Isis Pharmaceuticals Announces Positive Clinical Data From Lp(a) Lowering Drugs

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

, and its subsidiary, Akcea Therapeutics, today announced positive results from a Phase 2 study of ISIS-APO(a)Rx in which patients with high lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), achieved reductions in Lp(a) of up to 94 percent, with a mean reduction of 71 percent.  Lp(a) is a known driver of cardiovascular disease.  They also announced results from a Phase 1/2a study of ISIS-APO(a)-LRx in which subjects with elevated Lp(a) achieved dose-dependent reductions in Lp(a) of up to 99 percent.  ISIS-APO(a)-LRx is a LIgand Conjugated Antisense (LICA) version of ISIS-APO(a)Rx.  ISIS-APO(a)-LRx demonstrated a greater than 30-fold increase in potency in humans as compared to ISIS-APO(a)Rx.  Data from both the Phase 2 and Phase 1/2a studies were presented today at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions by Joseph Witztum, M.D., distinguished professor of medicine and director of the atherosclerosis research group at the University of California, San Diego.  "Based on strong evidence, it is well accepted that elevated levels of Lp(a) are a key driver of cardiovascular disease.  Because Lp(a) levels are largely unchanged throughout a person's lifetime, high Lp(a)