Alnylam, SOM Biotech, Isis update TTR programs

Data presented at the European Congress on Hereditary ATTR amyloidosis included results from clinical studies of transthyretin amyloid disease therapies from Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ALNY), SOM Biotech S.L. (Barcelona, Spain) and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ISIS).

In an 18-month open-label extension of a Phase II study to treat familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP), Alnylam's patisiran ( ALN-TTR02) significantly increased sweat gland nerve fiber density compared with placebo (p<0.001). Alnylam said FAP patients receiving patisiran had a mean 1.7-point increase from baseline in modified Neuropathy Improvement Score (mNIS+7), showing continued efficacy compared with 12-month extension study data reported in April. Alnylam hopes to submit an NDA for patisiran in 2017, pending results of the Phase III APOLLO trial (see BioCentury Extra, April 21). ...