Gene editing pioneer Sangamo BioSciences ($SGMO) has its sights set on curing hemophilia--a rare disorder in which the blood doesn't clot normally. In new data presented at the World Federation of Hemophilia’s annual meeting this week in Orlando, FL, the company’s gene therapy significantly increased an essential blood-clotting protein in animals that’s deficient in individuals with hemophilia A.

The optimistic preclinical results mean Sangamo plans to move the investigational gene therapy into the clinic. At the same time, the company is also working on optimizing its zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) genome editing approach to treat hemophilia A, which affects about 8 out of 10 people with hemophilia. Patients with hemophilia A are missing or have low levels of clotting factor VIII, while those with hemophilia B are lacking or have low levels of clotting factor IX.

The experimental gene therapy uses a harmless adeno-associated virus to carry complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding a synthetic version of the clotting factor VIII. In a mouse model and in monkey subjects, the gene therapy generated higher than normal levels of human factor VIII and was well tolerated.

Whitepaper Download Reducing the Complexity and Costs of Channel Planning and Logistics How can you make the process of bringing your product to market less complex while also reducing costs? This Whitepaper identifies opportunities to simplify channel strategies for biopharma companies, their customers and patients. Discover how you can deliver savings and innovation to your business. Download for Free

“The high potency of this novel therapeutic may enable clinically relevant levels of hFVIII to be obtained using lower vector doses, which potentially provides a better therapeutic risk/benefit profile for patients. Sangamo is conducting additional studies to determine the minimal effective dose necessary to provide therapeutic benefit,” the Richmond, CA-based company said in a statement.

Currently, the standard treatment for hemophilia is replacement therapy, which involves infusions of clotting factor being slowly dripped or injected into a vein to replace the dective clotting factor. These therapies are expensive and sometimes cause the body to produce antibodies against the factors that cancel out the benefits of treatment. Sever forms of hemophilia A often require ongoing, preventive infusions.

Sangamo plans to file an investigational new drug (IND) application with the FDA this year for the hemophilia A gene therapy and start a Phase I/II clinical trial in 2017.

The FDA has approved Sangamo’s ZFN technology for testing in a Phase I/II clinical trial for hemophilia B. It is the first in vivo genome editing application to have been cleared by the FDA. A representative for Sangamo confirmed via email that the company plans to begin that trial later this year.

In the hemophilia space, Sangamo has competition. BioMarin ($BMRN) announced encouraging interim results in April from a Phase I/II trial that’s testing an investigational gene therapy for hemophilia A. And Spark Therapeutics ($ONCE) already seems to be curing patients with its gene therapy for hemophilia B.

- read the Sangamo statement

Related Articles:

BioMarin says hemophilia A gene therapy data 'encouraging'

Bayer wins FDA approval for a long-acting hemophilia drug