Isis Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase 2 Study of ISIS-FXI Rx in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease on Hemodialysis

CARLSBAD, Calif., Oct. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISIS) announced the initiation of a Phase 2 study evaluating ISIS-FXI_Rx in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis.  In May 2015, Isis entered into an exclusive license agreement with Bayer HealthCare (Bayer) to develop and commercialize ISIS-FXI_Rx for the prevention of clotting disorders. The Phase 2 study is intended to further characterize the profile of ISIS-FXI_Rx and will provide essential data for Bayer's future clinical development program for ISIS-FXI_Rx. Upon completion of the study and advancement of the program by Bayer, Isis will be eligible to receive a $55 million payment. 

"ESRD patients receiving chronic dialysis are prone to increased thrombosis. However, antithrombotic treatment options for these patients remain limited because these patients also have a high risk of bleeding. ISIS-FXI_Rx is a first-in-class antisense drug in clinical development that has shown a significant reduction in clotting without increasing bleeding events in previous clinical studies. This Phase 2 study furthers both our and Bayer's goal of initially providing ISIS-FXI_Rx to patients with high unmet need," said B. Lynne Parshall, chief operating officer at Isis Pharmaceuticals. "These data will support Bayer's plans for a robust development program to optimize the clinical potential of this drug."

ISIS-FXI_Rx is designed to inhibit the production of Factor XI, a coagulation factor produced in the liver that is involved in the propagation of clots. The Phase 2 study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study in which ISIS-FXI_Rx will be administered to approximately 50 patients with ESRD on hemodialysis. The first patient has already been dosed in this study that will evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of weekly dosing of 200mg or 300mg ISIS-FXI_Rx for up to 12 weeks.

ABOUT ISIS-FXI_Rx

ISIS-FXI_Rx is an antisense drug in development for the prevention of clotting disorders. High levels of Factor XI increase the risk of thrombosis, a process involving aberrant blood clot formation that can be responsible for heart attacks and strokes, while Factor XI deficiency results in a lower incidence of thromboembolic events with minimal increase in bleeding risk. In a Phase 2 comparator-controlled study evaluating the incidence of venous thromboembolic events, or VTEs, in patients treated with ISIS-FXI_Rx undergoing total knee replacement surgery, patients treated with 300mg of ISIS-FXI_Rx experienced a seven-fold lower rate of VTE as compared with those treated with enoxaparin (4.2% and 30.4%, respectively; p<0.001). In this study, ISIS-FXI_Rx was generally well tolerated with no observed differences in safety outcomes compared with enoxaparin. The data from this study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in December 2014.

ABOUT ISIS' LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH BAYER

Isis and Bayer entered into an exclusive license agreement to develop and commercialize ISIS-FXI_Rx for the prevention of clotting disorders. After completion of ongoing activities at Isis, Bayer will assume all global clinical development as well as worldwide regulatory and commercialization responsibilities for ISIS-FXI_Rx. As part of the clinical development program, Bayer plans to evaluate the therapeutic profile of ISIS-FXI_Rx in patients for whom currently available anticoagulants may not be used, such as in patients with a high risk of bleeding due to multiple co-morbidities. Isis is eligible to receive milestone payments as the drug advances toward the market and is eligible to receive tiered royalties in the low to high twenty percent range on gross margins of ISIS-FXI_Rx.

ABOUT ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Isis is the leading company in RNA-targeted drug discovery and development focused on developing drugs for patients who have the highest unmet medical needs, such as those patients with severe and rare diseases.  Using its proprietary antisense technology, Isis has created a large pipeline of first-in-class or best-in-class drugs, with over a dozen drugs in mid- to late-stage development.  Drugs currently in Phase 3 development include volanesorsen, a drug Isis is developing and plans to commercialize through its wholly owned subsidiary, Akcea Therapeutics, to treat patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome and familial partial lipodystrophy; ISIS-TTR_Rx, a drug Isis is developing with GSK to treat patients with all forms of TTR amyloidosis; and ISIS-SMN_Rx, a drug Isis is developing with Biogen to treat infants and children with spinal muscular atrophy.  Isis' patents provide strong and extensive protection for its drugs and technology.  Additional information about Isis is available at www.isispharm.com.

ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS' FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding Isis' alliance with Bayer, the development, activity, therapeutic and commercial potential and safety of ISIS-FXI_Rx. Any statement describing Isis' goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions or beliefs 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 December 31, 2014, and its most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, which are on file with the SEC.  Copies of these and other documents are available from the Company.

In this press release, unless the context requires otherwise, "Isis," "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refers to Isis Pharmaceuticals and its subsidiaries.

Isis Pharmaceuticals^® is a registered trademark of Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  Akcea Therapeutics™ is a trademark of Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

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SOURCE Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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