First Patient Is Dosed With Base Editor to Treat Familial Hypercholesterolemia. Interview: Sekar Kathiresan, CEO Verve Therapeutics

“Research shows that fewer than 3% of patients being treated for FH worldwide are actually at their LDL goal.”Sekar Kathiresan

- OK, and how exactly does VERVE-101 work?

VERVE-101 is a one-time infusion consisting of two components. One is the adenine base editor (ABE), that changes an A to a G with incredible precision within the genome. Then, we have designed and constructed a guide RNA to take the base editor to the precise desired location in the PCSK9 gene. Once the base editor has made a base change from A to G at this specific position in the PCSK9 gene, the gene is permanently turned off, leading to lower LDL cholesterol levels.

Lipid nanoparticle delivery

Delivery continues to be one of the biggest challenges in developing gene-editing therapies, and getting them to where they need to be in the body. Can you tell us exactly how VERVE-101 reaches the liver?

The base editor is delivered as mRNA, and this is packaged along with the specific PCSK9-targeting guide RNA in a little fat bubble called a lipid nanoparticle. The lipid nanoparticle is infused intravenously into the bloodstream of a patient over approximately 60 minutes.

Once in the bloodstream, the lipid nanoparticle is taken up by liver cells through a receptor-mediated uptake mechanism, and once inside a liver cell, the contents of that fat bubble are released into the cytoplasm.

And, how much of VERVE-101 reaches the liver? Are there any concerns about off-target effects?

Almost all of it reaches the liver. We do see some biodistribution in two other tissues, the spleen and adrenal gland, but there’s a very low level of uptake in those two tissues. As for off-target effects, a lot of intricate screening was performed to find a spot on the PCSK9 gene where there was no bystander editing, i.e., editing of other nearby As. In addition, we do not observe any off-target editing at any of more than 6,000 sites tested in primary human liver cells treated with drug.

In addition, within 48 hours following infusion, our drug product, i.e., the mRNA and the guide RNA is almost all gone. Within a few days of infusion, the lipid nanoparticle is degraded. All you're left with is the edit, and the fact that the PCSK9 gene is turned off permanently.

“For every 40 milligram/deciliter lowering of LDL cholesterol after a heart attack, you get a 22% reduction in risk of heart attack and death. Therefore, lowering LDL by 70%, as VERVE-101 has shown to do, massively decreases the risk of heart attack.”Sekar Kathiresan

- So, does Verve Therapeutics plan to use VERVE-101 for all types of heart disease in the future?

That is our vision for the company, yes. Starting with FH, we will use a genetic treatment for a genetic disease. Then, our goal is to expand the use of this medication, not just for FH patients, but the average atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease indication. Ultimately, this medicine could be used to prevent a first heart attack in at-risk individuals. Since the number one way to prevent a first heart attack is to reduce somebody's LDL as much as possible for as long as possible, VERVE-101 could essentially be used as a prophylactic treatment to prevent heart disease.

- The possibility to prevent heart attacks is very exciting. When young people have heart attacks, how routine is it to sequence their DNA to find out if they are genetically predisposed? And would it be easy to identify the at-risk people that might benefit from prophylactic treatment with VERVE-101?

I wouldn’t say sequencing is routinely done in that situation, but it is done. In terms of diagnosing FH, there are a couple of different ways to arrive at the diagnosis. You can use genetic testing to screen for mutations. Or, a diagnosis can be made purely on clinical grounds, based on family history, LDL levels or some physical exam findings.

However, the number one way is always to look at LDL levels. Individuals that have LDL levels over 190, which is about 5% of the U.S. population and 5% of Europe too, are at high risk of having a heart attack. These would be the individuals you might initially start with preventive therapy with VERVE-101, before a heart attack occurs.

Turning off spare genes

- Is Verve working on other in vivo therapeutic candidates?

We are working on other programmes focused on the liver. Specifically, our second programme targets a different gene called ANGPTL3. This gene is essentially very similar to PCSK9 in that it's a disease-causing gene that raises cholesterol. We identified people who naturally lack the gene and have very low levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. We're currently pursuing a one-and-done base-editing therapy to turn this gene off. We have some ideas for other genes that are similar to this, where turning them off could be beneficial. I think this is a concept that some people are a little bit puzzled by, this idea that you could have a gene that is a spare part.

- How far along is that programme?

Our guidance is that in the second half of this year, we will name a development candidate.

- There is currently no base-editing therapy on the market. When do you think VERVE-101 will be accessible to the public and how will it impact the future of treating heart disease?

The medicine will hopefully be available somewhere in 2028. The medicine itself, we believe will have a dramatic impact on this disease, because the disease is so poorly cared for at present. We think the answer is a one-time therapy that is effective and safe, that can dramatically and durably lower LDL cholesterol.

- So, when can we expect the first clinical readouts from this trial?

We are expecting initial results from the Phase 1 trial, which will include LDL lowering data, blood PCSK9 lowering data and safety data, sometime in 2023.

- Okay, we are looking forward to future updates about VERVE-101. Thank you for speaking with us today.