主页 > 医药生命 >
【drug-news】RNA Mania! Genzyme Drops $325 Million on Chole
RNA Mania! Genzyme Drops $325 Million on Cholesterol Shot
Posted by Jacob Goldstein
Genzyme is spending $325 million to partner with Isis Pharmaceuticals on an experimental treatment for high cholesterol. With the deal, the Cambridge biotech shop joins a Big Pharma parade that’s placing bets on the hot RNA-drug space.
More than 10 companies made offers to partner on the Isis drug, mipomersen, the company’s CEO said yesterday, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Roche, Merck and AstraZeneca are among the big players that recently cut deals with little RNA drug companies. Isis stock is up 30% today on the news.
RNA (DNA’s lesser-known molecular cousin) is a key molecule in the production of proteins. While traditional drugs target proteins themselves, RNA drugs aim to intervene earlier in the process, often cutting the amount of a given protein the body produces.
Mipomersen, which is given via injection, interferes with the production of a protein that acts as a sort of scaffold for cholesterol in the blood. It’s now in late-stage trials for patients who have high cholesterol because of a familial genetic disorder, but the companies hope it will ultimately be used for a wider group of high-risk patients for whom statins and other available drugs don’t do enough to lower cholesterol.
Genzyme SVP Jim Geraghty told the Health Blog that his company made the deal not so much because it was eager to get in on RNA, but rather because of the specific results from mid-stage clinical trials of the drug.
“We are attracted not by the technology but because of the clinical data,” he said. “If you talk about patients who can’t get to goal on statins, this product has by far the most significant LDL reduction of any product ever tested — 40 to 50 percent.” [标签:content1][标签:content2]
阅读本文的人还阅读：
作者:admin@医学,生命科学 2011-06-02 17:14
医学,生命科学网