WALTHAM, Mass. — Affinia Therapeutics, a clinical-stage gene therapy company, announced that preclinical and translational data for its investigational gene therapy AFTX-201, along with details of its Phase 1/2 UPBEAT clinical trial, will be presented at the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) Annual Scientific Meeting 2026.
AFTX-201 is being developed to treat BAG3-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a genetic heart condition characterized by progressive cardiac dysfunction. The therapy uses an adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery system designed to target heart tissue and address the underlying genetic cause of the disease.
Laura Richman, D.V.M., Ph.D., DACVP, Chief Development Officer at Affinia Therapeutics, will present findings from the program on October 10 at 1:21 p.m. Pacific Time. Her presentation, titled “AFTX-201: A Low-Dose, Investigational AAV Gene Therapy Using a Cardiotropic Capsid for the Treatment of BAG3-Associated Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Journey to the Clinic,” will be part of Oral Abstract Session 3A.
“BAG3 DCM represents a substantial unmet medical need, as patients experience an early onset and progressive cardiac dysfunction with no existing approved therapeutic option that addresses the underlying disease mechanism,” Richman said.
According to the company, preclinical studies in an animal model of BAG3-associated DCM demonstrated that a single administration of AFTX-201 restored cardiac function and reversed structural abnormalities. The UPBEAT trial is now evaluating the investigational treatment at multiple institutions across the United States and Canada.
Affinia will also host an industry innovation event on October 11 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Pacific Time at the Sheraton Hotel, Ahwatukee Room, Level 2. The event will focus on genetic factors contributing to DCM, emerging gene therapy approaches and the UPBEAT clinical trial. No RSVP is required.
The discussion will feature Ray E. Hershberger, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine and Human Genetics at The Ohio State University and Founder and Principal Investigator of the Dilated Cardiomyopathy Research Project, and Joshua M. Hare, M.D., FACC, FAHA, Louis Lemberg Professor of Medicine and Director of the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute at the University of Miami.
Richman and Jonathan Plehn, M.D., FACC, Vice President of Clinical Development at Affinia Therapeutics, will also participate.
Based in Waltham, Affinia Therapeutics is developing AAV-based genetic medicines, initially targeting cardiovascular diseases with significant unmet medical needs. (Source: IANS)
