Capricor Therapeutics Announces Positive 4-Year Data from HOPE-2 Open-Label Extension Study of Deramiocel in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Core Insights - Capricor Therapeutics announced positive four-year safety and efficacy results for Deramiocel, its lead cell therapy candidate for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) [1][3] - The findings will be presented at the PPMD 2025 Annual Conference, highlighting the importance of addressing both cardiac and skeletal muscle functions in DMD treatment [1][4] Efficacy Results - After four years of treatment, Deramiocel-treated patients showed a median change of -0.5 points compared to baseline, indicating clinical benefit, especially in patients with baseline LVEF >45% [2] - The treatment also slowed skeletal muscle disease progression, with a smaller average decline in Performance of the Upper Limb (PUL v2.0) in the fourth year (0.6 points) compared to the first year (1.8 points) [3][7] Safety Profile - Deramiocel maintained a favorable safety profile throughout the study, reinforcing its potential as a therapeutic option for DMD [3][7] Regulatory Progress - Capricor is in the process of obtaining regulatory approval for Deramiocel, with its Biologics License Application (BLA) under priority review and no evidence of delays in discussions with the FDA [4][10] Study Background - The HOPE-2 study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial, with patients receiving intravenous infusions of Deramiocel (150 million cells) every three months [5] - Following the study, all patients entered a treatment gap phase before enrolling in the HOPE-2 Open-Label Extension (OLE) study, which continues to monitor safety and efficacy [5] About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - DMD is a severe genetic disorder affecting approximately 15,000 individuals in the U.S., characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and leading to cardiomyopathy, which is a major cause of mortality [6][9] About Deramiocel - Deramiocel (CAP-1002) consists of allogeneic cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) known for their immunomodulatory and anti-fibrotic properties, which may help preserve cardiac and skeletal muscle function in DMD [8][10] - The therapy has received multiple designations from regulatory agencies, including Orphan Drug Designation and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation [9]