Press Releases
Ionis Earns $40 Million SPINRAZA Regulatory Milestone Payment from Biogen
"We are grateful to the Japanese SMA community, including the patients who participated in the clinical studies, along with their families and the investigators, for their dedication, perseverance and support. Each of them played a pivotal role in bringing SPINRAZA to the Japanese market and we are pleased that SPINRAZA is now available to Japanese infantile-onset individuals with SMA," said
"We expect to see continued strong patient demand for SPINRAZA as the launch continues in the U.S. and with the commercial rollouts in
Biogen licensed the global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize SPINRAZA from
ABOUT SMA
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is characterized by loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord and lower brain stem, resulting in severe and progressive muscular atrophy and weakness. Ultimately, individuals with the most severe type of SMA can become paralyzed and have difficulty performing the basic functions of life, like breathing and swallowing.
Due to a loss of, or defect in the SMN1 gene, people with SMA do not produce enough survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, which is critical for the maintenance of motor neurons. The severity of SMA correlates with the amount of SMN protein. People with Type 1 SMA, the type that requires the most intensive and supportive care, produce very little SMN protein and do not achieve the ability to sit without support or live beyond two years without respiratory support. People with Type 2 and Type 3 produce greater amounts of SMN protein and have less severe, but still life-altering, forms of SMA.
ABOUT SPINRAZA (nusinersen)
SPINRAZA is being developed globally for the treatment of SMA.
SPINRAZA is an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), using
SPINRAZA must be administered via intrathecal injection, which delivers therapies directly to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) around the spinal cord, where motor neurons degenerate in patients with SMA due to insufficient levels of SMN protein.
In 2016, in response to the urgent need for treatment for the most severely affected individuals living with SMA, Biogen sponsored one of the largest, pre-approval Expanded Access Programs (EAP) in rare disease free of charge. The EAP has successfully led to the initiation and ongoing treatment of almost 600 eligible individuals with infantile-onset SMA (most likely to develop Type 1) across 24 countries.
For complete SPINRAZA U.S. prescribing information please visit www.SPINRAZA.com.
ABOUT
Ionis 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, Ionis has created a large pipeline of first-in-class or best-in-class drugs, with over three dozen drugs in development. SPINRAZA® (nusinersen) has been approved in the U.S.,
IONIS' FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT
This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding Ionis' strategic relationship with Biogen and the development, activity, therapeutic potential, safety and commercialization of SPINRAZA. Any statement describing Ionis' 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. Ionis' 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 Ionis' forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by Ionis. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning Ionis' programs are described in additional detail in Ionis' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
In this press release, unless the context requires otherwise, "Ionis," "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refers to
Ionis Pharmaceuticals™ is a trademark of
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SOURCE
Ionis Pharmaceuticals Investor and Media Contacts: D. Wade Walke, Ph.D., Vice President, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, 760-603-2741 or Alissa Santa Maria, Assistant Director, Corporate Development, 760-603-2643 or Jennifer Capuzelo, Assistant Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, 760-603-2606