Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ISIS announced encouraging results from a phase I study on pipeline candidate ISIS-ANGPTL3.
The blinded, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study was conducted to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of ISIS-ANGPTL3 in healthy volunteers. Results from the study showed that healthy volunteers treated with ISIS-ANGPTL3 achieved dose-dependent, statistically significant reductions in angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) of up to 93% with a mean reduction of up to 84% from baseline. The candidate was generally well tolerated.
The candidate is being evaluated to reduce the levels of ANGPTL3, which is produced in liver and regulates lipid, glucose and energy metabolism. The study showed that healthy volunteers with higher baseline lipid levels experienced higher lipid reductions than those with lower baseline lipid levels. Isis Pharma expects to see even greater lipid reductions in patients with hyperlipidemia than in healthy volunteers.
We remind investors that Isis Pharma established a wholly owned subsidiary Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. to develop and commercialize drugs from its lipid franchise. Akcea will primarily focus on the commercialization of ISIS-APOCIII, ISIS-APO(a), and ISIS-ANGPTL3.
ISIS-APOCIII, the most advanced candidate in the company’s lipid franchise, is being evaluated to treat patients with partial lipodystrophy and patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome.
Currently, Isis Pharma has only one approved product in its kitty – Kynamro. The drug was developed in collaboration with Genzyme, a Sanofi SNY company. Genzyme is marketing the product in the U.S. for cholesterol management in patients suffering from homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
Isis Pharma currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other favorably-placed stocks in the health care sector ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ANIP and Horizon Pharma plc HZNP. Both carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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