Annexon to Present New Phase 2 Data on ANX007 for Geographic Atrophy at AAO 2024
Annexon will present new analyses from the completed phase 2 ARCHER trial of ANX007 for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2024 annual meeting. The company will also showcase findings at the Eyecelerator conference, held in conjunction with AAO on October 17, 2024, in Chicago.
ANX007 is a first-in-class, non-pegylated antigen-binding fragment (Fab) designed to block C1q, the initiating molecule of the classical complement pathway, which is implicated in neurodegeneration in GA and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
AAO 2024 Annual Meeting Presentation
Title: “Preservation of Vision by ANX007: Clinical Results and Anatomical Changes from the Phase 2 ARCHER Trial”
Presenter: Dr. Rahul N. Khurana, Northern California Retina Vitreous Associates and UCSF Medical Center
Date/Time: Monday, October 21, 2024, 9:15 AM CDT
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago
Eyecelerator Conference at AAO 2024
Session: “AAO 2024 Retina Showcase”
Presenter: Douglas Love, CEO, Annexon Biosciences
Date/Time: Thursday, October 17, 2024, 2:27 PM CDT
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago
ANX007 and the Phase 2 ARCHER Trial
ANX007 is designed to block C1q, which plays a key role in the early stages of GA. By inhibiting C1q, ANX007 aims to prevent the activation of the classical complement pathway that leads to synapse loss, inflammation, and neuronal damage, ultimately resulting in vision loss. The phase 2 ARCHER trial was a randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled study evaluating the efficacy of ANX007 in protecting against vision loss in GA patients.
Key findings from the ARCHER trial demonstrated that ANX007 provided significant protection from vision loss, as measured by a loss of fewer than 15 ETDRS letters in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). This effect was dose-dependent and increased over time, with the treatment benefit continuing during the 6-month on-treatment period. The study also showed that ANX007 protected key retinal structures, including photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells near the fovea.
Importantly, ANX007 was well-tolerated throughout the 12-month trial, with no increase in choroidal neovascularization (CNV) rates or reports of retinal vasculitis compared to the sham control.
Dr. Khurana will discuss the significance of these results at AAO 2024, highlighting ANX007’s potential as a novel treatment option for GA patients. “The ARCHER trial data show ANX007’s ability to offer meaningful protection against vision loss in a patient population with limited treatment options,” Dr. Khurana said in a company news release.
ANX007 is a bioengineered Fab fragment that targets C1q, the initial molecule in the classical complement pathway, which is a key driver of neurodegeneration in diseases like GA. The therapy has been granted Fast Track designation by the FDA and Priority Medicine (PRIME) designation in the European Union.