Isis Initiates Phase 2 Study of ISIS-APOCIIIRx in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

announced the initiation of a Phase 2 study evaluating ISIS-APOCIIIRx in patients with hypertriglyceridemia. Hypertriglyceridemia, a condition characterized by high levels of triglycerides, is often associated with premature coronary artery disease and pancreatitis. Patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia often cannot control their triglyceride levels with existing medicines. ISIS-APOCIIIRx lowers triglycerides by reducing the protein, apoC-III. Both triglycerides and apoC-III are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Isis is pursuing a staged development plan for ISIS-APOCIIIRx designed to shorten the time to bring this medicine to patients at high-risk of cardiovascular disease and pancreatitis. ISIS-APOCIIIRx is the third drug to advance into Phase 2 clinical studies from Isis' cardiovascular franchise. In this franchise, Isis is creating a suite of drugs targeting each of the atherogenic lipid components of cardiovascular disease to allow lipidologists to tailor treatment for the particular combination of lipid disorders that affect each individual patient.