Novartis Unveils Promising Results from SMART Study: Zolgensma’s Efficacy Confirmed in Older and Heavier SMA Patients

Novartis Unveils Promising Results from SMART Study: Zolgensma’s Efficacy Confirmed in Older and Heavier SMA Patients

(IN BRIEF) Novartis has presented compelling data from the SMART study, reinforcing the clinical advantages of Zolgensma® (onasemnogene abeparvovec) in treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients weighing ≥ 8.5 kg to ≤ 21 kg, with a mean age of 4.69 years. The study, conducted as a Phase 3b trial, showcased Zolgensma’s safety and efficacy profile in a cohort of patients older and heavier than those in previous clinical trials. Notably, nearly all patients demonstrated maintenance or improvement in motor milestones after 52 weeks, with minimal adverse effects observed. These findings underscore Zolgensma’s potential as a one-time gene therapy option for a broader spectrum of SMA patients, providing hope for improved outcomes in the fight against this debilitating condition.

(PRESS RELEASE) BASEL, 4-Mar-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Novartis today presented new data that continue to support the clinical benefits of Zolgensma® (onasemnogene abeparvovec), the only one-time gene therapy for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Final data from the SMART study highlight the safety and efficacy profile of Zolgensma in children with SMA weighing ≥ 8.5 kg to ≤ 21 kg, with a mean age of 4.69 years, most of whom (21/24, 87.5%) had discontinued use of another disease modifying therapy at the time of treatment. The new clinical results supplement emerging real-world experience and use of this innovative therapy in older and heavier children in countries where authorized use is not restricted by age. These data are among a Zolgensma data set being presented during the 2024 Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Clinical and Scientific Conference in Orlando, Florida, March 3 – 6.

“The results from the SMART study provide evidence that Zolgensma is clinically beneficial for older and heavier patients with SMA, many of whom have had prior treatment with another disease-modifying therapy,” said Dr. Hugh McMillan, Pediatric Neurologist. “These data inform the use of Zolgensma in children up to 21 kg, supporting the use of a one-time gene replacement therapy as a therapeutic option for SMA in a broader population.”

The primary study objective was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of Zolgensma in older and heavier patients than were treated in previous clinical studies. The majority of patients in the study experienced increases in transaminases and transient thrombocytopenia; all cases were asymptomatic and managed with appropriate monitoring and treatment, as described in the product labeling. No new safety signals were observed in the study.

Most patients in the SMART study maintained motor milestones observed at baseline throughout the one-year study. The mean increase in total Revised Upper Limb Module (RULM) score was 2 points and a mean increase in total Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale – Expanded (HFMSE) score was 3.7 points. Four patients demonstrated new development milestones at week 52.

“This data – the first Zolgensma open-label clinical study to include older and heavier, as well as previously treated, patients – should build confidence among caregivers and healthcare professionals as they make informed treatment decisions, consistent with their local product label, for the studied patient population,” said Dr. Sandra P. Reyna, Chief Scientific Advisor and Head of Global Medical Engagement for SMA at Novartis. “We remain committed to reimagining possibilities for the SMA community.”

SMART Study
SMART was a Phase 3b, open-label, single-arm, multicenter study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of a one-time IV infusion of Zolgensma in pediatric patients who have symptomatic SMA with bi-allelic mutations in the SMN1 gene, any copy number of the SMN2 gene, and weigh ≥ 8.5 kg and ≤ 21 kg. The study enrolled a total of 24 patients with heterogeneous phenotypes of SMA across three weight brackets (8.5 – 13 kg; >13 – 17 kg; >17 – 21 kg), ranging in age from ~18 months to 9 years (mean age of 4.69 years).

Three patients were treatment-naïve to previous SMN-dependent therapies; 21 were treatment-experienced and discontinued risdiplam or nusinersen before enrollment in the study. The SMART study was the first open-label clinical study of Zolgensma to include previously treated patients. 1-6

• Increases in transaminases (ALT or AST >3xULN) were observed in the majority of patients (21/24, 87.5%); transient thrombocytopenia were observed in 17/24 (70.8%) patients; all cases were asymptomatic and managed with appropriate treatment.
• There were no reported cases of acute liver failure or bilirubin elevations.
• Increases in RULM from baseline were demonstrated; mean (SD) increase from baseline at Week 52 was 2.0 (4.0) points.
• Increases in HFMSE from baseline were demonstrated; mean (SD) increase from baseline at Week 52 was 3.7 (4.3) points.
• Most patients maintained or improved motor milestones from baseline at the time of final analysis.
• Nearly all (23/24, 95.8%) patients who could sit with slight support still met this milestone at Week 52.
• Three patients achieved the milestone of newly standing with support and one achieved newly walking with support at Week 52.
• All patients (6/6, 100%) who could walk at baseline maintained this milestone until end of study.

About Zolgensma
Zolgensma® (onasemnogene abeparvovec) is the only approved gene therapy for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and the only SMA treatment designed to directly address the genetic root cause of the disease by replacing the function of the missing or non-working SMN1 gene to halt disease progression through sustained SMN protein expression with a single, one-time IV infusion. Zolgensma is now approved in more than 51 countries and more than 3,700 patients have been treated with Zolgensma globally across clinical trials, managed access programs, and in the commercial setting.7 Novartis is unwavering in its commitment to reimagine the possibilities for children living with SMA and continues to evaluate Zolgensma across a robust clinical development program, as well as the investigational intrathecal administration of OAV101 in patients with later-onset forms of SMA.

Novartis AG has an exclusive, worldwide license with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to both the intravenous and intrathecal delivery of AAV9 gene therapy for the treatment of all types of SMA; has an exclusive, worldwide license from REGENXBIO for any recombinant AAV vector in its intellectual property portfolio for the in vivo gene therapy treatment of SMA in humans; and an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with Généthon for in vivo delivery of AAV9 vector into the central nervous system for the treatment of SMA.

About Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare, genetic neuromuscular disease and a leading genetic cause of infant death.8,9 Caused by the lack of a functional SMN1 gene, the most severe forms of SMA result in the rapid and irreversible loss of motor neurons, affecting muscle functions including breathing, swallowing and basic movement.10 Severity varies across a spectrum of types corresponding to the number of copies of the back-up SMN2 gene.11 The majority (>70%) of patients with two copies of SMN2 develop Type 1, the most common form, accounting for 60% of cases.12,13 Type 1 is severe and, left untreated, leads to death or the need for permanent ventilation by the age of two in more than 90% of cases.8,9 Most patients (>80%) with three copies of SMN2 develop Type 2, accounting for 30% of cases.12 Left untreated, patients with Type 2 are unable to walk and will require a wheelchair, and more than 30% will die by age 25.14 Loss of motor neurons cannot be reversed, so it is imperative to diagnose SMA and begin treatment, including proactive supportive care, as early as possible to halt motor neuron loss and disease progression.15,16

Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as “potential,” “can,” “will,” “plan,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “look forward,” “believe,” “committed,” “investigational,” “pipeline,” “launch,” or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG’s current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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References
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7. Data on File. Novartis AG, 2023.
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14. Darras BT, Finkel RS. “Natural history of spinal muscular atrophy.” In: Sumner CJ, Paushkin S, Ko CP, eds. Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Disease Mechanisms and Therapy. (2nd ed. London, UK: Academic Press/Elsevier; 2017. Pp. 399‒421.
15. Soler‐Botija C, et al. Brain. 2002;125(7):1624–1634.
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