Pfizer Licenses Investigational Antisense Therapy

Pfizer has agreed to license Akcea Therapeutics’ Akcea-AngPtl3-L, an investigational antisense therapy being developed for certain cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The therapy is designed to reduce the production of angiopoietin-like 3 protein in the liver, a key regulator of triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose and energy metabolism, Akcea says.

In a Phase 1/2 study, patients treated with Akcea-AngPtl3-L recorded robust, dose-dependent reductions of triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol with a positive safety and tolerability profile, Akcea says. It is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2 study in patients with Type 2 diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Under terms of the agreement, Akcea will receive a $250 million upfront license fee from Pfizer. Akcea is also eligible to receive development, regulatory and sales milestone payments of up to $1.3 billion.