Heart failure & cardiomyopathies

AAVrh.10hFXN Gene Therapy for the Cardiomyopathy of Friedreich Ataxia: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial

JAMA CardiolPublished Nonrandomised clinical trial

An erratum to this article was published (JAMA Cardiol, 1 Aug 2026 ↗)

Authors' conclusion

Findings of this nonrandomized clinical trial suggest that intravenous administration of AAVrh.10hFXN was well tolerated and may be a potential treatment for FA cardiomyopathy, as evidenced by preliminary improvement in exploratory efficacy end points.

Study context

Population
Adults with Friedreich ataxia cardiomyopathy
Participants
17 adults
Comparison
AAVrh.10hFXN gene therapy in 3 dose cohorts
Outcome
Safety
Methodological detailspooled analysis of 2 dose-escalation trials, open-label, pooled data of 2 independent trials, academic medical centres
  • Pooled analysis of 2 dose-escalation trials
  • Open-label
  • Pooled data of 2 independent trials
  • Academic medical centres

Pooled result

As reported in the abstract

mean (SD) follow-up 20 (8) months

Serious adverse events, all resolved

4

SAEs possibly related to prednisone immunosuppression

3

Possibly vector-related myocarditis 12 months after therapy

1

Further pooled results

OutcomeCohort 1Cohort 2Cohort 3
Cardiac FXN protein on biopsy (exploratory; 8 patients) · 3 months after therapy20%81%123%
Cardiac frataxin (FXN) protein on biopsy (exploratory; 8 patients) — Higher cardiac FXN in all patients with biopsy
8

CMR-derived LV mass index (exploratory) · after therapy

Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) lower by ≥10%
9
LVMI stabilised
8

Serum hs troponin I (exploratory) · after therapy

Lower by ≥10%
15
Higher by ≥10%
2
  • Excluding the patient with myocarditis

Safety

Serious adverse events, all resolved
4
Possibly vector-related myocarditis
1

Original publication

AAVrh.10hFXN Gene Therapy for the Cardiomyopathy of Friedreich Ataxia: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Cardiol. Published 1 August 2026. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2026.1699

Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →

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