Wave Life Sciences, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on unlocking the broad potential of RNA medicines to transform human health, today announced positive data from the Phase 2 FORWARD-53 trial of WVE-N531, which is an exon skipping oligonucleotide being investigated in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) who are amenable to exon 53 skipping. The analysis was conducted after 48 weeks of treatment with 10 mg/kg WVE-N531 dosed every two weeks.
Key findings from WVE-N531 include:
- Statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement of 3.8 seconds in Time-to-Rise vs. natural history with largest effect observed relative to any approved dystrophin restoration therapy at 48 weeks; additional functional benefits observed in other outcome measures including NSAA.
- First-ever demonstration of substantial improvements in muscle health with exon skipping – statistically significant reduction in fibrosis driven by decreases in inflammation and necrosis, coupled with transition from regenerative to mature muscle; decreases in creatine kinase and circulating inflammatory biomarkers.
- Dystrophin expression stabilized between 24 and 48 weeks and averaged 7.8%, with 88% of boys above 5% average dystrophin; WVE-N531 remains safe and well-tolerated with no Serious Adverse Events.
Clinical Trials of Wave Life Sciences
WVE-N531, as well as Wave’s programs for exons 52, 51, 45 and 44, leverage best-in-class oligonucleotide chemistry, including PN backbone chemistry and stereochemical control, enabling industry-leading muscle delivery and potency without requiring antibody or peptide conjugates.
Preclinical data for Wave’s PN chemistry-containing exon skipping candidates have also demonstrated significantly higher dystrophin and drug concentrations in the heart and diaphragm versus skeletal muscle. Collectively, WVE-N531 plus Wave’s exon 52, 51, 45 and 44 programs would address ~40% of the DMD population and represent a >$2.4 billion total market opportunity in the United States alone. Wave expects to submit multiple clinical trial applications (CTAs) for other exon skipping programs in 2026.
Learn More: Next Generation Exon Skipping Therapies
