The Medicines Company and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Report Positive Final Results from ORION-1 Phase II Study of
Inclisiran
—Inclisiran demonstrated significant and sustained reductions in LDL-C and high standards of safety and tolerability—
—Optimal starting dose regimen (300 mg injection administered on Day-1 and Day-90) lowered LDL-C by average of 52.6% (64
mg/dL) and up to 81% (122 mg/dL) at Day-180, and by time-adjusted mean of >50% (63 mg/dL) for the six-month period from Day-90
through Day-270; every patient displayed significant response and mean LDL-C reductions over this time period were practically
constant—
—Robust ORION-1 data reaffirm inclisiran’s potential to address unmet needs with highly-differentiated, infrequent,
low-volume dosing regimen of two or three injections per year—
—No material safety issues on inclisiran in ORION-1; overall incidence of adverse events for inclisiran was similar to
placebo—
—The Company is actively preparing to advance inclisiran into comprehensive, global Phase III development – initially focused
on United States and Europe—
—ORION-1 study presented today in Late-Breaking Clinical Trials session at American College of Cardiology’s 66
th Annual Scientific Session and published in The New England Journal of Medicine—
—The Company to host conference call at 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, today—
The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: MDCO) and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALNY) today announced positive final results
from the ORION-1 Phase II study of inclisiran, an investigational, first-in-class PCSK9 synthesis inhibitor being developed for the
treatment of hypercholesterolemia. The results are being presented today in the “Late-Breaking Clinical Trials - Featured
Clinical Research 1” session at the American College of Cardiology’s 66th Annual Scientific Session, ACC.17, and have
been published in the March 17, 2017 online issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
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The detailed data from ORION-1 showed that inclisiran delivered significant and sustained reductions of LDL-C and high standards
of safety and tolerability. Remarkably, every patient who received the two dose starting regimen displayed a significant response
and the mean LDL-C reductions over time were practically constant. Inclisiran was well tolerated and no material safety issue was
observed, including no investigational drug-related elevation of liver enzymes and no neuropathy, change in renal function,
thrombocytopenia, or anti-drug antibodies.
“The groundbreaking results from ORION-1 are compelling and affirm inclisiran’s unique and highly-differentiated attributes, and
its game-changing potential to address the unmet needs of millions of at-risk, often non-adherent, patients worldwide who continue
to struggle with high cholesterol given the limitations of available therapies,” said Clive Meanwell, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive
Officer of The Medicines Company. “We are singularly focused on thoughtfully and aggressively advancing inclisiran into Phase
III development, including the initiation of ORION-4, which we expect to include cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk primary and
secondary prevention patients with an average baseline LDL-C of approximately 130 mg/dL.”
John J.P. Kastelein, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and Chairman of the Department of Vascular Medicine at
the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam, continued, “We are pleased to see the complete
results from this comprehensive 497 patient Phase II study. Inclisiran’s universal and practically constant effect is unprecedented
in my experience of over 30 years of dyslipidemia clinical trials. The unique dosing regimen virtually eliminates variability in
LDL-C levels over time and inclisiran may, therefore, solve one of the most vexing challenges of cardiovascular medicine – namely,
how to make sure everyone responds to treatment.”
David Kallend, MBBS, Vice President and Global Medical Director of The Medicines Company, added, “The results from ORION-1
have the potential to significantly advance the treatment paradigm with robust and durable knockdown of LDL-C and a convincing and
highly-reassuring safety and tolerability profile. The data support the selection of 300 mg as the optimal dose, as well as our
conclusion that a two dose starting regimen, followed by dosing two times per year, constitutes a highly-differentiated and
competitive treatment for patients with hypercholesterolemia. We believe the strength of the data will enable a quick and efficient
transition to Phase III development.”
John Maraganore, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Alnylam, added, “We are delighted with these final data from the ORION-1
study and impressed by the progress made by investigators and our partner, The Medicines Company. Importantly, as the largest study
yet to be performed for an RNAi therapeutic, we believe the results provide compelling support for the positive safety and
tolerability profile of our investigational medicines.”
In ORION-1, the mean baseline LDL-C was approximately 130 mg/dL among 497 randomized and treated patients. The optimal starting
dose regimen (300 mg injection administered on Day-1 and Day-90) achieved a mean LDL-C reduction of 52.6% and up to 81% at Day-180,
and a time-adjusted mean of >50% for the six month period from Day-90 through Day-270. For all dose groups, at all time points,
differences in the primary (LDL-C) and secondary (PCSK9) endpoints between inclisiran and placebo were statistically significant (p
<0.0001).
The overall incidence of treatment emergent adverse events was 76% in both patients randomized to placebo and patients
randomized to inclisiran, with no significant difference between inclisiran doses. Injection site reactions associated with
inclisiran were infrequent (observed in 6.5% of patients given the two dose starting regimen and 3.8% of patients given the one
dose starting regimen), mild or moderate, and transient.
The results from the Phase II study of inclisiran, published in today’s online issue of The New England Journal of
Medicine, can be found here.
Webcast Information for Late-Breaking Clinical Trial Presentations
Live audio and video of the “Late-Breaking Clinical Trials - Featured Clinical Research 1” presentation by ORION-1’s principal
investigator, Kausik K. Ray, M.D., MPhil (Cantab), FRCP, Professor of Public Health, Imperial College London, will be webcast over
the internet at 1:30 p.m., Eastern Time, today. The live webcast may be accessed from the “Investors-Events/Presentations” section
of The Medicines Company website.
Conference Call and Webcast Details
The Medicines Company will host a conference call and webcast today at 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time. The conference call may be
accessed as follows:
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(877) 359-9508 |
International: |
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(224) 357-2393 |
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60380330 |
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The live webcast may be accessed in the “Investors-Events/Presentations” section of The Medicines Company website.
A taped replay of the conference call will be archived and available for approximately one week. The replay may be accessed as
follows:
U.S./Canada: |
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(855) 859-2056 |
International: |
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(404) 537-3406 |
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60380330 |
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A replay of the webcast will also be archived and available after the conference call.
About ORION-1
ORION-1 is a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized Phase II study of single or multiple subcutaneous injections of
inclisiran in a total of 501 patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or ASCVD-risk equivalents (e.g., diabetes and familial hypercholesterolemia) and elevated LDL-C despite maximum tolerated doses of LDL-C
lowering therapies. The study compares the effect of different doses of inclisiran and evaluates the potential for an infrequent
dosing regimen. The primary endpoint of the study is the percentage change in LDL-C from baseline at Day-180.
About Inclisiran
Inclisiran (formerly known as PCSK9si and ALN-PCSsc) is an investigational GalNAc-conjugated RNAi therapeutic targeting PCSK9 –
a genetically validated protein regulator of LDL receptor metabolism – being developed for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
In contrast to anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that bind to PCSK9 in blood, inclisiran is a first-in-class investigational
medicine that acts by turning off PCSK9 synthesis in the liver.
The Medicines Company and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. are collaborating in the advancement of inclisiran pursuant to their
2013 agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Alnylam completed certain pre-clinical studies and the Phase I clinical study,
with The Medicines Company leading and funding the development of inclisiran from Phase II forward, as well as potential
commercialization.
About The Medicines Company
The Medicines Company is a biopharmaceutical company driven by an overriding purpose – to save lives, alleviate suffering and
contribute to the economics of healthcare. The Company’s mission is to create transformational solutions to address the most
pressing healthcare needs facing patients, physicians and providers in three critical therapeutic areas: serious infectious disease
care, cardiovascular care and surgery and perioperative care. The Company is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, with global
innovation centers in California and Switzerland.
About Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Alnylam is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics based on RNA interference, or RNAi. The company is leading
the translation of RNAi as a new class of innovative medicines. Alnylam's pipeline of investigational RNAi therapeutics is focused
in 3 Strategic Therapeutic Areas (STArs): Genetic Medicines, with a broad pipeline of RNAi therapeutics for the treatment of rare
diseases; Cardio-Metabolic Disease, with a pipeline of RNAi therapeutics toward genetically validated, liver-expressed disease
targets for unmet needs in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases; and Hepatic Infectious Disease, with a pipeline of RNAi
therapeutics that address the major global health challenges of hepatic infectious diseases. In early 2015, Alnylam launched its
"Alnylam 2020" guidance for the advancement and commercialization of RNAi therapeutics as a whole new class of innovative
medicines. Specifically, by the end of 2020, Alnylam expects to achieve a company profile with 3 marketed products, 10 RNAi
therapeutic clinical programs – including 4 in late stages of development – across its 3 STArs. The company's demonstrated
commitment to RNAi therapeutics has enabled it to form major alliances with leading companies including Ionis, Novartis, Roche,
Takeda, Merck, Monsanto, The Medicines Company, and Sanofi Genzyme. In addition, Alnylam holds an equity position in Regulus
Therapeutics Inc., a company focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of microRNA therapeutics. Alnylam scientists
and collaborators have published their research on RNAi therapeutics in over 200 peer-reviewed papers, including many in the
world's top scientific journals such as Nature, Nature Medicine, Nature Biotechnology, Cell, New England Journal of
Medicine, and The Lancet. Founded in 2002, Alnylam maintains headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For
more information about Alnylam's pipeline of investigational RNAi therapeutics, please visit www.alnylam.com.
The Medicines Company Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical may be deemed to be forward-looking statements for
purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Without limiting the foregoing,
the words "believes," "anticipates," "expects," “potential,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual
results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements. Important factors that may cause or contribute to such differences include whether clinical trials for
inclisiran will advance in the clinical process on a timely basis, or at all, or succeed in achieving their specified endpoints;
whether physicians, patients and other key decision makers will accept clinical trial results; whether the Company will make
regulatory submissions for inclisiran on a timely basis, or at all; whether its regulatory submissions will receive approvals from
regulatory agencies on a timely basis, or at all; and such other factors as are set forth in the risk factors detailed from time to
time in the Company's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including, without limitation, the risk factors detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2017, which are incorporated herein by reference. The Company
specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Alnylam Forward-Looking Statements
Various statements in this release concerning Alnylam's future expectations, plans and prospects, including without limitation,
Alnylam's views with respect to the potential for RNAi therapeutics, including inclisiran, its expectations regarding the timing of
clinical studies, its expectations regarding scientific and regulatory support for inclisiran, its expectations regarding its STAr
pipeline growth strategy, and its “Alnylam 2020” guidance for the advancement and commercialization of RNAi therapeutics,
constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Actual results and future plans may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a
result of various important risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, Alnylam's ability to discover
and develop novel drug candidates and delivery approaches, successfully demonstrate the efficacy and safety of its product
candidates, the pre-clinical and clinical results for its product candidates, which may not be replicated or continue to occur in
other subjects or in additional studies or otherwise support further development of product candidates for a specified indication
or at all, actions or advice of regulatory agencies, which may affect the design, initiation, timing, continuation and/or progress
of clinical trials or result in the need for additional pre-clinical and/or clinical testing, delays, interruptions or failures in
the manufacture and supply of our product candidates, obtaining, maintaining and protecting intellectual property, Alnylam's
ability to enforce its intellectual property rights against third parties and defend its patent portfolio against challenges from
third parties, obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval, pricing and reimbursement for products, progress in establishing a
commercial and ex-United States infrastructure, competition from others using technology similar to Alnylam's and others developing
products for similar uses, Alnylam's ability to manage its growth and operating expenses, obtain additional funding to support its
business activities, and establish and maintain strategic business alliances and new business initiatives, Alnylam's dependence on
third parties for development, manufacture and distribution of products, the outcome of litigation, the risk of government
investigations, and unexpected expenditures, as well as those risks more fully discussed in the "Risk Factors" filed with Alnylam's
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and in other filings that
Alnylam makes with the SEC. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Alnylam's views only as of today and should
not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Alnylam explicitly disclaims any obligation, except to the
extent required by law, to update any forward-looking statements.
The scientific information referenced in this news release relating to inclisiran is preliminary and investigative. Inclisiran
has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency, or any other regulatory authority and no
conclusions can or should be drawn regarding its safety or effectiveness.
The Medicines Company
Media:
Meg Langan, 973-290-6319
Vice President
margaret.langan@themedco.com
Investors:
Krishna Gorti, M.D., 973-290-6122
Vice President, Investor Relations
krishna.gorti@themedco.com
or
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Investors and Media:
Christine Regan Lindenboom, 617-682-4340
Vice President
clindenboom@alnylam.com
Investors:
Josh Brodsky, 617-551-8276
Associate Director
jbrodsky@alnylam.com
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