Efficacy of vosoritide in the treatment of achondroplasia

Achondroplasia is the commonest form of dwarfism and results from a mutation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene on chromosome 4p16.3. The mutation is at nucleotide 1138 resulting in a G-to-A transition (134934.0001). This condition is characterized by full penetration meaning that everyone with this genetic mutation will exhibit the phenotypic characteristics of achondroplasia. It is a gain-of function mutation that causes increased inhibition of cartilage formation. C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) acts on the growth plate through the natriuretic peptide receptor-B (NPR-B) causing the transformation of guanosine 5'-triphosphate into cyclic guanosine monophosphate. However, CNP cannot be used in the treatment of achondroplasia because it is rapidly degraded by neutral endopeptidase. Vosoritide is a modified recombinant human CNP and has a half-life 10 times that of CNP. Clinical trials have demonstrated that vosoritide is effective in significantly increasing the annualized growth velocity in children with achondroplasia before the fusion of the epiphyses.