Theratechnologies Inc. (“Theratechnologies” or the “Company”) (TSX:
TH) (NASDAQ: THTX), a pharmaceutical company focused on the
development and commercialization of innovative therapies, today
announced it has entered into an agreement with Ionis
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Ionis) to license two investigational
RNA-targeted medicines developed by Ionis. Under the agreement,
Theratechnologies receives exclusive rights in Canada for
olezarsen, which is being evaluated for familial chylomicronemia
syndrome (FCS) and severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG), and for
donidalorsen, which is being evaluated for the treatment of
hereditary angioedema (HAE). All figures are in U.S. dollars unless
otherwise stated.
“Theratechnologies is proud to be the partner of
choice for Ionis to bring two innovative treatments for three
potential indications to patients with unmet medical needs across
Canada, thus expanding upon our foundational HIV portfolio and
primary business in the U.S.,” said Paul Lévesque, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Theratechnologies. “The agreement with
Ionis is a testament to our team’s capabilities to advance
innovation across North America and reaffirms our commitment to be
a commercially focused company that delivers sustained top- and
bottom-line growth and value for shareholders.”
“We are pleased to partner with
Theratechnologies, bringing together their deep regional expertise
in Canada and our shared goal of delivering innovative new
medicines to people living with severe and debilitating diseases,”
said Brett Monia, Ph.D., Ionis Chief Executive Officer. “Ionis is
well-positioned to deliver these medicines to the U.S. market as we
rapidly approach our first anticipated independent commercial
launches, assuming regulatory approvals of olezarsen in FCS and
donidalorsen in HAE. Our new partnership with Theratechnologies
supports our commitment to ensure access to our innovative
medicines globally.”
Olezarsen
Olezarsen is an investigational RNA-targeted
medicine designed to lower the body's production of apoC-III, a
protein produced in the liver that regulates triglyceride (TG)
metabolism in the blood. It is being evaluated for the treatment of
both FCS and sHTG.
FCS is characterized by extremely elevated TG
levels, chronic, debilitating symptoms and recurrent, potentially
life-threatening acute pancreatitis. Generally, the prevalence of
FCS in Canada is similar to the broader global population. However,
in specific regions like Eastern Québec, the prevalence of FCS is
believed to be approximately 100-fold higher (1:10,000) than the
global average due to the founder effect.
sHTG is characterized by a severe elevation in
TG levels and can result in serious health complications, including
potentially life-threatening acute pancreatitis. The disease
affects a much larger patient population than FCS, with a total
addressable market for sHTG in the U.S. representing up to
approximately 3 million patients and a similar prevalence in Canada
on a per capita basis.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
accepted for Priority Review the olezarsen New Drug Application
(NDA) for the treatment of adults with FCS. The FDA has designated
olezarsen as an Orphan Drug and has set a Prescription Drug User
Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of December 19, 2024. Theratechnologies
plans to submit olezarsen in FCS to Health Canada for review in
2025. If the Company receives a Notice of Compliance, it will be
the first approved treatment for FCS treatment in Canada.
Ionis has completed enrollment of the Phase 3
olezarsen clinical program for patients with sHTG (CORE, CORE2 and
ESSENCE), with results from all three trials anticipated in the
second half of 2025.
Donidalorsen
Donidalorsen is an investigational RNA-targeted
medicine designed to reduce the production of prekallikrein (PKK),
a protein that plays an important role in the activation of
inflammatory mediators associated with acute attacks of HAE.
HAE is a rare and potentially life-threatening
genetic condition that involves recurrent attacks of severe
swelling (angioedema) in various parts of the body. HAE (Type 1 and
Type 2) has a combined estimated prevalence of approximately one in
50,000 people.
The FDA has recently accepted the donidalorsen
NDA for review for the treatment of hereditary angioedema, with a
PDUFA action date of August 21, 2025. Regulatory submissions are
also progressing in Europe. Donidalorsen received Orphan Drug
Designation from the FDA in 2023 and from the European Commission
in 2024. Theratechnologies plans to submit donidalorsen for HAE to
Health Canada for review in 2025.
Transaction Information
Ionis has granted Theratechnologies an exclusive
license to commercialize olezarsen and donidalorsen for use in
Canada.
Ionis will receive a $10 million upfront payment
upon execution of the agreement as well as milestone payments up to
$12.75 million based on the achievement of regulatory milestones,
public reimbursement, and annual sales targets. Ionis will also be
entitled to receive tiered double-digit royalties on annual net
sales of each medicine.
Theratechnologies will be responsible for
filing, obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval for olezarsen
and donidalorsen in Canada. Ionis will be manufacturing and
supplying both products to Theratechnologies and has granted the
Company a right to manufacture both products in certain limited
circumstances.
The term of the licensing agreement with Ionis
will continue until Theratechnologies permanently ceases
commercializing all licensed products in Canada, or unless earlier
terminated in accordance with customary termination provisions for
transactions of this like-nature.
About Theratechnologies
Theratechnologies (TSX: TH) (NASDAQ: THTX) is a
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and
commercialization of innovative therapies addressing unmet medical
needs. Further information about Theratechnologies is available on
the Company's website at www.theratech.com, on SEDAR+
at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
Follow Theratechnologies on Linkedin and X
(Twitter).
About Ionis Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.
For three decades, Ionis has invented medicines
that bring better futures to people with serious diseases. Ionis
currently has five marketed medicines and a leading pipeline in
neurology, cardiology, and other areas of high patient need. As the
pioneer in RNA-targeted medicines, Ionis continues to drive
innovation in RNA therapies in addition to advancing new approaches
in gene editing. A deep understanding of disease biology and
industry-leading technology propels our work, coupled with a
passion and urgency to deliver life-changing advances for patients.
To learn more about Ionis, visit Ionis.com and follow us
on X (Twitter), LinkedIn and Instagram.
Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking
statements and forward-looking information (collectively, the
“Forward-Looking Statements”) within the meaning of applicable
securities laws, that are based on management’s beliefs and
assumptions and on information currently available to it. You can
identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may”, “will”,
“should”, “could”, “promising”, “would”, “outlook”, “believe”,
“plan”, “envisage”, “anticipate”, “expect” and “estimate”, or the
negatives of these terms, or variations of them. The
Forward-Looking Statements contained in this press release include,
but are not limited to, statements regarding: (i) the top and
bottom-line growth of the Company; (ii) the estimates related to
the prevalence of sHTG and HAE in Canada; (iii) the time periods
related to the filing of the new drug submissions for each of
donidalorsen and olezarsen with Health Canada; and (iv) the time
period related to the receipt of results from the Phase 3 olezarsen
clinical program for patients with sHTG. Although the
Forward-Looking Statements contained in this press release are
based upon what the Company believes are reasonable assumptions in
light of the information currently available, investors are
cautioned against placing undue reliance on these statements since
actual results may vary from the Forward-Looking Statements
contained in this press release. Certain assumptions made in
preparing the Forward-Looking Statements include that: (i) sales of
the products currently sold by the Company will continue to grow;
(ii) the donidalorsen and olezarsen compounds, when filed with
Health Canada, will be approved by the agency; (iii) both of these
compounds, if and when approved, will be reimbursed in Canada and
will be accepted by the Canadian marketplace as treatment for which
they will be indicated; (iv) sales of these compounds will
contribute to the top and bottom-line growth of the Company; (v) we
will have all of the information required to file new drug
submissions for each of those compounds with Health Canada
according to the timelines set forth herein; and (vi) the results
from the Phase 3 olezarsen clinical program will be available to us
in the second half of 2025. Forward-Looking Statements assumptions
are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which
are beyond the Company’s control, that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by
such Forward-Looking Statements. These risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to: (i) a decrease in sales of our
commercialized products; (ii) the non-approval by Heath Canada of
one or both of the compounds; (iii) even if approved by Health
Canada, the non-reimbursement in Canada of one or both of these
compounds; (iv) the non-acceptance by the marketplace of these new
compounds to treat the diseases they will be indicated for; (v)
competing treatments from the entry of new drug products; (vi)
delays in the filing of new drug submissions for any of those
compounds; (vii) unexpected expense increases in connection with
our activities, including seeking the approval of, and/or
commercially launching, any of those compounds; and (viii) delays
in receiving the results from the Phase 3 olezarsen clinical
program. The Company refers current and potential investors to the
“Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Form 20-F dated February
21, 2024, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at
www.sec.gov under Theratechnologies’ public filings. The reader is
cautioned to consider these and other risks and uncertainties
carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking
statements.
Forward-Looking Statements reflect current
expectations regarding future events and speak only as of the date
of this press release and represent the Company’s expectations as
of that date.
Contacts:
Media inquiries: Julie Schneiderman Senior
Director, Communications & Corporate Affairs
communications@theratech.com1-514-336-7800
Investor Inquiries: Philippe Dubuc Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer
pdubuc@theratech.com438-315-6608
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