The recent announcement by Verve Therapeutics has brought forth an exciting medical breakthrough. In their inaugural human trial, Verve successfully utilized a revolutionary genetic technology known as “base-editing” to significantly reduce patients’ high cholesterol levels on a long-term basis.
However, despite this promising development, Verve’s stock (ticker: VERV) experienced a considerable setback in Monday’s market, plummeting by 41% to $9.29. This unexpected reaction undoubtedly disappointed the company’s CEO, Sekar Kathiresan. Yet, it is crucial to acknowledge that the biotech sector has been facing a challenging stock market environment as of late.
Kathiresan explains, “In this current market climate, any data release is prone to triggering a decline in stock value. There is little room for nuanced analysis or exploring intricate details.”
It appears that the stock’s decline may have been an inaccurate interpretation of Verve’s groundbreaking news.
During the American Heart Association’s annual science sessions, Verve presented data on Sunday that showcased the impressive outcomes of their genetic treatment. A single infusion of Verve-101 resulted in cholesterol reductions ranging from 40% to 55% in patients with genetically inherited high cholesterol levels, which significantly increased their risk of premature death. Verve’s therapy utilizes the Nobel Prize-winning Crispr technology to target the DNA defect responsible for the excessive cholesterol production within specific families. Subsequently, their treatment deactivates the faulty gene by gently substituting one letter in the gene’s sequence with another through base editing.
In a cohort of 10 patients diagnosed with the cholesterol disorder, Verve-101 successfully decreased LDL cholesterol levels by up to 55%. This efficacy is comparable to existing approved drug treatments such as Novartis’ Leqvio, Amgen’s Repatha, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’ Praluent, all of which necessitate lifelong administration.
The stock’s decline on Monday may have been influenced by two of the Verve-101 test subjects experiencing heart attacks, one resulting in a fatality.
Kathiresan emphasizes that this first-in-humans study was limited to older patients already suffering from advanced heart disease and a high risk of cardiac events. Additionally, the study’s other safety measurements yielded satisfactory results.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration meticulously analyzed the safety data and granted Verve permission to expand its Phase 1 trial with an additional five patients. Notably, Eli Lilly also reviewed the trial results before deciding to secure an option for collaboration on the Verve treatment in October.
Lilly Considers Partnership for Cholesterol Treatment
Lilly, the pharmaceutical company, is currently evaluating the possibility of teaming up on a cholesterol treatment. The decision will be made next year after reviewing the results from the completed Phase 1 trial, as well as another Verve treatment that utilizes a different vehicle to target the liver cells related to cholesterol.
In addition, Lilly has also optioned a third program in which Verve will concentrate on a second genetic defect. This program has the potential to reduce LDL cholesterol by an impressive 50% in families with high cholesterol.
Verve’s ultimate goal is to develop a one-and-done treatment for the 50 million at-risk adults who have high cholesterol and are susceptible to cardiovascular disease. Despite the existence of statins and innovative treatments like Leqvio, only a small percentage of patients achieve healthy cholesterol levels over their lifetime due to various factors such as financial constraints, difficulty adhering to chronic treatments, or limited access to healthcare.
Kathiresan, a representative from Verve, acknowledges that although existing treatments theoretically have the ability to lower LDL cholesterol, in practice, their impact is minimal because only a fraction of patients actually utilize them.
With Verve’s base-editing treatment demonstrating a positive effect and acceptable safety profile, regulators are now permitting the enrollment of patients who are less severely ill or prone to cardiac events. However, an accurate assessment of the treatment’s impact on heart attacks must await the placebo-controlled trial scheduled for 2025.
Industry analysts have praised Verve’s recent results, with Myles Minter from William Blair describing them as “trailblazing.” He reaffirmed his Buy rating on Verve stock. Similarly, Seamus Fernandez at Guggenheim, who has set a $55 price target on Verve stock, remains optimistic.
Verve’s Phase 1 study marks the first-ever human trial of base-editing, a variant of CRISPR editing. The technique was developed in the laboratory of Harvard chemist David Liu and licensed to Beam Therapeutics (BEAM) for addressing other illnesses.
Consequently, Verve’s accomplishments not only prove the efficacy of base-editing as a viable treatment option, but also indicate its potential in the field of medicine. “It works!” expressed Kathiresan confidently.
