented weight regain after semaglutide treatment was discontinued.
The company has submitted multiple clinical trial applications (CTAs) for WVE-007, and the first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial, "INLIGHT," is designed to enroll adults with overweight or obesity (search). The trial will assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, biomarkers for target engagement, body weight, and composition, aligning with recent FDA draft guidance on weight reduction therapeutics. Dosing is expected to commence in Q1 2025, with proof-of-concept clinical data anticipated in 2025.
AATD Program: WVE-006
WVE-006, a GalNAc-conjugated, subcutaneously delivered, A-to-I RNA editing oligonucleotide (AIMer), is designed to address AATD-related lung and liver diseases. In 2024, Wave Life Sciences reported proof-of-mechanism data from a single dose of WVE-006 in Pi*ZZ AATD patients, marking the first clinical demonstration of RNA editing in humans. The treatment increased mean total AAT protein to 10.8 micromolar, meeting the level for regulatory approval of AAT augmentation therapies. Circulating wild-type M-AAT protein in plasma reached a mean of 6.9 micromolar, representing over 60% of total AAT.
Wave plans to share multi-dose data for WVE-006 from the RestorAATion-2 trial in 2025 and new preclinical data from its hepatic and extra-hepatic RNA editing programs.
DMD Program: WVE-N531
WVE-N531 is an exon-skipping oligonucleotide designed to induce the production of functional dystrophin protein in boys with DMD amenable to exon 53 skipping. Interim results from the Phase 2 FORWARD-53 study demonstrated highly consistent, mean muscle content-adjusted dystrophin expression of 9.0% (range: 4.6-13.9%), along with best-in-class muscle delivery and indicators of improved muscle health.
The FORWARD-53 trial is ongoing, with all patients continuing treatment in the extension phase. Wave expects to deliver 48-week FORWARD-53 data and receive regulatory feedback on a potential accelerated approval pathway in Q1 2025.
Huntington's Disease Program: WVE-003
WVE-003 is a first-in-class, allele-selective oligonucleotide for treating HD. Results from the SELECT-HD clinical trial showed the first allele-selective reduction in CSF mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein and preservation of healthy, wild-type huntingtin (wtHTT) protein with multiple doses of WVE-003. There was also a statistically significant correlation between mHTT reduction and slowing of caudate atrophy.
Wave is planning a global, potentially registrational Phase 2/3 study of WVE-003, with an Investigational New Drug (IND) application expected in the second half of 2025.
Financial Position
Wave Life Sciences anticipates its current cash and cash equivalents will fund operations into 2027. This projection excludes potential milestone payments from its collaboration with GSK.