Update on CHANGE-MS: Clinical Trial Results for GNbAC1

At the recent annual meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers in Nashville, researchers presented an exciting 48-week update of the phase 2 clinical trial assessing the pHERV-W Env antagonist, GNbAC1, for efficacy in treating patients with MS (CHANGE-MS). The compound being studied, GNbAC1, targets the envelope protein (Env) of the human endogenous multiple sclerosis-associated retro-virus (HERV-W/MSRV), thought to play a critical role in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Potential Breakthrough Relevance: Addressing the Cause of MS

Clinical trials of GNbAC1 also test a new hypothesis for the actual cause of MS.1-4 The antigen for GNbAC1 is an Env protein found on monocytes and microglia. The Env protein is encoded for by a type of DNA element termed a pathogenic human endogenous retrovirus (pHERV). These represent ancient viral DNA incorporated into the human genome millions of years ago. Approximately 8% of the human genome consists of such viral DNA incorporations.

Efficacy of GNbAC1 in MS suggests that the initial viral trigger for MS is not simply an early childhood viral exposure that triggers MS in a genetically susceptible individual. These results suggest instead that the initial viral basis of MS is some of the ancient viral DNA in our genome lying dormant within us that is derepressed by environmental viruses (eg, Epstein-Barr virus).5

CHANGE-MS Results

The 24-week results of CHANGE-MS showed a statistical trend favoring remyelination at the highest dose tested (18 mg/kg monthly).6 All patients who had not dropped out of the 24-week placebo-controlled trial (n = 247) continued on active treatment. Patients who had been treated with placebo were randomized to doses of 6 mg/kg, 12 mg/kg, or 18 mg/kg GNbAC1 given monthly.

Benefit on Slowing Down Brain Atrophy

After another 24 weeks (week 48), analysis compared patients who had been continuously treated with one of the escalating doses of GNbAC1 to the control group that had been treated with placebo for the first 24 weeks, then by 6 mg/kg, 12 mg/kg, or 18 mg/kg monthly for an additional 24 weeks). Patients who had been treated continuously with 18 mg/kg of GNbAC1 had brain imaging evidence for benefit on key markers of neurodegeneration (Table), linked to disease progression:

• Thalamic, cerebral cortex. and whole brain volumes
• T1 hypointensities (commonly termed black holes)
• MTR (magnetization transfer ratio)

The rate of atrophy (volume loss) is accelerated in MS; continuous treatment with GNbAC1 18 mg/kg, administered monthly, slowed the rate of atrophy in the thalamus and cerebral cortex. Although differences in whole brain volume loss were not statistically significant, an inflection point in the rate of volume loss was seen at the point where patients transitioned from placebo to active treatment.

Benefit on Lowering Number of T1 Hypointensities

There was a 63% reduction in the mean number of larger (> 14 mm3 volume) new T1 hypointensities in patients treated continuously with 18 mg/kg of GNbAC1 monthly compared to the control group (P = .014).

Benefit on Magnetization Transfer Ratio

The MTR benefit of GNbAC1 18 mg/kg relative to the placebo group at 6 months remained stable versus the control group at 12 months, suggesting that GNbAC1 is beneficial in remyelination.

Safety and Tolerability

Safety and tolerability of GNbAC1 remained good, giving hope that GNbAC1 may be a safe treatment option to combat neurodegeneration. It seems clear that the benefit of GNbAC1 for patients with MS is mainly slowing of neurodegeneration and possible neuroprotection/remyelination, rather than a reduction of neuroinflammation. Higher doses of GNbAC1 should be tested in people with MS to see if an even more robust effect can be seen.

Summary

The 48-week results of CHANGE-MS are important because this trial is the first clinical demonstration of benefit with an anti-HERV antibody. There are ongoing proof-of-concept trials of GNbAC1 for type 1 diabetes mellitus, and the FDA has already granted an orphan drug designation for GNbAC1 for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.7

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1. Dolei, A., Uleri, E., Ibba, G., et al. The aliens inside human DNA: HERV-W/MSRV/syncytin-1 endogenous retroviruses and neurodegeneration. J Infect Dev Ctries 2015;9(6):577-587.

2. Kremer D, Schichel T, Förster M, et al. Human endogenous retrovirus type W envelope protein inhibits oligodendroglial precursor cell differentiation. Ann Neurol. 2013;74(5):721-732.

3. Rolland A, Jouvin-Marche E, Viret C, et al. The envelope protein of a human endogenous retrovirus-W family activates innate immunity through CD14/TLR4 and promotes Th1-like responses. J Immunol. 2006;176(12):7636-7644.

4. Kremer D, Förster M, Schichel T, et al. The neutralizing antibody GNbAC1 abrogates HERV-W envelope protein-mediated oligodendroglial maturation blockade. Mult Scler. 2015;21(9):1200-1203.

5. Mameli G, Poddighe L, Mei A, et al. Expression and activation by Epstein Barr virus of human endogenous retroviruses-W in blood cells and astrocytes: inference for multiple sclerosis. PLoS One. 2012;7(9), e44991.

6. Hartung HP, Curtin F , Schneble HM, et al. Review of week-24 results. GNC-003: an international, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase IIb trial to assess the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of GNBAC1 in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS 2017: Paris, Oct 2017.

7. Li W, Lee MH, Henderson L, et al. Human endogenous retrovirus-K contributes to motor neuron disease. Sci Transl Med. 2015;7(307), 307ra153.

Daniel Kantor, MD, FAAN, FANA

President Emeritus of the Florida Society of Neurology
Founding President of the Medical Partnership 4 MS (MP4MS)
Program Director, Neurology Residency
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL