Ionis Licenses New Kidney Disease Drug to AstraZeneca

Ionis Pharmaceuticals has licensed its Generation 2.5 IONIS-AZ5-2.5 to AstraZeneca. IONIS-AZ5-2.5 is an antisense drug designed to inhibit an undisclosed target to treat a genetically associated form of kidney disease. AstraZeneca will be responsible for developing and commercializing IONIS-AZ5-2.5.
 
Ionis will receive $30 million upfront and is eligible to receive as much as $300 million in additional development and regulatory milestones, as well as royalties on sales.
 
“This is the second drug to enter development under our strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca in cardiovascular, metabolic and renal diseases. IONIS-AZ5-2.5Rx is being developed to treat a genetically associated form of kidney disease with a high unmet medical need. We were able to move this program from target validation to a clinical candidate quickly, exemplifying the efficiency of our antisense platform,” said Brett P. Monia, Ph.D., chief operating officer and senior vice president of antisense drug discovery and translational medicine at Ionis. “AstraZeneca is a great partner to work with in the cardiometabolic and renal therapeutic area, and we look forward to them moving this program through development.”