ISIS Issues Press Release on New Myotonic Dystrophy Drug

ISIS Pharmecuticals announces testing of new Drug to Treat Myotonic Dystrophy.

If you have this disease call you local research center and ask to be added to list of potential patients if you want to participate.

Isis Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase 1/2 Study of ISIS-DMPK Rx in Patients With Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1

ISIS-DMPK Rx Extends the Targeting of Antisense Drugs to Include Muscle Tissue

CARLSBAD, Calif., Dec. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISIS) announced today that it has initiated a study for ISIS-DMPKRx in patients with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1).  DM1 is a rare genetic neuromuscular disease caused by the production of toxic dystrophia myotonica-protein kinase (DMPK) RNA in cells.  ISIS-DMPKRx is specifically designed to reduce toxic DMPK RNA.

“The Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation is pleased that Isis is advancing to the next phase of clinical trials for ISIS-DMPKRx,” said Molly White, executive director of the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation.  “Myotonic Dystrophy, the most common form of muscular dystrophy, is a devastating disease with no therapeutic option.  Myotonic dystrophy research has accelerated significantly in the last 10 years, helping bring about the innovative science behind ISIS-DMPKRx, a drug that specifically targets the genetic defect that causes myotonic dystrophy type 1.  We applaud Isis for investing in and leading drug development efforts for myotonic dystrophy type 1, and we appreciate the commitment Isis Pharmaceuticals has made to improve the lives of patients in our community.”

“We have an innovative and productive partnership with Biogen Idec in developing drugs to treat severe and rare diseases, like DM1.  In just under two and a half years, we have been able to discover and complete early development on ISIS-DMPKRx, which includes completing a Phase 1 single ascending-dose study in healthy volunteers.  Today we advance this program into patients,” said B. Lynne Parshall, chief operating officer at Isis.  “The speed at which we have advanced ISIS-DMPKRx highlights the productive and collaborative nature of our partnership.”

DM1 is a rare genetic neuromuscular disease primarily characterized by progressive muscle atrophy, weakness and myotonia.  DM1 is the most common form of muscular dystrophy in adults and affects approximately 150,000 patients in the United States, Europe and Japan. Patients with DM1 have a genetic defect in their DMPK gene in which a sequence of three nucleotides repeats extensively, creating an abnormally long RNA, which becomes toxic as it accumulates in the nucleus of cells and prevents the production of proteins needed for normal cellular function. The number of triplet repeats increases from one generation to the next, resulting in the possibility of more severe disease in each subsequent generation.  There are currently no disease-modifying therapies that address the disease.

“Myotonic dystrophy represents an ideal opportunity for antisense as the disease-causing gene produces a toxic RNA, which accumulates within cells, including muscle, and is not accessible by traditional therapeutic approaches.  ISIS-DMPKRx has the potential to address the underlying genetic defect that causes DM1.  This study is important as it is the first study in which we will be observing the effects of our drug in patients with myotonic dystrophy, and it is the first study in which we are targeting a toxic RNA,” said C. Frank Bennett, Ph.D, senior vice president of research at Isis.  “ISIS-DMPKRx is our third generation 2.5 drug to enter clinical development.  In this study we plan to evaluate and determine the approximate therapeutic dose of an antisense drug needed to affect the concentration of a target in muscle tissue.”

The Phase 1/2 study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study evaluating the safety and tolerability of ISIS-DMPKRx.  The six-week study will evaluate multiple ascending doses of ISIS-DMPKRx in approximately 36 patients with DM1.  More information and a complete list of study related criteria can be found here:  www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02312011).

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

1 thought on “ISIS Issues Press Release on New Myotonic Dystrophy Drug

  1. I am very much interested in this information. My wife, Linda K. White suffers with Myotonia Dystrophy as did her late father Everette F. Eldridge.

    Please forward any and all information on the study and any future research. I had no idea of this and you would be amazed at the lack of information in the general medical community as to Myotonia. Any information at all.

    We would like also to participate in someway.

    Donald & Linda White Sr.
    P.O. Box 12688
    Burgaw, North Carolina 28405

    910-200-3256
    donaldwhitesr@gmail.com

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.