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Nusinersen treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 — results of expanded access programme in Poland
, 2, 3, 4, 5, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 1, 1, 1
Affiliations- Department of Developmental Neurology Medical University of Gdańsk Poland
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland, Dzieci Polskich Str. 20, 04-730 Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice Poland
- Biogen Poland
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice Poland
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Abstract
Aim of the study. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of nusinersen therapy in Polish children with SMA type 1.
Clinical rationale of study. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder that is characterised by the loss of motor neurons, progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, leading to increased disability and mortality. Nusinersen, an antisense oligonucleotide that promotes production of the functional survival motor neuron protein is approved for the treatment of SMA 5q in the European Union. In 2017, an early access programme (EAP) for nusinersen was launched in Poland. In this study, we present the results of nusinersen treatment in Polish patients participating in the EAP.
Materials and methods. We collected prospectively clinical data including mutational analysis of SMN1 and SMN2 genes, motor function outcomes as measured on a standardized scales, ventilatory and nutritional status, on SMA type 1 patients receiving nusinersen in three EAP centres in Poland. Scores on the CHOP-INTEND scale after 18–26 months of treatment were compared to baseline.
Results. We analysed data from 26 patients with SMA type 1, mean age 4.79 (2–15) years. The mutational analysis revealed two SMN2 gene copies in the majority of patients (61.54%). Three and four copies were found in 34.62% and 3.84%, respectively. Median disease duration was 21 months. Half (n = 13) of the patients required mechanical ventilation at baseline and 57.69% (n = 15) were fed by nasogastric tube or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. No patient worsened during the follow-up. Mean improvement in CHOP-INTEND from baseline to the last follow-up was 7.38 points (p < 0.001). CHOP-INTEND scores did not decline for any patient. Patients with three or more SMN2 gene copies had higher scores than did the patients with two copies (p = 0.013), and they tended to show greater improvement over time, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.324). Shorter disease duration and higher CHOP-INTEND baseline score were associated with a better response (p = 0.015). Patients with a CHOP-INTEND score above the median had higher scores overall than the rest (p < 0.0013), and they improved significantly more than the rest (p = 0.037). Nusinersen was well tolerated, no new safety findings were identified.
Conclusions and clinical implications. Our data indicates that nusinersen treatment might be effective in SMA type 1 patients, regardless of their age and functional status.
Abstract
Aim of the study. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of nusinersen therapy in Polish children with SMA type 1.
Clinical rationale of study. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder that is characterised by the loss of motor neurons, progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, leading to increased disability and mortality. Nusinersen, an antisense oligonucleotide that promotes production of the functional survival motor neuron protein is approved for the treatment of SMA 5q in the European Union. In 2017, an early access programme (EAP) for nusinersen was launched in Poland. In this study, we present the results of nusinersen treatment in Polish patients participating in the EAP.
Materials and methods. We collected prospectively clinical data including mutational analysis of SMN1 and SMN2 genes, motor function outcomes as measured on a standardized scales, ventilatory and nutritional status, on SMA type 1 patients receiving nusinersen in three EAP centres in Poland. Scores on the CHOP-INTEND scale after 18–26 months of treatment were compared to baseline.
Results. We analysed data from 26 patients with SMA type 1, mean age 4.79 (2–15) years. The mutational analysis revealed two SMN2 gene copies in the majority of patients (61.54%). Three and four copies were found in 34.62% and 3.84%, respectively. Median disease duration was 21 months. Half (n = 13) of the patients required mechanical ventilation at baseline and 57.69% (n = 15) were fed by nasogastric tube or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. No patient worsened during the follow-up. Mean improvement in CHOP-INTEND from baseline to the last follow-up was 7.38 points (p < 0.001). CHOP-INTEND scores did not decline for any patient. Patients with three or more SMN2 gene copies had higher scores than did the patients with two copies (p = 0.013), and they tended to show greater improvement over time, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.324). Shorter disease duration and higher CHOP-INTEND baseline score were associated with a better response (p = 0.015). Patients with a CHOP-INTEND score above the median had higher scores overall than the rest (p < 0.0013), and they improved significantly more than the rest (p = 0.037). Nusinersen was well tolerated, no new safety findings were identified.
Conclusions and clinical implications. Our data indicates that nusinersen treatment might be effective in SMA type 1 patients, regardless of their age and functional status.
Keywords
nusinersen, spinal muscular atrophy, antisense oligonucleotide, expanded access programme
About this articleTitle
Nusinersen treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 — results of expanded access programme in Poland
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Article type
Research Paper
Pages
289-294
Published online
2021-02-10
Page views
2464
Article views/downloads
993
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2021;55(3):289-294.
Keywords
nusinersen
spinal muscular atrophy
antisense oligonucleotide
expanded access programme
Authors
Sandra Modrzejewska
Katarzyna Kotulska
Ilona Kopyta
Ewa Grędowska
Ewa Emich-Widera
Katarzyna Tomaszek
Justyna Paprocka
Dariusz Chmielewski
Jacek Pilch
Jerzy Pietruszewski
Anna Lemska
Marta Zawadzka
Maria Mazurkiewicz-Bełdzińska
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