Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare, fatal disease marked by inappropriate growth of bone fragments within the muscles, ligaments and other connective tissues, causing pain and progressive immobility. There are no disease-modifying therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This bone formation is initiated by inappropriate activation of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway. The lead collaborator has identified a compound that inhibits this spurious activation of the BMP pathway. The purpose of this project was to develop this early-stage inhibitor compound into a drug that may be taken orally and to perform the studies needed for testing in FOP patients.
Scientific Synopsis
Heterotopic ossification (HO), the formation of ectopic bone in skeletal muscle and other connective tissues, is an important cause of morbidity from joint immobility and pain. FOP, a rare form of HO, is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and is typically associated with activating mutations in Acvr1, the gene encoding the BMP type I receptor, ALK2. Individuals with FOP only have minimal skeletal abnormalities at birth, but extensive HO affecting nearly all skeletal muscles, ligaments and fascia is triggered after birth by traumatic injury or inflammation. No effective treatments currently exist for FOP patients, and disease progression results in severe restriction of joint function and premature mortality.
In 2008, the principal collaborators identified the first small molecule inhibitor of BMP signaling. The compound, dorsomorphin, blocks BMP signaling by inhibiting BMP type I receptors. Dorsomorphin derivatives were developed through initial medicinal chemistry optimization. The overall objective of this research was to advance the development of a dorsomorphin derivative in preparation for clinical testing in patients with FOP.
Lead Collaborator
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
Paul Yu, M.D., Ph.D.
Public Health Impact
No effective treatments currently exist for FOP patients, and disease progression results in severe debilitation, restriction of joint function and premature mortality. Moreover, this project holds the promise to deliver new therapeutic candidates for multiple, seemingly disparate, rare conditions – FOP and iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia – due to the shared molecular mechanism of hyperactivated ALK2 / BMP signaling.
Outcomes
The TRND researchers determined that the initial lead molecule was unsuitable for further preclinical development, requiring further optimization through medicinal chemistry, which included the evaluation of over 1000 compounds in vitro. These efforts led to the identification of two potent ALK2 inhibitors, TRND2477 and TRND9780, and attracted a new collaborative partner, Keros Therapeutics. TRND’s preclinical support enabled Keros to initiate clinical development of TRND2477 (as KER-047). KER-047 has completed Phase I clinical trials in Australia and, in June 2022, started Phase 2 clinical trials in Europe in patients with iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia.