Press Releases
Akcea Therapeutics Receives Orphan Designation in Europe for Volanesorsen for the Treatment of Familial Partial Lipodystrophy (FPL)
"This marks an important milestone for both the FPL community and Akcea," according to
EC Orphan Designation is granted to drugs that are intended for the treatment of life threatening or chronically debilitating rare diseases where no therapeutic options either exist or are satisfactory. Rare diseases are those defined as having a prevalence of less than five in 10,000 in
ABOUT VOLANESORSEN, FCS AND FPL
Volanesorsen is an antisense drug in development intended to treat patients with severely high triglycerides either as a single agent or in combination with other triglyceride-lowering agents. Volanesorsen is designed to reduce the production of ApoC-III, a protein produced in the liver that plays a central role in the regulation of plasma triglycerides.
Volanesorsen is currently being evaluated in two Phase 3 registrational studies: APPROACH and BROADEN, and a third Phase 3 study, COMPASS, in patients with triglycerides above 500 mg/dL, designed to support global regulatory filings. APPROACH is a randomized, placebo-controlled study in patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS). FCS is a rare, genetic disorder and may also be called familial chylomicronemia or Fredrickson Type 1 hyperlipoproteinemia, or familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency. People with FCS are unable to effectively clear lipid particles called chylomicrons. As a result, they have extremely high levels of triglycerides and are at risk of significant morbidity and mortality, including potentially life-threatening pancreatitis. Additional information on FCS is available at www.fcsfocus.com.
BROADEN is a randomized, placebo-controlled study in patients with familial partial lipodystrophy (FPL). FPL is a rare lipid disorder characterized by abnormal fat distribution across the body and a range of metabolic abnormalities, including severe insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia, hepatic steatosis and, in affected women, features of hyperandrogenism. People with FPL often present with polycystic ovarian syndrome or unusually insulin-resistant diabetes, and are at increased risk of acute pancreatitis in addition to long-term, progressive consequences including premature cardiovascular disease and liver disease, resulting in cirrhosis. They are unable to store fat or triglycerides in normal fat stores, so excess triglycerides are stored in the liver and muscle and accumulate at high levels in the bloodstream. Additional information on FPL is available through Lipodystrophy United at www.lipodystrophyunited.org.
For more information about this clinical trial program for volanesorsen, please visit www.apociii.com.
ABOUT AKCEA THERAPEUTICS
Akcea Therapeutics is focused on developing and commercializing drugs for patients with serious cardiometabolic diseases caused by lipid disorders. Established as a wholly owned subsidiary of
ABOUT
Ionis is the leading company in RNA-targeted drug discovery and development focused on developing drugs for patients who have the highest unmet medical needs, such as those patients with severe and rare diseases. Using its proprietary antisense technology, Ionis has created a large pipeline of first-in-class or best-in-class drugs, with over a dozen drugs in mid- to late-stage development. Drugs currently in Phase 3 development include volanesorsen, a drug Ionis is developing and plans to commercialize through its wholly owned subsidiary, Akcea Therapeutics, to treat patients with either familial chylomicronemia syndrome or familial partial lipodystrophy; IONIS-TTRRx, a drug Ionis is developing with GSK to treat patients with all forms of TTR amyloidosis; and nusinersen, a drug Ionis is developing with Biogen to treat infants and children with spinal muscular atrophy. Ionis' patents provide strong and extensive protection for its drugs and technology. Additional information about Ionis is available at www.ionispharma.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT
This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding the business of
In this press release, unless the context requires otherwise, "Akcea," "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refers to Akcea Therapeutics.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals™ is a trademark of
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SOURCE
D. Wade Walke, Ph.D., Vice President, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, 760-603-2741