A Study of AAV9 Gene Therapy in Participants With Canavan Disease (CANaspire)
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The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Know the risks and potential benefits of clinical studies and talk to your health care provider before participating. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04998396 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : August 10, 2021
Last Update Posted : February 16, 2023
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Canavan Disease | Biological: AAV9 BBP-812 | Phase 1 Phase 2 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 18 participants |
Allocation: | Non-Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Sequential Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Phase 1/2 Open-Label Study of the Safety and Clinical Activity of Gene Therapy for Canavan Disease Through Administration of an Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Serotype 9-Based Recombinant Vector Encoding the Human ASPA Gene |
Actual Study Start Date : | September 8, 2021 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | October 15, 2024 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | March 15, 2028 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Dose-Finding Phase: BBP-812 Dose Level 1 (Cohort 1)
Participants will receive a single intravenous (IV) infusion of low-dose BBP-812 on Day 0 in the dose-finding phase of the study.
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Biological: AAV9 BBP-812
Sterile solution for injection for 1-time use via volumetric infusion pump |
Experimental: Dose-Finding Phase: BBP-812 Dose Level 2 (Cohort 2)
Participants will receive a single IV infusion of high-dose BBP-812 on Day 0 in the dose-finding phase of the study.
|
Biological: AAV9 BBP-812
Sterile solution for injection for 1-time use via volumetric infusion pump |
Experimental: Enrollment Expansion Phase: BBP-812
Participants will receive a single IV infusion of BBP-812 at the selected dose from the dose-finding phase on Day 0 in expansion phase of the study.
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Biological: AAV9 BBP-812
Sterile solution for injection for 1-time use via volumetric infusion pump |
- Number of Participants with Adverse Events (AEs) [ Time Frame: Baseline up to Week 52 ]
- Change from Baseline to 12 Months Post-Infusion in Urine N-acetylaspartate (NAA) Levels [ Time Frame: Baseline, Month 12 ]
- Change from Baseline to 12 Months Post-Infusion in Central Nervous System (CNS) NAA, as Measured by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) [ Time Frame: Baseline, Month 12 ]
- Change from Baseline to Week 52 in Gross Motor Assessment, Gross Motor Function Measure-88 [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 52 ]
- Change from Baseline to Week 52 in Fine Motor Assessment, Bayley-4 [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 52 ]
- Change from Baseline to Week 52 in Cognitive Assessment, Bayley-4 [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 52 ]
- Change from Baseline to Week 52 in Communication Assessment, Bayley-4 [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 52 ]
- Change from Baseline to Week 52 in Adaptive Function, Vineland-3 [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 52 ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | up to 30 Months (Child) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Key Inclusion Criteria:
- Maximum age for inclusion is 30 months.
- Participant has stable health in the opinion of the investigator and as confirmed by medical history and laboratory studies with no acute or chronic hematologic, renal, liver, immunologic, or neurologic disease (other than Canavan disease).
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Participant has biochemical, genetic, and clinical diagnosis of Canavan disease:
- Elevated urinary NAA and
- Biallelic mutation of the ASPA gene determined at Screening or documented in the participant's medical history.
- Active clinical signs of Canavan disease
Key Exclusion Criteria:
- Tests positive for total anti-AAV9 antibodies determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- Received prior gene therapy or other therapy (including vaccines) involving AAV.
- Participant is receiving high-dose therapy with immunosuppressants.
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Participant has significantly progressed Canavan disease characterized as:
- Presence of continuous/constant decerebrate or decorticate posturing,
- Recurrent status epilepticus, or
- Recalcitrant seizures that do not respond while on 3 or more anti-epileptic medications

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04998396
Contact: Canavan Disease Study Team | 833-764-2267 or 617-861-4617 | CANaspire@aspatx.com | |
Contact: David Rintell, Ed.D., VP, Head of Patient Advocacy | 617-734-6778 | clinicaltrials@aspatx.com |
United States, California | |
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland | Not yet recruiting |
Oakland, California, United States, 94609 | |
Contact: Annie R Sako 510-428-3885 ext 7217 annie.sako@ucsf.edu | |
Principal Investigator: Alexander Fay, MD | |
United States, Massachusetts | |
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH); Center for Rare Neurological Diseases (CRND) | Recruiting |
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114 | |
Contact: Stacy Maciel smaciel@mgh.harvard.edu | |
Contact 617-726-2986 | |
Principal Investigator: Florian Eichler, MD | |
United States, New York | |
Weill Cornell Medicine; Division of Pediatric Neurology | Recruiting |
New York, New York, United States, 10021 | |
Contact: Kery Gao 212-746-3280 keg4005@med.cornell.edu | |
Principal Investigator: Eric Mallack, MD |
Responsible Party: | Aspa Therapeutics |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04998396 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
CVN-102 |
First Posted: | August 10, 2021 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | February 16, 2023 |
Last Verified: | February 2023 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Canavan Disease AAV AAV9 Gene therapy Aspartoacylase ASPA ASPA gene rAAV9 ACY2 Aminoacylase 2 |
Spongy degeneration N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid (NAA) N-acetylaspartate Rare disease Inherited Metabolic Disorders Leukodystrophy Leukoencephalopathies Autosomal Recessive Disorder Neurodevelopmental diseases |
Canavan Disease Hereditary Central Nervous System Demyelinating Diseases Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn Brain Diseases, Metabolic Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases |
Leukoencephalopathies Demyelinating Diseases Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System Neurodegenerative Diseases Genetic Diseases, Inborn Metabolism, Inborn Errors Metabolic Diseases |