Overview

In some people, the liver makes an abnormal version of the alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protein, called Z-AAT. Making an abnormal version of the AAT protein can result in liver disease as Z-AAT builds up in liver cells, which leads to liver problems such as liver scarring (fibrosis), continuing liver damage (cirrhosis), and eventually endstage liver disease. Fazirsiran is a medicine that reduces the creation of the Z-AAT protein and thus the build-up of this abnormal protein in the liver. People with this type of liver disease who already have mild liver scarring will take part in the study. They will be treated with fazirsiran or a placebo for about 2 years. This study will check the long-term safety of fazirsiran and if participants tolerate the treatment. A liver biopsy, a way of collecting a small tissue sample from the liver, will be taken twice during the study.

Principal investigator

Tomohiro Tanaka
Internal Medicine

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • In the opinion of the investigator, the participant is capable of understanding and fully complying with the protocol requirements and adhering to the protocol schedule.
  • The participant is able to read, understand, and complete the study questionnaires electronically per the investigator's judgment.
  • The participant signs and dates a written Informed Consent Form (ICF). Any required privacy authorization should also be signed before the initiation of any study procedures.
  • The participant, of any sex, is aged 18 to 75 years, inclusive.
  • The participant must have a diagnosis of the protease inhibitor Z mutation (PiZZ) genotype AATD. A diagnosis of PiZZ from source-verifiable medical records is permitted. Otherwise, participants must undergo PiZZ confirmatory testing (genotyping for PiS and PiZ alleles) at screening. PiMZ or PiSZ genotypes are not permitted.
  • The participant's liver biopsy core samples should be collected as per protocol requirements.
  • The participant has evidence of METAVIR stage F1 liver fibrosis, evaluated by a centrally read baseline liver biopsy during the screening period; or confirmed as meeting all the entry criteria by central reading from a previous biopsy conducted within 1 year before the screening period using an adequate liver biopsy and slides as defined in the study laboratory manual.
  • The participant has a pulmonary status that meets the protocol requirements.
  • It must be confirmed that the participant does not have hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  • Participants must have a negative coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at screening.
  • Any participant who is taking statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, or beta-1 selective adrenergic receptor inhibitors must have been receiving a stable dose of these medications for at least 8 weeks before randomization. All attempts are to be made for the participant to continue the same dose of the medication for the duration of study participation.
  • An adult participant must have a body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 39 kilogram per meter square (kg/m^2), inclusive.
  • The participant has a 12-lead electrocardiogram at screening that, in the opinion of the investigator, has no abnormalities that could compromise the participant's safety in this study.
  • The participant is a nonsmoker.
  • If the participant was being treated with any respiratory medications including inhaled bronchodilators, inhaled anticholinergics, inhaled corticosteroids, or low-dose systemic corticosteroids (prednisone less than or equal to (<=10) milligrams per day (mg/d) or its equivalent), the doses of the participant's medications must have remained unchanged for at least 14 days before screening.
  • The participant must have suitable venous access for blood sampling.
  • A person of childbearing potential (POCBP) must have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening and a negative urine pregnancy test on Day 1 before dosing.
  • The participant must use highly effective contraception for the entire duration of the study and for 24 weeks after the last dose of study medication. The participant must not donate sperm for at least 24 weeks after the last dose of study medication.

Exclusion criteria:

  • The participant has evidence of greater than or equal to (>=) F2 fibrosis based on liver biopsy during the screening period.
  • The participant has a history of liver decompensating events.
  • The participant has a history of varices based on a previous esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
  • The participant has portal vein thrombosis.
  • The participant has undergone a prior trans-jugular portosystemic shunt procedure.
  • The participant has evidence of other forms of chronic liver diseases.
  • The participant has a history of malignancy within the last 5 years, except for adequately treated basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell skin cancer, superficial bladder tumors, or in situ cervical cancer. Participants with curatively treated malignancies who have no evidence of metastatic disease and disease-free interval greater than (>) 1 year may be enrolled after approval by the medical monitor.
  • The participant has an abnormal finding of clinical relevance at the screening evaluation and before administration of the first dose of study dosing that, in the opinion of the investigator, could adversely impact participant safety during the study or adversely impact study results.
  • The participant has any laboratory abnormalities at screening and before the first dose of the study drug that meet protocol parameters.
  • The participant is expected to have severe and unavoidable high-level exposure to inhaled pulmonary toxins during the study such as may occur with occupational exposure to mineral dusts or metals.
  • The participant has a recent lower respiratory tract infection, such as pneumonia, within the last 24 weeks before screening.
  • The participant has a history of frequent pulmonary exacerbations (>=2 moderate or severe exacerbations within 52 weeks before screening).
  • The participant is experiencing a pulmonary exacerbation at the time of screening (participant may be rescreened after the clinical resolution of an exacerbation).
  • The participant is receiving long-term, around-the-clock oxygen supplementation or supplemental oxygen with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure for acute respiratory failure. The following conditions are allowable for the participant to enter screening: short-term use of oxygen supplementation (example, for the management of acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] exacerbation) or CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea.
  • The participant has human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection as shown by the presence of anti-HIV antibody (seropositive).
  • The participant is seropositive for hepatitis B virus (HBV surface antigen positive and/or HBV core antibody positive without HBV surface antibody at screening) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) (detectable HCV Ribonucleic Acid [RNA] at screening). Cured HCV (positive antibody test without detectable HCV RNA for at least 24 weeks after treatment) is acceptable.
  • The participant has unstable, poorly controlled, or severe hypertension. Participants may be rescreened once their blood pressure (BP) is successfully controlled.
  • The participant has a history of torsades de pointes, ventricular rhythm disturbances (example, ventricular tachycardia), heart block (excluding first-degree block, being PR interval prolongation only), congenital long QT syndrome or new ST-segment elevation or depression or a new Q wave on ECG. Participants with a history of atrial arrhythmias should be discussed with the medical monitor.
  • The participant has symptomatic heart failure (per New York Heart Association guidelines), unstable angina, myocardial infarction, severe cardiovascular disease (ejection fraction less than [<] 20 percent [%]), transient ischemic attack, or cerebrovascular accident within 24 weeks before screening.
  • The participant has a history of major surgery within 12 weeks of screening (or longer, at the discretion of the investigator).
  • The participant has a history of more than moderate alcohol consumption within 12 months before the screening visit.
  • The participant has a history of drug abuse (such as cocaine, phencyclidine) within 1 year before the screening visit or has a positive urine drug screen at screening.
  • The participant has previously been treated with fazirsiran or any other RNA interference (RNAi) for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency-associated liver disease (AATD-LD).
  • The participant has a history of hypersensitivity or allergies with any associated excipients of fazirsiran.
  • The participant has received an investigational agent or device within 30 days, or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, before the dosing of study medication or is currently participating in an investigational study involving a therapeutic intervention.
  • The participant has donated >=500 milliliter (mL) of blood within 1 month of the administration of study treatment.
  • The participant has any concomitant medical or psychiatric condition or social situation that would make it difficult to comply with protocol requirements or put the participant at additional safety risk. The participant has a history of clinically significant hematologic, renal, hepatic, pulmonary, neurologic, psychiatric, gastrointestinal (GI), systemic inflammatory, metabolic, or endocrine disorder or any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, rendered the participant a poor candidate for inclusion into the study.
  • The participant has a history of thromboembolic disease (including deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism), within 24 weeks before screening, or is taking chronic anticoagulants.
  • This participant is unable to return for all scheduled study visits.
  • The participant has known or suspected COVID-19 by the investigator within the past 2 months before screening. Positive antibody testing for COVID-19 without other evidence of current or recent active infection does not exclude participation. Participants who were in screening at the time that COVID-19-related factors resulted in discontinuation may also be rescreened with approval of the sponsor or designee.
  • The participant is a study site employee, an immediate family member (example, spouse, parent, child, sibling), or is in a dependent relationship with study site employee who is involved in the conduct of this study or may consent under duress.
  • The participant takes or is required to take excluded medications.
  • The participant is pregnant or breastfeeding or intending to become pregnant before participating in this study, during the study, and within 24 weeks after last dose of the study drug; or the participant is intending to donate ova during such time period.
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Julie Szewc
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