ISIS-APOCIIIRx works by inhibiting the production of apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III), a traditionally ‘undruggable’ target that plays an important role in the regulation of triglycerides.
Isis Cardiovascular Diseases Drug Discovery Research vice president Rosanne Crooke said many of the current therapies designed to lower triglycerides are associated with undesirable side effects, such as flushing.
"In preclinical studies, antisense inhibition of apoC-III reduced the target mRNA and protein, lowered triglyceride levels in plasma, mitigated symptoms of metabolic syndrome and decreased atherosclerosis," Crooke said.