Novartis: not to license cardiovascular drug

(CercleFinance.com) - Akcea said that Novartis has decided not to exercise its option on an antisense drug that was developed to address cardiovascular diseases.


Akcea, a majority-owned unit of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, has hence decided to retain the rights to develop and commercialize the compound.

The biotech firm said it plans to focus its efforts on developing the candidate for familial chylomicronemia syndrome, plus other indications that could be positively impacted by reducing triglycerides.

Results from a Phase 2 study are expected in early 2020.

Novartis, meanwhile, has made another Akcea drug, TQJ230, a key priority in its pipeline and has already begun a Phase 3 cardiovascular study.

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