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Updated: Dec 27, 2025
CRISPR/Cas9 Technology in Restoring Dystrophin Expression in iPSC-Derived Muscle Progenitors
Published on: September 14, 2019
Increased dystrophin production with golodirsen in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Diane E Frank1, Frederick J Schnell1, Cody Akana1
1From Sarepta Therapeutics (D.E.F., F.J.S., C.A., S.H.E.-H., C.A.D., J.S.C.), Cambridge, MA; University College London (J.M., V.S., J.D., F.M.); Centre of Gene and Cell Therapy and Centre for Biomedical Sciences (G.D.), Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey; Newcastle University John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre and the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (V.S., M.G.), Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Paediatric Neurology and Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M.), Catholic University and Policlinico Gemelli, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, Rome, Italy; Institute I-Motion (L.S.), Hôpital Armand-Trousseau, Paris, France; Neuromuscular Reference Center (L.S.), CHU Liège, Belgium; Great Ormond Street Hospital (F.M.); and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (F.M.), London, UK.
Objective:
To report safety, pharmacokinetics, exon 53 skipping, and dystrophin expression in golodirsen-treated patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) amenable to exon 53 skipping.
Methods:
Part 1 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week dose titration of once-weekly golodirsen; part 2 is an ongoing, open-label evaluation. Safety and pharmacokinetics were primary and secondary objectives of part 1. Primary biological outcome measures of part 2 were blinded exon skipping and dystrophin protein production on muscle biopsies (baseline, week 48) evaluated, respectively, using reverse transcription PCR and Western blot and immunohistochemistry.
Results:
Twelve patients were randomized to receive golodirsen (n = 8) or placebo (n = 4) in part 1. All from part 1 plus 13 additional patients received 30 mg/kg golodirsen in part 2. Safety findings were consistent with those previously observed in pediatric patients with DMD. Most of the study drug was excreted within 4 hours following administration. A significant increase in exon 53 skipping was associated with ∼16-fold increase over baseline in dystrophin protein expression at week 48, with a mean percent normal dystrophin protein standard of 1.019% (range, 0.09%-4.30%). Sarcolemmal localization of dystrophin was demonstrated by significantly increased dystrophin-positive fibers (week 48, p < 0.001) and a positive correlation (Spearman r = 0.663; p < 0.001) with dystrophin protein change from baseline, measured by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.
Conclusion:
Golodirsen was well-tolerated; muscle biopsies from golodirsen-treated patients showed increased exon 53 skipping, dystrophin production, and correct dystrophin sarcolemmal localization.
Clinicaltrialsgov Identifier:
NCT02310906.
Classification Of Evidence:
This study provides Class I evidence that golodirsen is safe and Class IV evidence that it induces exon skipping and novel dystrophin as confirmed by 3 different assays.
