Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Nomlabofusp in Non-clinical Studies of Friedreich’s Ataxia

Abstract

Nomlabofusp is a cell penetrant peptide-based recombinant fusion protein designed to enter cells and deliver human frataxin into the mitochondria of adults and children with Friedreich’s ataxia. In this article we present non-clinical studies evaluating the pharmacology of nomlabofusp, including in a murine striated muscle tissue frataxin knockout model of Friedreich’s ataxia. We demonstrate that subcutaneous administration of nomlabofusp distributes in a dose-dependent manner to several organs including the dorsal root ganglion, heart, and skeletal muscle, which are known to be predominantly affected in Friedreich’s ataxia, as well as to other tissues, including skin. Plasma nomlabofusp concentrations correlated with levels of human frataxin delivered by nomlabofusp into tissues, and the increases in frataxin were correlated amongst tissues, especially with skin. In the knockout mice, we show that the pharmacokinetics and processing of nomlabofusp were comparable with wild type animals and that treatment with nomlabofusp halts the progression of cardiac dysfunction and significantly increased survival. Together, the findings from these non-clinical studies demonstrate that nomlabofusp exposure increases human frataxin in Friedreich’s ataxia-relevant tissues and provide evidence of pharmacologic effects.