Alnylam Pharmaceuticals this week released new preclinical data showing that its subcutaneously delivered hypercholesterolemia drug ALN-PCSsc could knock its target down by as much as 95 percent and decrease low-density lipoprotein levels by up to 67 percent in non-human primates.
ALN-PCSsc is preclinical a version of Alnylam's phase II intravenously delivered drug ALN-PCS, which targets proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9. Earlier this year, The Medicines Company acquired the rights to develop and commercialize both agents after phase II testing.
"Our new study results in non-human primates show an up to 95 percent knockdown of plasma PCSK9 and an up to 67 percent reduction of LDL-C in the absence of statin co-administration, with a very durable knockdown of more than 50 days after the last dose," Alnylam's Vice President of Research Rachel Meyers said in a statement. "We believe these results support a highly competitive target product profile, and we look forward to advancing ALN-PCSsc toward clinical trials in 2014 with our partner The Medicines Company."
The data were presented at this year's American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.