Denali Therapeutics Announces Presentations on its Investigational Blood-Brain Barrier-Crossing Enzyme Replacement Therapies

Denali Therapeutics Inc. recently announced upcoming presentations from its Enzyme Transport Vehicle (ETV) development programs, tividenofusp alfa (DNL310) and DNL126 (ETV:SGSH), to be given at the 20th Annual WORLDSymposium, which will be held February 4-9, 2024, in San Diego, CA.

MPS II, also called Hunter syndrome, is a rare genetic disease that affects over 2,000 individuals, primarily males, world-wide, and leads to behavioral, cognitive, and physical symptoms ultimately resulting in shortened lifespan. MPS II is caused by mutations in the iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) gene, which leads to a deficiency of the IDS enzyme. Symptoms often begin emerging around age two and include physical complications, including organ dysfunction, joint stiffness, hearing loss and impaired growth, and neurocognitive symptoms with impaired development. The disease is characterized by a buildup of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in lysosomes — the part of the cell that breaks down materials including GAGs. The current standard of care enzyme replacement therapy partially treats the physical symptoms but does not cross the BBB, and as a result, cognitive and behavioral symptoms experienced by the majority of patients with MPS II are not addressed. Therapies that address behavioral, cognitive, and physical manifestations of the disease are one of the greatest unmet needs for this community.

Tividenofusp alfa (DNL310) is an investigational fusion protein composed of IDS fused to Denali’s proprietary ETV, which is engineered to cross the BBB via receptor-mediated transcytosis into the brain. Preclinical studies demonstrate that DNL310 delivers IDS to lysosomes in the brain, where it is needed to break down GAGs. DNL310 is engineered for broad delivery of IDS into cells and tissues throughout the body, including the brain, with the goal of addressing the behavioral, cognitive, and physical manifestations of MPS II. In March 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Fast Track designation to DNL310 for the treatment of patients with MPS II. In May 2022, the European Medicines Agency granted DNL310 Priority Medicines designation. DNL310 is an investigational product candidate and has not been approved by any Health Authority.

Based on supportive clinical and preclinical data to date, Denali is conducting the Phase 2/3 COMPASS study of DNL310, which is expected to enroll 54 participants with MPS II with and without neuronopathic disease. The participants are randomized 2:1 to receive either DNL310 or idursulfase, respectively. Cohort A includes children ages 2 to 6 with neuronopathic disease; cohort B includes children ages 6 to 17 without neuronopathic disease. The Phase 2/3 COMPASS study is being conducted globally in North America, South America, and Europe. Upon completion of the ongoing Phase 1/2 study, and together with data from the global COMPASS study, this combined data package is intended to support registration. More information about the COMPASS study can be found here.

MPS III, also called Sanfilippo syndrome, is a rare, genetic lysosomal storage disease that causes neurodegeneration. There are four main types of MPS III, depending on the enzyme affected. Among these, Type A is the most common and is caused by genetic defects that result in reduction in the activity of N-sulfoglucosamine sulfohydrolase (SGSH), an enzyme responsible for degrading heparan sulfate in the lysosome. There are no approved treatments for MPS IIIA. A natural history study of biomarkers and adaptive behavior in MPS IIIA is ongoing; more information can be found here.

DNL126 (ETV:SGSH) is an investigational, intravenously administered, ETV-enabled N-sulfoglucosamine sulfohydrolase (SGSH) replacement therapy designed to cross the BBB for the potential treatment of MPS IIIA. A Phase 1/2 study of DNL126 in MPS IIIA is ongoing; more information can be found here.

The BBB is essential in maintaining the brain’s microenvironment and protecting it from harmful substances and pathogens circulating in the bloodstream. Historically, the BBB has posed significant challenges to drug development for central nervous system diseases by preventing most drugs from reaching the brain in therapeutically relevant concentrations. Denali’s TV platform is a proprietary technology designed to effectively deliver large therapeutic molecules such as antibodies, enzymes, proteins, and oligonucleotides across the BBB after intravenous administration. The TV technology is based on engineered Fc domains that bind to specific natural transport receptors, such as transferrin receptors, which are expressed at the BBB and deliver the TV and its therapeutic cargo to the brain through receptor-mediated transcytosis. In animal models, antibodies and enzymes engineered with the TV technology demonstrate more than 10- to 30-fold greater brain exposure than similar antibodies and enzymes without this technology. Improved exposure and broad distribution in the brain may increase therapeutic efficacy by enabling widespread achievement of therapeutically relevant concentrations of product candidates.

Denali Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing a broad portfolio of product candidates engineered to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and lysosomal storage diseases. Denali pursues new treatments by rigorously assessing genetically validated targets, engineering delivery across the BBB, and guiding development through biomarkers that demonstrate target and pathway engagement. Denali is based in South San Francisco. For additional information, visit www.denalitherapeutics.com.

Presentations on DNL310 will include new 2-year data on clinical outcomes and previously presented data on biomarkers from the ongoing Phase 1/2 study in MPS II. In addition, an oral presentation will highlight data from preclinical studies of DNL126 in an MPS IIIA mouse model. The presentation schedule at WORLDSymposium is as follows:

Title: Interim Analysis of a Phase 1/2 Study of Weekly Intravenous DNL310 (Brain-Penetrant Enzyme Replacement Therapy) in Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II
Session: Clinical Applications Platform Presentations
Date: Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM Pacific Time

Title: Somatic Outcomes in a Phase 1/2 Study of Weekly Intravenous DNL310 (Brain-Penetrant Enzyme Replacement Therapy) in Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II (Poster #43)
Session: Clinical Applications – Poster Session III
Date: Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Pacific Time

Title: DNL310 Phase 1/2 Case Study Demonstrates Properties of Raw, Standard and Growth Scale Scores for Adaptive Behavior Scales (Poster #80)
Session: Contemporary Forum – Poster Session IV
Date: Thursday, February 8, 2024
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM Pacific Time

Title: DNL310 Normalizes Primary Storage Substrates, Corrects Biomarkers of Lysosomal Dysfunction and Reduces Biomarkers of Neuronal Injury (Neurofilament Light Chain) in MPS II: 2-Year Interim Analysis of a Phase 1/2 Study (Poster #34)
Session: Contemporary Forum – Poster Session IV
Date: Thursday, February 8, 2024
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM Pacific Time

Title: ETV:SGSH, a Brain-Penetrant Enzyme Transport Vehicle for SGSH, Improves Lysosomal and Microglial Morphology, Degeneration and Cognitive Behavior in MPS IIIA Mice
Session: Contemporary Forum Platform Presentations
Date: Thursday, February 8, 2024
Time: 1:00 PM Pacific Time

Denali is also participating in or sponsoring the following events being held at the WORLDSymposium:

Title: 3rd Annual Robert J. Gorlin Symposium – Beyond the Blood Brain barrier: Strategies for Treating the CNS
Course Director: Jeanine R. Jarnes, PharmD, MSc, BCOP, BCPS
Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Time: 5:15 – 7:30 PM Pacific Time

Title: From Prevailing to Pioneering – Current and Emerging Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Lysosomal Diseases
Date: Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Time: 5:15 – 6:15 PM Pacific Time