Press Releases
Isis Initiates Phase 2/3 Study of ISIS-TTR Rx and Earns $7.5 Million Milestone Payment From GlaxoSmithKline
"TTR amyloidosis is a severe and rare genetic disease that leads to death. TTR amyloidosis affects approximately 50,000 patients worldwide and current treatments are limited. Patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy, or FAP, experience TTR build up in their peripheral nerves and experience the loss of motor functions, such as walking," said
The Phase 2/3 study of ISIS-TTRRx is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, international study designed to support an application for marketing approval of ISIS-TTRRx in patients with FAP. The fifteen month study will enroll approximately 200 patients randomized 2:1 to receive 300 mg/week of ISIS-TTRRx or placebo and will measure the effects of ISIS-TTRRx on neurological dysfunction and on quality-of-life. The United States Food and Drug administration granted ISIS-TTRRx fast track designation and orphan drug status for the treatment of FAP.
"The rapid development of ISIS-TTRRx from a research-stage program to a drug in late-stage clinical development in just over two years represents the strong commitment of both teams to bring this novel drug to patients who are in need of new therapeutic options," said
ISIS-TTRRx is part of the Isis-GSK strategic alliance to develop RNA therapeutics for rare and infectious diseases. For the initiation of the Phase 2/3 study, Isis will receive a
ABOUT ISIS-TTRRx
Transthyretin amyloidosis is a genetic disease in which the patient inherits a mutant gene that produces a misfolded form of TTR, which progressively accumulates in tissues, impairing their function. In patients with transthyretin amyloidosis, both the mutant and normal forms of TTR can build up as fibrils in tissues, including heart, peripheral nerves, and the gastrointestinal tract. The presence of TTR aggregates interferes with the normal functions of these tissues, and as the TTR protein aggregates enlarge more tissue damage occurs and the disease worsens. There are two common types of transthyretin amyloidosis, familial amyloid cardiomyopathy, or FAC, which affects more than 40,000 patients worldwide, and FAP, which affects more than 10,000 patients worldwide. Patients with FAC have TTR build up in the heart muscle and succumb to heart failure five to six years after symptom onset. Patients with FAP have TTR build up in peripheral nerve tissue leading to the loss of nerve function and wasting. ISIS-TTRRx is an investigational drug that is designed to inhibit the production of all forms of TTR, and could offer an alternative approach to treat all types of transthyretin-related amyloidosis.
ABOUT
Isis is exploiting its leadership position in antisense technology to discover and develop novel drugs for its product pipeline and for its partners. Isis' broad pipeline consists of 28 drugs to treat a wide variety of diseases with an emphasis on cardiovascular, metabolic, severe and rare diseases, and cancer. Isis' partner, Genzyme, is commercializing Isis' lead product, KYNAMRO™, in
This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding Isis' collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline, the discovery, development and potential of drugs for severe and rare diseases, and the development, activity, therapeutic potential and safety of ISIS-TTRRx. Any statement describing Isis' goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions or beliefs, including the commercial potential of KYNAMRO, is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, particularly those inherent in the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs. Isis' forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Isis' forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by Isis. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning Isis' programs are described in additional detail in Isis' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
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SOURCE
Isis Pharmaceuticals,D. Wade Walke, Ph.D., Executive Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, +1-760-603-2741, or Amy Blackley, Ph.D., Associate Director, Corporate Communications, +1-760-603-2772