NTLA Stock Down as Patient Faces Adverse Event in Gene Therapy Study

Core Viewpoint - Intellia Therapeutics' shares fell by 22.9% following an update from its phase III study on the investigational gene-editing candidate, nexiguran ziclumeran (nex-z), for treating ATTR amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) [1] Group 1: Study Updates and Safety Concerns - A patient in the phase III MAGNITUDE study experienced grade 4 liver transaminase elevations, indicating a significant increase in liver enzymes, although the patient was asymptomatic and the issue resolved without hospitalization [2] - Investor concerns regarding the long-term safety of the gene therapy candidate have contributed to the stock's decline, with shares down 36.1% year-to-date compared to the industry's decline of 5.4% [3] Group 2: Pipeline Developments - Intellia is also developing nex-z for ATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN), with the first patient dosed in the phase III MAGNITUDE 2 study in April, and enrollment expected to be completed by 2026 [5] - Upon successful completion of the MAGNITUDE 2 study, the company plans to submit a biologics license application for nex-z in ATTRv-PN by 2028, in collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, which shares 25% of development costs and commercial profits [6] Group 3: Other Pipeline Candidates - Intellia is developing NTLA-2002 for hereditary angioedema (HAE), with the first patient dosed in the pivotal phase III HAELO study in January 2025, and enrollment expected to be completed by Q3 2025 [7][8] - A potential biologics license application for NTLA-2002 in HAE is planned for submission in the second half of 2026, although the complexity of developing these CRISPR-based therapies poses challenges [8]