CA8*: Novel Class of Intra-Neuronal Analgesic Peptide-Medications

• • We are advancing innovative CA8* (Carbonic Anhydrase-Like Analgesic Peptides, CA8 Variants) gene therapies as a non-opioid treatment for chronic pain. CA8* is a non-enzymatic, analgesic peptide that regulates intracellular neuronal calcium levels fundamental to pain response
  • CA8 is a naturally occurring protein that is endogenously produced in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of sensory neurons
  • Expression and function of CA8* are essential to the body’s response to external and internal pain stimuli and analgesic responses imbalances in neurons leading to neurological disorders, including chronic pain, can be corrected by increasing levels of CA8*
  • THE CHALLENGE: How to deliver a therapeutic protein to the inside of the targeted cells/tissue

Long-Acting CA8* Gene Therapy Delivery Inside Targeted Sensory Neuronal Cells

• • The CA8* Transgene is part of our gene vector code specifying the amino acids that constitute our CA8* therapeutic peptide to correct the imbalances of hyperexcitable neurons to treat chronic pain, or other neurological disorders
  • Once the vector delivers the activated minigene to the targeted sensory neuronal cell, the therapeutic CA8* peptide is produced inside the target cell for a prolonged period of time. Our vector does not integrate into the human host DNA, an important safety feature
  • Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has demonstrated to be highly persistent in nature. We expect our precisely bio-engineered replication-defective HSV (rdHSV) vectors to enable long-term efficacy, estimated in the range of many months to several years. In our preclinical studies, a single intra-articular knee injection of rdHSV-CA8* produced dose-dependent efficacy, lasting without significant decline for 221 days (7.4 months), with a trend indicating that the ultimate efficacy will likely be longer

CA8* Decreases Intracellular Calcium and Activates Kv7 Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels, Which Does Not Involve Opioid Receptors or Pathways – Kv7 is a Proven Drug Target for Chronic Pain That Rivals the Potency of Opioids Without their Side-Effects and Formation of Drug-Dependence

These novel CA8* gene therapies are potent activators of Kv7, that are long-acting and locally administered with proven analgesic efficacy. They provide versatile dosing regimens and routes of administration, including intra-articular, intradermal, intra-neuronal (nerve block) and epidural injection.

Broad Applicability Across:

Nociceptive Pain

Using a replication-defective HSV (rdHSV) vector enables disease-free localized delivery to the peripheral somatosensory nervous system with an excellent safety profile. HSV vectors are known for their stability and prolonged gene expression, providing an excellent basis for long-term treatment.

Potential Across a Number of Chronic Pain Indications:

Additional rare-disease
pain conditions

Precision-Medicine: Local Administration and Tissue Specificity Limits Off-Target Effects

• • Our rdHSV/CA8* (ADLR-1001) vector is highly efficient and specific in infecting neuronal tissue (high degree of tropism)
  • We administer (ADLR-1001) at the site of pain, avoiding systemic circulation and exposure
  • rdHSV does not replicate, shed, or spread, keeping exposure entirely local, only affecting sensory neurons involved in the targeted pain problem
  • Intra-cellular production of CA8* inside sensory neurons avoids systemic levels that could affect other tissues

rdHSV Vector Enables Redosing of CA8* Gene Therapy

• • rdHSV evades immune system surveillance thus enabling redosing
  • Other FDA-approved HSV-based vectors have redosing regimens
  • Redosing option provides a pathway toward long-term treatment for chronic pain control

The Features and Product Profile of ADLR-1001 Offers Significant Advantages Over Competitor Programs