A Treatment for Patients with Jansens Metaphyseal Chondrodysplasia

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JMC is caused by heterozygous, autosomal-dominant activating mutations in the G protein-coupled PTH receptor type 1 (PTHR1), which is highly expressed in kidney and bone, including the metaphyseal growth plates. PTHR1 signaling plays a role in the formation and long-term physiology of bone. In the kidney, PTH activates the PTHR1, stimulating the reabsorption of calcium and excretion of phosphate, and enhancing the generation of biologically active vitamin D; PTHR1 signaling thus acts to balance mineral ions in the blood. In bone, increased PTHR1 signaling stimulates the degradation of the bone matrix and the release of calcium and phosphate into the blood. Constitutive activation of the PTHR1 in JMC leads to marked skeletal abnormalities, including short stature and bowing of the long bones due to hypomineralization, as well as chronic hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia. The lead collaborators identified the first, and most frequent, PTHR1 mutation of JMC (H223R) and generated a corresponding transgenic mouse model (C1HR) recapitulating some of the JMC skeletal phenotype. They also identified through in vitro studies PTHR1 inverse agonist ligands that can suppress the high basal activity of the mutant receptors causing JMC. These inverse agonists, based on fragments of PTH or the PTH-related protein (PTHrP), were then tested in vivo in the C1HR mouse. One of these PTH inverse agonists (PTH-IA) was found to significantly improve the bone and mineral ion defects in the mutant mice, supporting the hypothesis that a PTH-IA could be developed as a therapy for JMC. TRND scientists have initiated a preclinical development campaign to advance the PTH-IA candidate to clinical evaluation. Planned activities include development of bioanalytical methods, scale-up manufacturing and formulation of the drug product, and the toxicology studies needed to support an Investigational New Drug (IND) application.