• Jerry R Mendell, Samiah A Al-Zaidy, Kelly J Lehman, Markus McColly, Linda P Lowes, Lindsay N Alfano, Natalie F Reash, Megan A Iammarino, Kathleen R Church, Aaron Kleyn, Matthew N Meriggioli, and Richard Shell.
• Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
• JAMA Neurol. 2021 Jul 1; 78 (7): 834-841.

ImportanceThis ongoing study assesses long-term safety and durability of response in infants with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 after dosing with onasemnogene abeparvovec gene replacement therapy.ObjectiveThe primary objective of this ongoing study is to assess safety. The secondary objective is to determine whether developmental milestones achieved in the START phase 1 clinical trial were maintained and new milestones gained.Design, Setting, And ParticipantsThis study is an ongoing, observational, follow-up study for continuous safety monitoring for 15 years in patients from the START phase I study (conducted May 5, 2014, through December 15, 2017) at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Participants were symptomatic infants with SMA type 1 and 2 copies of SMN2 previously treated with an intravenous dose of onasemnogene abeparvovec (low dose, 6.7 × 1013 vg/kg; or therapeutic dose, 1.1 × 1014 vg/kg) in START. Thirteen of 15 original START patients are included in this analysis; 2 patients' families declined follow-up participation. Data were analyzed from September 21, 2017, to June 11, 2020.ExposuresMedian time since dosing of 5.2 (range, 4.6-6.2) years; 5.9 (range, 5.8-6.2) years in the low-dose cohort and 4.8 (range, 4.6-5.6) years in the therapeutic-dose cohort.Main Outcomes And MeasuresThe primary outcome measure was the incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs).ResultsAt data cutoff on June 11, 2020, 13 patients treated in START were enrolled in this study (median age, 38.9 [range, 25.4-48.0] months; 7 females; low-dose cohort, n = 3; and therapeutic-dose cohort, n = 10). Serious adverse events occurred in 8 patients (62%), none of which resulted in study discontinuation or death. The most frequently reported SAEs were acute respiratory failure (n = 4 [31%]), pneumonia (n = 4 [31%]), dehydration (n = 3 [23%]), respiratory distress (n = 2 [15%]), and bronchiolitis (n = 2 [15%]). All 10 patients in the therapeutic-dose cohort remained alive and without the need for permanent ventilation. Prior to baseline, 4 patients (40%) in the therapeutic-dose cohort required noninvasive ventilatory support, and 6 patients (60%) did not require regular ventilatory support, which did not change in long-term follow-up. All 10 patients treated with the therapeutic dose maintained previously acquired motor milestones. Two patients attained the new milestone of "standing with assistance" without the use of nusinersen.Conclusions And RelevanceThe findings of this ongoing clinical follow-up of patients with SMA type 1 treated with onasemnogene abeparvovec supports the long-term favorable safety profile up to 6 years of age and provides evidence for sustained clinical durability of the therapeutic dose.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03421977.

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