INO-3107, a treatment for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), has recently received the Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA. This treatment is currently being evaluate in a Phase 1/2 trial by its creator, INOVIO. As this disease is currently incurable, researchers are excited about INO-3107’s ability to become a viable treatment option.
About Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP)
RRP is a rare disorder that sees papillomas, small and wart-like growths, growing in the respiratory tract. It is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). While they can grow in any part of the tract, they are most common in the vocal cords and larynx. This causes a hoarse voice, chronic cough, and labored breathing. The majority of the growths are benign, but some of them do develop cancer. Even the benign ones have the ability to obstruct the airways and cause complications, so it is important to seek treatment. Surgery to remove the growths is the only treatment option. As the papillomas often grow back after being removed, multiple surgeries are usually needed.
About INO-3107
INO-3107 is a DNA medicine, and it is one of INOVIO’s 15 DNA medicine clinical trials. Not only does the Orphan Drug designation give incentives to continue the development of this treatment, but it also encourages INOVIO’s DNA medicines platform.
This designation coincides with the Phase 1/2 trial, which is open-label, multi-center, and is open to enrollment. It will take 63 RRP patients and evaluate the safety, tolerability, efficacy, and immunogenicity of INO-3107. All of the participants are required to have had at least two surgeries to remove papillomas each year for the past three years.
The trial will have the participants receive surgeries to remove the papillomas, which will be followed by four doses of INO-3107 over the course of three weeks. They hope that it will result in a doubling or more of the time in between surgeries.
Read more about this treatment here.
