A Study to Evaluate the Tolerability, Safety and Efficacy of VGN-R13 in Patients with ALS

An Open, Dose-Escalation Early Phase Clinical Study to Evaluate the Tolerability, Safety, and Efficacy of Intrathecal of VGN-R13 in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

The purpose of this trial is to evaluate safety and efficacy of intrathecal delivery of VGN-R13 as a treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

The study will evaluate safety and efficacy of gene therapy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients. ALS is a fatal central nervous system neurodegenerative disease. There is no effective treatment for ALS and current drug therapy has been unsuccessful in stabilizing or reversing this disease. Only supportive care is currently possible.

This study consists of screening period, treatment period and follow-up period. Eligible subjects will be enrolled. The day of administration set to be D1. Prophylactic immunosuppressive therapy will be initiated on D1. During the follow-up period (up to 52 weeks after administration), all the examinations will be completed based on the evaluation time point specified in the Schedule of Assessments table for efficacy and safety assessments until the End of Trial. Unscheduled visits may occur if the PI determines that they are necessary.

key Inclusion Criteria:

1. Fully understand the purpose and risks of the study and voluntarily provide a signed and dated informed consent form.
2. Aged ≥18 years, male or female;
3. A diagnosis of ALS according to the World Federation of Neurology El Escorial criteria (revised according to the Airlie House Conference 1998 [Brooks 2000]), and confirmed through genetic diagnosis to exclude pathogenic mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and/or FUS genes;
4. The duration of the disease from the first symptom (any ALS symptom) prior to the screening must be less than 2 years (inclusive);
5. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) adjusted for gender, age, and height (sitting position) ≥50% of the predicted value.
6. Discontinued riluzole for more than five half-lives prior to screening (and is not expected to resume during the study) or has been on a stable dose of riluzole for ≥30 days and continue to maintain this dose during the study period.
7. Discontinued edaravone for more than five half-lives prior to screening (and is not expected to resume edaravone during the study) or is receiving the standard edaravone treatment regimen at screening and has maintained a stable dose for ≥60 days (two treatment cycles) prior to administration, and continue to maintain this dose during the study period.

Key Exclusion Criteria:

1. There are other diseases related to motor neuron dysfunction (progressive bulbar palsy, primary lateral sclerosis, cervical spondylosis, lumbar spondylosis, etc., idiopathic inflammatory myopathy), which may confuse or cover up the diagnosis of ALS.
2. Presence of risk for increased or uncontrolled bleeding and/or risk of bleeding that is not managed optimally and could place a participant at an increased risk for intraoperative or postoperative bleeding. These could include, but are not limited to, anatomical factors at or near the LP site (e.g., vascular abnormalities, neoplasms, or other abnormalities) and underlying disorders of the coagulation cascade, platelet function, or platelet count (e.g., hemophilia, Von Willebrand's disease, liver disease).
3. Current severe liver or kidney or cardiovascular disease or coagulation dysfunction, autoimmune deficiency, or uncontrolled autoimmune disease or need immunosuppressive long-term treatment, poorly controlled diabetes (HBA1C ≥7% at screening) or high blood pressure, presence of sever gastrointestinal ulcers or history of gastrointestinal bleeding;
4. Presence of active infection that needs system treatment;
5. Presence or history of malignant tumors within 5 years prior to screening;
6. Significant cognitive impairment, clinical dementia, or unstable psychiatric illness, including psychosis, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, or untreated major depression ≤ 90 days, as determined by the Investigator.
7. Current using medications including, drugs, herbal or OTC medications that strongly inhibit or induce CYP3A4 or P-glycoprotein (P-gp), e.g., metoclopramide, grapefruit juice, ketoconazole, erythromycin;
8. Received another drug for the treatment of ALS disease (including but not limited to sodium phenylbutyrate (PB), taurine diol (TURSO), tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) within 1 month before the first dose) or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), biologics or Other investigational drugs with a discontinuation period shorter than five half-lives;
9. Anticipated need, in the opinion of the Investigator, for administration of any antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication (e.g., clopidogrel) for 7 days before or 48 hours after an LP；
10. Received systemic immunosuppressive therapy within 3 months prior to screening;
11. Presence of an implanted shunt for the drainage of CSF or an implanted CNS catheter；
12. Presence of an implanted shunt for the drainage of CSF or an implanted CNS catheter；
13. Participation in gene therapy or stem cell transduction therapy at any time prior to screening；
14. Positive test result for HIV, positive treponemal antibody for syphilis, Active hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection, Active tuberculosis infection;
15. Clinically significant abnormalities in hematology or clinical chemistry parameters, as determined by the Investigator, which would render the participant unsuitable for enrollment;
16. Clinically significant, as determined by the Investigator, 12-lead ECG abnormalities, including corrected QT interval using Fridericia's correction method of > 450 ms for males and > 470 ms for females;
17. History of systemic hypersensitivity reaction to investigational product, the excipients contained in the formulation, or prophylactic immunosuppressant;
18. Contraindicated use of corticosteroids and sirolimus;
19. History of drug abuse or alcoholism within ≤ 6 months of study enrollment that would limit participation in the study, as determined by the Investigator;
20. Alcohol abuse (drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week) or smoking more than 5 cigarettes per day on average in the 6 months prior to screening;
21. Pregnant or breastfeeding women;
22. Other unspecified reasons that, in the opinion of the Investigator or Sponsor, make the participant unsuitable for enrollment;