Designation Supports Accelerated Drug Development for PSP
TPN-101 is the First PSP Treatment to Reduce NfL and IL-6 Levels,
Key Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation in PSP
SAN DIEGO, California, May 21, 2024 – Transposon Therapeutics, a biotechnology company
developing a platform of novel, orally administered therapies for the treatment of
neurodegenerative and aging-related diseases, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to TPN-101 for progressive
supranuclear palsy (PSP).
“Fast Track designation for TPN-101 is an important acknowledgement by the FDA of the
critical need to find an effective treatment for PSP, a rare and devastating neurological disorder
with no approved treatment options,” said Dennis Podlesak, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Transposon. “We look forward to working collaboratively with the FDA to advance
the development of TPN-101 as rapidly as possible for the treatment of PSP and other
neurodegenerative diseases including ALS and Alzheimer’s disease.”
The designation of TPN-101 as a Fast Track product for PSP is supported by data from a Phase
2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of TPN-101 in patients with PSP. In that
study, TPN-101 was the first treatment for PSP to reduce levels of neurofilament light chain
(NfL), a key biomarker of neurodegeneration in tauopathies such as PSP and Alzheimer’s
disease. TPN-101 also showed dose-related reductions in interleukin 6 (IL-6) cytokine levels, a
biomarker of neuroinflammation that is elevated in PSP and correlates with disease progression
and severity. Participants treated with TPN-101 for the entire 48-week trial duration showed a
stabilization of their clinical symptoms as measured by the PSP Rating Scale (PSPRS) between
weeks 24 and 48. Further information on the study can be accessed at ClinicalTrials.gov.
About Fast Track Designation
The FDA grants Fast Track designation to facilitate the development and expedite the review of
medicines to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. Fast Track status allows
for enhanced communication and collaboration between the FDA and drug developers,
potentially speeding up the delivery of life-saving treatments to patients.
About PSP
PSP is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that causes slowing of movement, loss of balance
leading to falls, impaired eye movements, and disturbances in cognition and behavior. The
disease typically affects people in their mid- to late-60s, and the mean survival for individuals
with PSP is 6 to 7 years. There are currently no treatments capable of delaying the progression
of the disease.
About Transposon
Transposon Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a
platform of novel therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative and aging-related diseases,
including progressive supranuclear palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal
dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. The company’s lead clinical compound, TPN-101, is first-inclass
to address LINE-1 reverse transcriptase for treating neurodegenerative and autoimmune
diseases. The company also has a discovery platform supporting a deep pipeline of novel
therapies to address additional indications.
About TPN-101
TPN-101 specifically inhibits the LINE-1 reverse transcriptase that promotes LINE-1 replication.
LINE-1 elements are a class of retrotransposable elements that in humans are uniquely capable
of replicating and moving to new locations within the genome. When this process becomes
dysregulated, LINE-1 reverse transcriptase drives overproduction of LINE-1 DNA, triggering
innate immune responses that contribute to neurodegenerative, autoimmune and aging-related
disease pathology.
Contact:
Rick Orr
Transposon Therapeutics, Inc.
(858) 535-4821
rorr@transposonrx.com