Study Assessing Left Ventricular Administration of a Genetic Medicine Directing Organ Regeneration in Heart Failure (SALVADOR-HF)

A Phase I Study of Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of YAP101 in Subjects With Ischemic Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction

This clinical trial investigates the safety and preliminary effectiveness of YAP101, a gene therapy designed to improve heart function in adults with ischemic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Ischemic heart failure, often resulting from a prior heart attack, leads to poor heart function and quality of life. Current treatments are limited, and there is an urgent need for new therapies.

YAP101 works by delivering a gene therapy using a specialized vector to heart cells, targeting a pathway involved in heart repair. By temporarily activating heart muscle regeneration, YAP101 aims to restore damaged tissue, reduce scarring, and improve the heart's pumping ability.

The study will enroll participants who will receive a one-time dose of YAP101 via a minimally invasive cardiac injection. Researchers will monitor participants over 12 months to assess safety and changes in heart function, exercise tolerance, and quality of life.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction
• Intervention / Treatment: Combination product: YAP101 (AAV9-Sav-shRNA)

Detailed Description

This Phase I, single-center, open-label, dose-escalation trial evaluates the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of YAP101 in adults with ischemic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). YAP101, a novel gene therapy, delivers adeno-associated virus with a cardiomyocyte-specific promoter to express short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting Salvador 1 (SAV1), a key regulator of the Hippo signaling pathway. By transiently suppressing this pathway, YAP101 aims to induce cardiomyocyte regeneration, reduce fibrosis, and improve myocardial function.

Eligible subjects will undergo a one-time transendocardial injection of YAP101 at one of three dose levels (5.0e12, 1.0e13, or 5.0e13 viral genomes/subject) using an investigational cardiac injection catheter. Following administration, subjects will be monitored for safety and functional outcomes through a series of outpatient visits over 12 months. Primary endpoints include the incidence of dose-limiting toxicities, adverse events, and the determination of the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Secondary endpoints include changes in cardiac function assessed via MRI, biomarkers, exercise tolerance, and quality of life metrics.

Safety will be overseen by an independent Safety Review Team (SRT), which will assess data before dose escalation. The study employs a 3+3 dose-escalation design to identify the MTD while minimizing risks. Subjects who complete the study will have the option to enroll in a long-term follow-up study for up to 5 years.

The trial addresses the significant unmet need for regenerative therapies in heart failure, leveraging preclinical evidence of efficacy and safety. YAP101 has shown promising results in animal models, improving cardiac function, reducing fibrosis, and enhancing myocardial repair without significant adverse effects.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 24
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Tyler H Kibbee, MBS; Phone Number: 901 713-609-1928; Email: info@yaptx.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Director of Operations; Phone Number: 949-348-1188; Email: kapgar@yaptx.com

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
      • Recruiting
      • Texas Heart Institute
      • Contact: Clinical Research Operations Specialist; Phone Number: 832-355-9614; Email: gphillip@texasheart.org
      • Contact: Center for Clinical Research; Phone Number: 832-355-9405; Email: clinicalresearch@texasheart.org
      • Principal Investigator: Alexander Postalian, MD
      • Sub-Investigator: Emerson Perin, MD
      • Sub-Investigator: Jorge Escobar, MD
      • Sub-Investigator: Nikolaos Diakos, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

To participate, a subject MUST:

1. Be ≥ 18 and < 80 years of age;
2. Have medically stable heart failure of ischemic etiology, secondary to MI with NYHA class II or III symptoms for at least 12 months before the initiation of screening procedures;
3. Have a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 20% and ≤ 40% by cMRI at screening and baseline;
4. The subject is not a candidate for either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery as determined by the principal investigator (or designee) in consultation with an interventional cardiologist during the screening period;
5. Be on stable, outpatient, maximally tolerated guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) for HF for 6 weeks, unless contraindicated, and remain stable during the screening period;
6. Left ventricular (LV) end diastolic wall thickness of at least 8mm at the potential myocardial site for injection;
7. Be a candidate for cardiac catheterization;
8. Agree to protocol defined requirements for contraception;
9. Provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

To participate, a subject MUST NOT HAVE:

1. Valvular heart disease including 1) mechanical or bioprosthetic heart valve; or 2) severe valvular (any valve) insufficiency/regurgitation within 12 months of consent;
2. Aortic stenosis with valve area ≤ 1.5cm2;
3. Prior heart transplant, history of LV reduction surgery, cardiomyoplasty, passive restraint device
4. Had an acute myocardial infarction within the prior 30 days before initiation of screening;
5. Unstable angina pectoris within 30 days before initiation of screening procedures;
6. Idiopathic, valvular, peri/post-partum cardiomyopathy or other cardiomyopathy of non-ischemic etiology;
7. Restrictive, obstructive, or infiltrative cardiomyopathy; pericardial constriction; amyloidosis; or uncorrected thyroid disease;
8. A history of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke within 90 days of screening;
9. Liver dysfunction, as evidenced by enzymes (e.g., AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase) greater than 3 times upper limit of normal;
10. A baseline eGFR <35 mL/min/1.73m2;
11. Diabetes with poorly controlled blood glucose levels (HbA1c > 10%);
12. A hematologic abnormality during baseline testing;
13. Coagulopathy (INR > 1.5) not due to a reversible cause (e.g., warfarin and/or Factor Xa inhibitors); Subjects who cannot be withdrawn from anticoagulation will be excluded;
14. An underlying autoimmune disorder or current immunosuppressive therapy;
15. A contrast allergy that cannot adequately be managed by premedication;
16. Received cell-based therapy from any source;
17. Received any viral vector mediated gene therapy;
18. Evidence of active systemic infection at time of study product delivery;
19. HIV and/or active HBV, HCV or Covid-19 infection at screening or baseline;
20. Presence of LV thrombus;

21. Presence of a pacemaker or ICD generator with any of the following limitations/conditions:

    1. manufactured before the year 2000
    2. leads implanted < 6 weeks prior to screening
    3. non-transvenous epicardial leads
    4. subcutaneous ICDs
    5. any other condition that, in the judgment of device-trained staff, would deem an MRI contraindicated;
22. A cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implanted < 3 months prior to consent;
23. Other MRI contraindications
24. Mobitz II or higher degree atrioventricular block without a functioning pacemaker within 3 months of consent;
25. A history of drug abuse or alcohol abuse, or documented medical, occupational, or legal problems arising from the use of alcohol or drugs within the past 24 months;
26. Cognitive or language barriers that prohibit obtaining informed consent or any study elements;
27. Participation (currently or within the previous 30 days) in a cardiac related investigational therapeutic (including stem cell and gene-based therapies) or device trial;
28. Pregnancy, lactation, plans to become pregnant in the next 12 months, or is unwilling to use acceptable forms of birth control during study participation;
29. Expected survival < 1 year in the judgment of the investigator;
30. Active malignancy within the past 3 years (exceptions: localized prostate cancer, cervical or breast cancer in situ, or nonmelanoma skin cancer that has been definitively treated);

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Cohort 1: 5e12 vg YAP101; 3 to 6 subjects	Combination product: YAP101 (AAV9-Sav-shRNA); YAP101 delivered using YAPCATH-101
Experimental: Cohort 2: 1e13 vg YAP101; 3 to 6 subjects	Combination product: YAP101 (AAV9-Sav-shRNA); YAP101 delivered using YAPCATH-101
Experimental: Cohort 3: 5e13 vg YAP101; 3 to 6 subjects	Combination product: YAP101 (AAV9-Sav-shRNA); YAP101 delivered using YAPCATH-101
Experimental: Cohort 4 (Dose Level Expansion): Dose level TBD; Up to 6 subjects	Combination product: YAP101 (AAV9-Sav-shRNA); YAP101 delivered using YAPCATH-101

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of the following: DLTs and AEs	Incidence of dose limiting toxicities and adverse events	12 months
Maximum tolerated dose	Maximum tolerated dose	12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Exercise tolerance by six minute walk test (6MWT)	6MWT distance change from baseline in meters	12 months
New York Heart Association (NYHA) Classification	NYHA Classification change from baseline (lower values indicate less severe disease, scale from class I to class IV)	12 months
Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE), including death, MI, revascularization with or without stroke, MACCE	Incidence	12 months
Hospitalization for HF and/ or other exacerbation of HF (non-hospitalization)	Incidence	12 months
Cumulative days alive and out of the hospital	Days and total days out-of-hospital as a % of total days alive post study intervention	12 months
LVEF by cardiac MRI	Change from baseline, %	12 months
LVEFI by cardiac MRI	Change from baseline, % per kg	12 months
LVEDV by cardiac MRI	Change from baseline, mL	12 months
LVEDVI by cardiac MRI	Change from baseline, mL per kg	12 months
LVESV by cardiac MRI	Change from baseline, mL	12 months
LVESVI by cardiac MRI	Change from baseline, mL per kg	12 months
Premature ventricular contraction (PVC) burden	Change from baseline, %	12 months
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) burden	Change from baseline, %	12 months
BNP (cardiac biomarker)	Change from baseline, %	12 months
NT-proBNP (cardiac biomarker)	Change from baseline, %	12 months
Health related quality of life as assessed by Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHF)	Change in Score from baseline (lower values indicate higher quality of life, scale from 0-105)	12 months
Survival	Days	12 months
Cardiac transplant	Incidence	12 months
Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation	Incidence	12 months
Anti-AAV9 capsid antibodies	Change in titer from baseline	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: YAP Therapeutics, Inc.
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Alexander Postalian, MD, Texas Heart Institute

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 23, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 23, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 12, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): February 18, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 27, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: gene therapy; heart failure; AAV; Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; HF; Regenerative medicine; HFrEF; Cardiac regeneration; NYHA; cardiac repair; shRNA; YAP101; YAP Therapeutics; YAPtx; heart regeneration; gene silencing; tissue renewal
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Heart Diseases; Heart Failure
• Other Study ID Numbers: YAP101-C001

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes