Genzyme and Isis Pharmaceuticals: Phase 3 mipomersen study in heFH patients meets primary endpoint

Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ISIS) today announced that the phase 3 study of mipomersen in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (heFH) met its primary endpoint with a highly statistically significant 28 percent reduction in LDL-cholesterol after 26 weeks of treatment, compared with an increase of 5 percent for placebo.

“Mipomersen has again delivered positive results with this second phase 3 study, and continues to make progress toward the market”

All of the 124 patients in the study had pre-existing coronary artery disease, were taking a maximally tolerated dose of a statin and in many cases additional lipid-lowering drugs. Patients’ average LDL-C at baseline was 150 mg/dL. Patients treated with mipomersen had an average LDL-C level of 104 mg/dL at the end of the study. Forty-five percent of the mipomersen-treated patients achieved LDL-C levels of less than 100 mg/dL, a recognized treatment goal for high-risk patients. The reductions observed in the study were in addition to those achieved with the patients’ existing therapeutic regimens.

“The average reduction in LDL-C of 28 percent in these high-risk, difficult-to-treat patients with severe inherited high cholesterol is very encouraging,” said Evan A. Stein, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Metabolic & Atherosclerosis Research Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, and an investigator on the study. “The nearly 50 mg/dL additional decrease in LDL-C when added to maximally tolerated statin therapy is above what we have seen with any other agent in this population, and the side effect profile of mipomersen continues to be acceptable.”

The trial also met each of its three secondary endpoints with statistically significant reductions in apo-B, total cholesterol, and non-HDL-cholesterol. Study results are based on an intent-to-treat analysis (full analysis set). Data will be submitted for presentation at a future medical meeting.

“We are excited by these strong data in the second phase 3 trial of mipomersen,” said Genzyme Chief Medical Officer Richard A. Moscicki, M.D. “This therapy has the potential to make a major difference in the lives of patients who are in great need of new treatment options. With these data, we remain on-track with our development plan for mipomersen.”

There were no new areas of safety concerns identified in the trial. Of the 83 patients treated with mipomersen, 73 completed the study; nine of the discontinuations were related to adverse events. Consistent with previous studies evaluating mipomersen, the most commonly observed adverse events were injection site reactions and flu-like symptoms.

As in other mipomersen trials, elevations in liver transaminases were observed that were similar in magnitude and duration to those seen in other studies. None of these patients had changes in other laboratory tests to indicate hepatic dysfunction, and there were no Hy’s Law cases.

“Mipomersen has again delivered positive results with this second phase 3 study, and continues to make progress toward the market,” said Stanley Crooke, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Isis Pharmaceuticals. “Mipomersen represents the power of antisense technology and reflects our commitment to innovation and technological advancement to create potent and specific drugs to help people lead healthier and more hopeful lives.”

The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 124 heFH patients, aged 18 and older with LDL-C levels greater than 100 mg/dL. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive a 200 mg dose of mipomersen or placebo weekly for 26 weeks. The trial was conducted at 26 sites in the United States and Canada.

Late-Stage Development Plan

Genzyme’s initial U.S. and E.U. regulatory filings for mipomersen will seek marketing approval for the treatment of patients with homozygous FH (hoFH). The phase 3 study of mipomersen in hoFH met its primary endpoint with a 25 percent reduction in LDL-C, and results were presented at the annual American Heart Association meeting in November. In the first half of 2011, Genzyme expects to file for U.S. and E.U. approval of the treatment and to have made progress toward filing in other major international markets.

These two filings may also include patients with severe hypercholesterolemia. A phase 3 study of mipomersen in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia is fully enrolled with 58 patients and data are anticipated in mid-2010. The companies have also completed enrollment in a phase 3 trial involving 158 hypercholesterolemic patients at high risk for coronary heart disease, and data are anticipated in mid-2010.