Abeona Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:ABEO), a leading clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel cell and gene therapies for life-threatening rare genetic diseases, announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation to ABO-102, the Company’s AAV-mediated gene therapy for the treatment of Sanfilippo syndrome Type A (MPS IIIA), a rare autosomal-recessive lysosomal storage disease.

"We are encouraged to have received the first gene therapy RMAT designation in MPS IIIA and look forward to further collaborating with the FDA to determine next steps in the development pathway for ABO-102," said Carsten Thiel, Ph.D., CEO of Abeona Therapeutics. "This action further reinforces the clinical significance in the data observed in the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial and the high unmet need for effective treatment options for patients suffering from MPS IIIA."

Established under the 21st Century Cures Act, RMAT designation is an expedited program for the advancement and approval of regenerative medicine products. A regenerative medicine is eligible for the designation if it is intended to treat, modify, reverse or cure a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug has the potential to address unmet medical needs for such a disease or condition. RMAT allows companies developing regenerative medicine and gene therapies to work more closely and frequently with the FDA and grants all of the benefits of Breakthrough Therapy Designation.

The Company continues to engage the FDA on its ongoing Phase 1/2 trial. In the trial, subjects receive a single intravenous injection of ABO-102 to facilitate systemic delivery of a functional copy of the gene (SGSH) associated with onset and progression of MPS IIIA. Subjects are evaluated at multiple time points post-injection for safety, tolerability and efficacy. To date, 11 subjects have been enrolled. An update on results from the trial will be presented at the American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) in May this year. ABO-102 has been granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation, Fast Track Designation, and Orphan Product Designation in the U.S. and Orphan Drug Designation in the European Union.

Sanfilippo syndromes (or mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type III): a group of four inherited genetic diseases each caused by a single gene defect, described as type A, B, C or D, which cause enzyme deficiencies that result in the abnormal accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs, or sugars) in body tissues. MPS III is a lysosomal storage disease, a group of rare inborn errors of metabolism resulting from deficiency in normal lysosomal function. Children with MPS III are missing an enzyme which is essential in breaking down the used mucopolysaccharides called heparan sulfate. The partially broken down mucopolysaccharides remain stored in cells in the body causing progressive damage. In MPS III, the predominant symptoms occur due to accumulation within the central nervous system (CNS), including the brain and spinal cord, resulting in cognitive decline, motor dysfunction, and eventual death. Importantly, there is no cure for MPS III and treatments are largely supportive care.

About Abeona: Abeona Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing cell and gene therapies for life-threatening rare genetic diseases. Abeona's lead programs include EB-101 (gene-corrected skin grafts) for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), ABO-102 (AAV-SGSH), an adeno-associated virus (AAV) based gene therapy for Sanfilippo syndrome type A (MPS IIIA) and ABO-101 (AAV-NAGLU), an adeno-associated virus (AAV) based gene therapy for Sanfilippo syndrome type B (MPS IIIB). Abeona is also developing ABO-201 (AAV-CLN3) gene therapy for CLN3 disease, ABO-202 (AAV-CLN1) for treatment of CLN1 disease, EB-201 for epidermolysis bullosa (EB), ABO-301 (AAV-FANCC) for Fanconi anemia (FA) disorder and ABO-302 using a novel CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing approach to gene therapy for rare blood diseases. In addition, Abeona is developing a proprietary vector platform, AIM™, for next generation product candidates.

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