Roche’s small molecule, risdiplam (RG7916), is an orally-available compound developed in collaboration with the SMA Foundation and PTC Therapeutics and which is used to increase the amount of SMN protein made by the SMN2 gene.
A lay explanation of what risdiplam is and the results obtained through Phase 1 clinical trials can be found here.
There are currently 4 trials for risdiplam, which started in December 2016 in SMA Types 1, 2 & 3:
| | Study Name | SMA Population | Age |
 | FIREFISH | Type 1 | Between 1 & 7 months |
 | SUNFISH | Type 2 & 3 | Between 2 & 25 years |
 | JEWELFISH | Type 1, 2 & 3 | Between 6 months & 60 years and has received nusinersen or participated in trial of other SMN-targeting therapy or olesoxime |
 | RAINBOWFISH | Presymptomatic | Up to 6 weeks |
Resources
Roche has a dedicated website for these SMA trials, where more information can be found.
Community Updates:
- August 2020: EMA has validated the Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for risdiplam for the proposed use in people living with SMA
- August 2020: Risdiplam approved for the treatment of SMA in the US
- June 2020: Roche presents new data on SUNFISH & JEWELFISH trials at the Cure SMA Annual 2020 virtual Conference
- April 2020: Update on the clinical development of risdiplam
- February 2020: Roche completes recruitment for JEWELFISH clinical trial
- February 2020: Risdiplam shown to improve motor function in people aged 2 to 25 with type 2 or 3 SMA
- January 2020: Risdiplam’s FIREFISH meets primary endpoint in trial in infants with type 1 SMA
- January 2020: Roche announces global pre-approval access/ compassionate use (PAA/CU) plans for risdiplam
- November 2019: FDA grants priority review to risdiplam for the treatment of SMA & Roche’s letter to the community
- November 2019: Roche’s risdiplam meets primary endpoint in pivotal SUNFISH trial in people with type 2 or 3 SMA
- May 2019: Update on FIREFISH & SUNFISH presented at the 2019 AAN conference
- October 2018: Update of FIREFISH & SUNFISH studies of risdiplam
- March 2018: Start of pivotal part of FIREFISH for babies with Type 1 SMA
- October 2017: Interim results of Part 1 of the SUNFISH study indicate RG7916 is well tolerated at all doses. The first patient has now been enrolled for Part 2.
- September 2017: Start of Part 2 of the SUNFISH study. Enrolment is expected to begin in September 2017 in France and Belgium. Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Spain will begin later in the year.
- August 2017: Eye toxicity finding in RG7800 and its relationship with RG7916.
Clinical trials registers:
