Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the Company has initiated a rolling submission of its New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for lumasiran, an investigational RNAi therapeutic targeting glycolate oxidase for the treatment of primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1). The rolling submission allows completed sections of an NDA to be reviewed by the FDA on an ongoing basis. Specifically, Alnylam has submitted the non-clinical components to the FDA and expects to submit the remaining components in early 2020. Alnylam also announced that it has been granted a pediatric rare disease designation from the FDA for lumasiran for the treatment of PH1. Lumasiran has also received both U.S. and EU Orphan Drug Designations, a Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA and a Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Alnylam intends to file a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) with the EMA in early 2020. Lumasiran is an investigational, subcutaneously administered RNAi therapeutic targeting hydroxyacid oxidase 1 (HAO1) in development for the treatment of primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1). HAO1 encodes glycolate oxidase (GO). Thus, by silencing HAO1 and depleting the GO enzyme, lumasiran inhibits production of oxalate – the metabolite that directly contributes to the pathophysiology of PH1. Lumasiran utilizes Alnylam's Enhanced Stabilization Chemistry (ESC)-GalNAc-conjugate technology, which enables subcutaneous dosing with increased potency and durability and a wide therapeutic index. Lumasiran has received both U.S. and EU Orphan Drug Designations, a Breakthrough Therapy Designation and pediatric rare disease designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and a Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The safety and efficacy of lumasiran have not been evaluated by the FDA, EMA or any other health authority. PH1 is an ultra-rare disease in which excessive oxalate production results in the deposition of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys and urinary tract and can lead to the formation of painful and recurrent kidney stones and nephrocalcinosis. Renal damage is caused by a combination of tubular toxicity from oxalate, calcium oxalate deposition in the kidneys, and urinary obstruction by calcium oxalate stones. Compromised kidney function exacerbates the disease as the excess oxalate can no longer be effectively excreted, resulting in subsequent accumulation and crystallization in bones, eyes, skin, and heart, leading to severe illness and death. Current treatment options are very limited and include frequent renal dialysis or combined organ transplantation of liver and kidney, a procedure with high morbidity that is limited due to organ availability. Although a minority of patients respond to Vitamin B6 therapy, there are no approved pharmaceutical therapies for PH1.