Interim phase II data of Wave Life Sciences Ltd.’s oligonucleotide, WVE-N531, revealed “impressive” dystrophin expression, solid safety and the potential for once-monthly dosing for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who are amenable to exon 53 skipping. The findings drove Wave Life’s stock (NASDAQ:WVE) up by 53.4%, or $2.85, to close Sept. 24 at $8.19, after peaking earlier in the day at $8.35, its 52-week high.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a recessive genetic disorder caused by single nucleotide variants (SNV) in the SERPINA1 gene encoding for alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), with the most common mutation being the E342K mutation (Z allele) that introduces an amino acid change from glutamic acid (E) coding for M-AAT to a lysine (K) coding for Z-AAT.

Arthex Biotech SL has received FDA clearance to initiate the phase I/IIa Arthemir study of ATX-01 for the treatment of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).

Matinas Biopharma Holdings Inc. has reported results from a series of in vivo studies demonstrating successful oral delivery of two lipid nanocrystal (LNC)-formulated small single-strand oligonucleotides that specifically target the key inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-17A in well-established and validated animal models that mimic acute inflammatory responses seen in human diseases.

Despite the approval of Biogen Inc.’s Qalsody (tofersen) for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), there are still hurdles for the drug to clear, including a confirmatory study and setting a price. Because the U.S. FDA granted Qalsody accelerated, not full approval, there are plenty more data to collect in the ongoing confirmatory phase III Atlas study of those who develop ALS symptoms during the trial compared to placebo. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study is being conducted with those carrying the superoxide dismutase 1 gene genetic mutation but are symptom free.

Senisca Ltd. has been awarded a £571,350 (US$712,000) grant from Innovate UK toward the development of oligonucleotide therapeutics for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).