BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. announced that it received written agreement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA), on the design for a Phase 3b trial of NurOwn in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The SPA agreement with the FDA validates the clinical trial protocol and statistical analysis of the planned Phase 3b trial of Nur Own, demonstrating their adequacy for addressing objectives that support a future BLA (Biologics License Application) in ALS. BrainStorm anticipates commencement of the Phase 3b study in 2024, after reviewing the protocol with investigators, securing study site Institutional Review Board approvals, and engaging with appropriate members of the ALS community.

The Phase 3b trial (Study BCT-006-US) will be a two-part, multicenter, study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of NurOwn in patients with ALS. The entry criteria will enroll participants earlier in the course of their disease, having the onset of ALS symptoms, including limb weakness, within the prior 24 months, all ALSFRS-R items ³2 at Screening, and upright slow vital capacity >=65% of predicted for gender, height and age. Patients will also be allowed to receive concomitant treatment of an approved standard of care.

Part-A is a double blind, placebo-controlled period of 24 weeks duration. Up to approximately 200 patients are planned to be enrolled and randomized 1:1 to NurOwn or placebo treatment groups. There will be a screening period of six to nine weeks, during which eligible participants will undergo a single bone marrow aspiration procedure to procure the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that will be used to manufacture each participant's NurOwn treatment for the duration of the trial.

Patients will then be randomized 1:1 and treated with NurOwn or placebo via three repeated intrathecal injections, once every eight weeks. All eligible patients who complete Part-A will have the option of entering Part-B, open-label extension period of 24 weeks duration, where all participants will receive three repeated intrathecal injections of NurOwn, once every eight weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint is the change in the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating (ALSFRS-R) total score from baseline to Week 24.

Primary inference from the trial will be based on a p-value from the combined assessment of function and survival (CAFS) to account for mortality observed in the trial. Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) and blood samples will be collected for analysis of biomarkers of neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and neuroprotection. An independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) will monitor the safety of the trial participants.

A Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) is a process in which drug developers may ask to meet with the FDA to reach an agreement on the design and size of certain clinical trials to determine if they adequately address scientific and regulatory requirements for a study that could support marketing approval. A SPA agreement indicates concurrence by FDA with the adequacy and acceptability of specific critical elements of overall protocol design for a study intended to support a future marketing application. These elements are critical to ensuring that the trial conducted under the protocol can be considered an adequate and well-controlled study that can support marketing approval.

Feedback on these issues provides the greatest benefit to companies in planning late-phase development strategy. A SPA agreement does not indicate FDA concurrence on every protocol detail.