Beam reports positive data for genetic disease treatment 

Biotechnology company Beam Therapeutics has reported encouraging data for its treatment for the genetic disease Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD). 

Beam announced BEAM-302, a liver-targeting lipid-nanoparticle (LNP) formulation designed to directly correct the underlying genetic mutation that causes AATD, has shown a well-tolerated safety profile and efficacy in a Phase I/II trial. 

According to results, 26 patients were treated with single-dose BEAM-302, which proved a well-tolerated safety profile up to 75 mg. Adverse events (AEs) were mild to moderate, with no serious AEs reported and no dose-limiting toxicities as of the data cutoff. 

Treatment with BEAM-302 led to rapid and durable increases of total and functional AAT, decreases in mutant Z-AAT, and new production of corrected M-AAT. 

“AATD is a serious genetic disease that can lead to significant liver disease over an individual’s lifespan along with progressive lung disease in adults, often leaving patients with limited treatment options and challenging, lifelong disease management,” said Jeffrey Teckman, Professor of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine.  

“What makes BEAM-302 particularly compelling is its ability to directly correct the underlying genetic mutation in the SERPINA1 gene that drives both lung and liver manifestations of the disease.  

“By enabling the liver to produce corrected M-AAT for the first time while reducing the toxic mutant protein, this approach has the potential to fundamentally transform how we as clinicians treat AATD and represents a meaningful advance for patients.” 

“The strength and consistency of this dataset support our selection of 60 mg as the go-forward dose and give us confidence in our ability to rapidly execute this next phase of pivotal development in pursuit of an accelerated approval pathway,” added John Evans, CEO of Beam Therapeutics. 

“We remain deeply committed to advancing this potentially transformative, one-time treatment for the AATD community.” 

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