Item 8.01 Other Events.
On April 2, 2024, Verve Therapeutics, Inc. (“Verve” or the “Company”) announced that it has paused enrollment in the Heart-1 Phase 1b clinical trial of VERVE-101 following the observation of transient asymptomatic laboratory abnormalities in the most recently dosed patient. Verve also announced the clearance of its clinical trial applications (“CTAs”) by the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) and Health Canada for VERVE-102, with the Heart-2 Phase 1b clinical trial expected to initiate in the second quarter of this year.
VERVE-101 is being evaluated in the Heart-1 Phase 1b clinical trial with trial endpoints of safety and tolerability as well as changes in blood PCSK9 protein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (“LDL-C”) levels in patients living with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (“HeFH”), established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and uncontrolled hypercholesterolemia. Six participants have been dosed at 0.45 mg/kg of VERVE-101, with a total of 13 participants dosed in the study in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. For the first five participants in the 0.45 mg/kg cohort with follow-up to at least 28 days, VERVE-101 demonstrated time-averaged LDL-C reductions ranging from 21% to 73%, and averaging 46% (as of a data cut-off date of March 18, 2024). In the two patients with the longest follow-up in the 0.45 mg/kg or 0.6 mg/kg cohorts, LDL-C lowering has been durable out to 270 days, with follow-up ongoing.
The sixth participant treated in the 0.45 mg/kg cohort experienced a Grade 3 drug-induced transient increase in serum alanine aminotransferase as well as a serious adverse event of Grade 3 drug-induced thrombocytopenia within the first four days after dosing. The participant did not experience any bleeding or other symptoms related to the laboratory abnormalities, and the abnormalities resolved fully within a few days.
In light of such observed laboratory abnormalities associated with VERVE-101, Verve, in consultation with the study’s independent data and safety monitoring board, has decided to pause enrollment in the Heart-1 trial. Verve is conducting an investigation into the laboratory abnormalities and based on those results, expects to work with regulatory authorities to define a path forward for VERVE-101. These safety events were reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the MHRA, and the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority. The VERVE-101 investigational new drug application and other CTAs remain active.
Verve is now prioritizing the development of VERVE-102 and the initiation of the Heart-2 clinical trial. VERVE-102 uses the same base editor and guide RNA for PCSK9 but a different lipid nanoparticle (“LNP”) delivery system than VERVE-101. VERVE-102 has two principal differences from VERVE-101. First, VERVE-102 includes a different ionizable lipid from VERVE-101. VERVE-102’s ionizable lipid has already been used in third-party clinical trials of gene editing product candidates and has been well tolerated in these trials. Second, the incorporation of GalNAc allows the LNP in VERVE-102 to access liver cells using either the asialoglycoprotein receptor or the low-density lipoprotein receptor. Verve has received regulatory clearances for the Heart-2 trial in the United Kingdom and Canada and plans to initiate the Heart-2 trial in patients with HeFH or premature coronary artery disease in the second quarter of 2024.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Report”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding expectations for the Company’s Heart-1 trial, including the Company’s assessment of the laboratory abnormalities observed in the trial and the Company’s interactions with regulatory authorities regarding VERVE-101; the expected timing of initiating the clinical trial of VERVE-102; and the potential advantages and therapeutic potential of the Company’s PCSK9 program. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, including statements regarding the Company’s strategy, future operations, future financial position, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the Company’s limited operating history; the Company’s ability to timely submit and receive approvals of regulatory applications for its product candidates; advance its product candidates in clinical trials; initiate, enroll and complete its ongoing and future clinical trials on the timeline expected or at all;
