Medicines Co. to cut workforce, focus on inclisiran

In its 3Q17 earnings announcement, The Medicines Co. (NASDAQ:MDCO) said it would reduce headcount to fewer than 60 employees to focus on developing inclisiran (PCSK9si). On Oct. 25, the company said it plans to start "next week" a Phase III trial of the therapy to lower LDL-C; the company expects data in 2H19.

Inclisiran is a subcutaneous formulation of small interfering RNA against PCSK9. In August, Medicines Co. and partner Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ALNY) reported data from the Phase II ORION-1 trial, which showed inclisiran reduced time-averaged LDL-C by 51% vs. placebo (p<0.0001) in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or ASCVD risk equivalents and elevated LDL-C (see BioCentury, Nov. 18, 2016)...