Improved Enzyme Replacement Therapy with Cipaglucosidase Alfa/Miglustat in Infantile Pompe Disease

Pompe disease is a lysosomal storage disorder with impaired glycogen degradation caused by a deficiency of the enzyme acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA). Children with the severe infantile form do not survive beyond the first year of life without treatment. Since 2006, enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with Alglucosidase alfa (Myozyme) has been available, which is a recombinant human GAA (rhGAA). Myozyme therapy has prolonged the life span of affected patients, but many patients showed a continuing, albeit slower, disease progression. A new generation of rhGAA, Cipaglucosidase alfa (Amicus) has a higher content of mannose-6-phosphate residues, which are necessary for efficient cellular uptake and lysosomal targeting. Cipaglucosidase alfa is co-administered with an enzyme stabilizer, Miglustat, which also optimizes the pharmacological properties. In mouse models, the superiority of Cipaglucosidase alfa/Miglustat compared to the previous standard therapy could be determined. Here, we report the disease course of a patient with severe infantile M. Pompe, who showed serious progression even with high-dose standard of care ERT. Changing the therapy to Cipaglucosidase alfa/Miglustat improved respiratory failure, cardiomyopathy, and motor functions significantly. The patient could be weaned from respiratory support and oxygen supplementation. Cardiac function was normalized. Most impressively, the patient, who had lost nearly all motor skills, acquired head control, learned to speak, and could move his wheelchair by himself. Overall, the patient's clinical situation has improved dramatically with the new ERT.

Automated summary

Pompe disease is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme acid alpha-glucosidase. Current enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has shown limited effectiveness in treating the disease. However, a new generation of ERT, Cipaglucosidase alfa/Miglustat, has shown significant improvement in respiratory failure, cardiomyopathy, and motor functions in patients with severe infantile Pompe disease.