Phase I Trial of Intramuscular Injection of a Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Alpha 1-Antitrypsin (rAAV2-CB-hAAT) Gene Vector to AAT-Deficient Adults

Abstract

A recombinant virus vector constructed from adeno-associated virus (AAV) that has been altered to carry the human α ₁-antitrypsin (hAAT) gene expressed from a hybrid chicken β-actin promoter with a cytomegalovirus enhancer has been developed. The construct has been shown to initiate the production of hAAT in animal models closely matching the proposed human trial. The proposed clinical trial is an open-label, phase I study administering recombinant adeno-associated virus α ₁-antitrypsin (rAAV2-CB-hAAT) gene vector intramuscularly to AAT-deficient human subjects where gene expression can be measured directly in blood samples to assess safety. Safety parameters will be measurement of changes in serum chemistries and hematology, urinalysis, pulmonary function testing, semen assay for vector genomes, immunologic response to AAT, and AAV, as well as reported subject history of any symptoms.