Leading RNA Interference Therapeutics Part 2: Silencing Delta-Aminolevulinic Acid Synthase 1, with a Focus on Givosiran

Mol Diagn Ther. 2020 Feb;24(1):61-68. doi: 10.1007/s40291-019-00438-6.

Abstract

In November 2019 givosiran became the second small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based drug to receive US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, it has been developed for the treatment of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), a disorder characterized by life-threatening acute neurovisceral attacks. The porphyrias are a group of disorders in which enzymatic deficiencies in heme production lead to toxic accumulation of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG), which are involved in the neurovisceral attacks. Givosiran acts as a conventional siRNA to trigger RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene silencing on delta-ALA synthase 1 (ALAS1), thus returning ALA and PBG metabolites to the physiological level to attenuate further neurotoxicity. Givosiran makes use of a new hepatic-delivery system that conjugates three GalNac (N-acetylgalactosamine) molecules to the siRNA passenger strand. GalNac binds to the liver asialoglycoprotein receptor, favoring the internalization of these GalNac-conjugated siRNAs into the hepatic cells. In a phase I study, subcutaneous monthly administration of givosiran 2.5 mg/kg reduced > 90% of ALA and PBG content. This siRNA is being analyzed in ENVISION (NCT03338816), a phase III, multicenter, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial. In preliminary results, givosiran achieved clinical endpoints for AIP, reducing urinary ALA levels, and presented a safety profile that enabled further drug development. The clinical performance of givosiran revealed that suppression of ALAS1 by GalNac-decorated siRNAs represents an additional approach for the treatment of patients with AIP that manifests recurrent acute neurovisceral attacks.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetylgalactosamine / administration & dosage
  • Acetylgalactosamine / adverse effects
  • Acetylgalactosamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Acetylgalactosamine / pharmacokinetics
  • Acetylgalactosamine / therapeutic use
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Drug Development
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Genetic Therapy* / adverse effects
  • Genetic Therapy* / methods
  • Heme / biosynthesis
  • Humans
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / genetics*
  • Porphyria, Acute Intermittent
  • Pyrrolidines / administration & dosage
  • Pyrrolidines / adverse effects
  • Pyrrolidines / pharmacokinetics
  • Pyrrolidines / therapeutic use*
  • RNA Interference*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage
  • RNA, Small Interfering / adverse effects
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacokinetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Pyrrolidines
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Heme
  • NOS1 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I
  • Acetylgalactosamine
  • givosiran