Tag Archives: Biogen

Drug Testing for Myotonic Dystrophy Drug Starts this Fall

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Isis Pharmaceuticals has announced a strategic partnership with Biogen to begin testing a Drug DMPKRx in Humans this fall. On a webcast that occurred on Sept 9, 2013 Isis CEO announced a strategic partnership in which Isis is receiving upfront payments of $12 Million when the start of toxicology tests begin.

The progress of Isis has been rapid for this drug. Within one year Isis identified  the drug  this is extremely fast. Toxicology testing program will begin this year 2013. Most likely this will be a pre-clinical toxicology tests to insure that the drug is safe in animal models. Biogen and Isis are working closely to identify bio markers and clinical testing which will begin in 2014. Bio-markers are evidence that the drug actual works to the FDA.

This fast progress is similar to what other companies are finding. As the senior researchers have said  that the toxicity of the mutant myotonic dystrophy mRNA is very sensitive to these antisense drugs and other approaches.

This key announcement shows that Isis is making vast strides in this area and that human trials are set for 2014 to begin. To make sure that you are considered for the Trials:

1. Make sure that you are on the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation Registry
2. make sure that you are on the Rochester Registry
3. make sure that you are registered with MDA in USA.

We are making amazing progress! Hope is here!

Richard

DM1 Muscle Issues Cured in Mouse Model

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Exciting news. This summer researchers at ISIS Pharmaceuticals were able to treat and Cure DM1 in a mouse model (A mouse model is a mouse that has been genetically altered to have the symptoms of DM1) This is really exciting news. The treatment seemed to work well and was by injection. The injection seemed to work long term as well. Next they will most likely use a Monkey and then if that is successful with Humans! This is 5-8 years off and will need millions of dollars of research.

The payoff for these companies will be huge though. With over 42,000 people in North America alone the market size is roughly $1 Billion for the USA. If the injections prove successful a once a year or 2x per year injection would lead to a low-cost of goods sold and high profitability. Worldwide at $20,000 per dose this is about a $17Billion dollar market.

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