Highlights from The Medicines Co $MDCO GS investor event (excerpts c/o SeekingAlpha) and 2q-2013 earnings conference call (excerpts c/o SA) that relate to their collaboration for cholesterol-lowering RNAi therapeutics targeting PCSK9 with Alnylam $ALNY. For archival purposes (June 2013). Note that discussion of Captisol-enabled IV clopidogrel has been omitted since MDCO has since retuned rights to this program to Ligand Pharma $LGND.
Note that links in intro section lead you to tons of related content here on the BiotechDueDiligence site. Also note that CC excerpts have been edited for accuracy.
Note that links in intro section lead you to tons of related content here on the BiotechDueDiligence site. Also note that CC excerpts have been edited for accuracy.
And did I hear correctly that you also had PCSK9 antibody in the pipeline?
So the PCSK9 program that we have is actually not an antibody. We partnered with Alnylam and so it’s an RNAi approach. We’re very attracted to it, specifically for that reason we think the antibody, the antibody data that’s out there looks very good, but of course there is limitations that the antibodies there sopping up PCSK9 as opposed to specifically inhibiting its production in the liver which is where it’s the important activity that we’re looking at occurs.
The program has already been in Phase I. Our partner Alnylam is working to improve the asset that we partnered with ... [it is] ...likely go back into Phase I under their control, sometime near the end of this year.
So the PCSK9 program that we have is actually not an antibody. We partnered with Alnylam and so it’s an RNAi approach. We’re very attracted to it, specifically for that reason we think the antibody, the antibody data that’s out there looks very good, but of course there is limitations that the antibodies there sopping up PCSK9 as opposed to specifically inhibiting its production in the liver which is where it’s the important activity that we’re looking at occurs.
The program has already been in Phase I. Our partner Alnylam is working to improve the asset that we partnered with ... [it is] ...likely go back into Phase I under their control, sometime near the end of this year.
For ALN-PCS, our global alliance with Alnylam for the development commercialization of Alnylam’s RNAi therapeutic program for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia is on plan. Under the agreement Alnylam continues its pre-clinical and Phase 1 development and The Medicines Company will pick up the work from Phase 2 forward.
Alnylam’s work towards optimizing a subcutaneously formulation for delivering this RNAi targeted PCSK9 therapeutic was reported at their recent Analyst Day. If we continue with progress, we plan to compete in a landscape of antibodies that are being developed targeting PCSK9. This is an important target in cardiology and we have much more to share on this front in the coming months.
Alnylam’s work towards optimizing a subcutaneously formulation for delivering this RNAi targeted PCSK9 therapeutic was reported at their recent Analyst Day. If we continue with progress, we plan to compete in a landscape of antibodies that are being developed targeting PCSK9. This is an important target in cardiology and we have much more to share on this front in the coming months.
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