CARLSBAD, Calif., Dec. 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ionis
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IONS), the leader in RNA-targeted
therapies, today announced the closing of the collaboration
agreement with AstraZeneca to develop and commercialize
eplontersen, Ionis' investigational antisense medicine for the
treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR), following expiration
of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR Act).
Eplontersen, formerly known as IONIS-TTR-LRx, is
designed to reduce the production of transthyretin, or TTR protein,
to treat ATTR, a systemic, progressive and fatal disease. It
uses Ionis' advanced LIgand-Conjugated
Antisense (LICA) technology.
As previously announced, the companies will jointly develop and
commercialize eplontersen in the U.S. AstraZeneca has an exclusive
license for eplontersen outside the U.S., except certain countries
in Latin America. Under the terms
of the agreement, Ionis will receive a $200
million upfront payment, up to $485
million in development and approval milestones, and up to
$2.9 billion in sales-related
milestone payments. The collaboration includes territory-specific
development, commercial and medical affairs cost-sharing
provisions. Ionis is also eligible to earn royalties in the range
of low double-digit to mid-20s percentage depending on region.
Additional details about the agreement can be found in Ionis' Form
8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
Dec. 7, 2021.
About Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
For more than 30 years, Ionis has been the leader in
RNA-targeted therapy, pioneering new markets and changing standards
of care with its novel antisense technology. Ionis currently has
three marketed medicines and a premier late-stage pipeline
highlighted by industry-leading neurological and cardiometabolic
franchises. Our scientific innovation began and continues with the
knowledge that sick people depend on us, which fuels our vision of
becoming one of the most successful biotechnology companies.
To learn more about Ionis, visit www.ionispharma.com and follow
us on twitter @ionispharma.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding
Ionis' business and the therapeutic and commercial potential of
Ionis' technologies, eplontersen and other products in development.
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,
including those related to the impact COVID-19 could have on our
business, and including but not limited to those related to our
commercial products and the medicines in our pipeline, and
particularly those inherent in the process of discovering,
developing and commercializing medicines that are safe and
effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of
building a business around such medicines. 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 December 31, 2020, and the most
recent Form 10-Q quarterly filing, 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,
"Ionis," "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refers to Ionis
Pharmaceuticals and its subsidiaries.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals® is a trademark of Ionis
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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SOURCE Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.