Ionis receives U.S. FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for olezarsen for severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG)

Key Terms

breakthrough therapy designation regulatory

A breakthrough therapy designation is a regulatory fast-track given to a drug or treatment that shows early signs of providing a major improvement over existing options for a serious condition. Think of it as a VIP lane that can speed up development and more intensive guidance from regulators, which matters to investors because it can shorten time to market, reduce development risk and potentially increase a company’s value — though it does not guarantee approval.

supplemental new drug application regulatory

A supplemental new drug application is a request submitted to regulatory authorities to make changes to an existing approved medication, such as adding new uses, strengths, or formulations. For investors, it signals that a pharmaceutical company is seeking approval for new product developments or expanded applications, which can impact the company's future sales, market potential, and stock value.

severe hypertriglyceridemia medical

An extreme elevation of triglycerides, the fat particles carried in the blood, that can overwhelm the body’s ability to process them and sharply raise the risk of acute pancreatitis and other complications. Think of blood as a river and triglycerides as oil — when levels get too high the flow and nearby organs can be damaged. Investors care because it drives demand for treatments, affects clinical trial safety and regulatory review, and can influence healthcare costs, reimbursement and company valuations.

acute pancreatitis medical

Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas that typically causes severe abdominal pain, nausea and often requires hospitalization; in serious cases it can lead to organ failure or prolonged treatment. Investors should care because sudden spikes in cases or breakthroughs in treatment affect hospital admissions, drug and device demand, insurance payouts and clinical-trial outcomes — like an unexpected house fire that forces emergency repairs and shifts spending priorities.

phase 3 medical

Phase 3 is the late-stage clinical testing step for a new drug or medical treatment, where the product is given to large groups of patients to confirm effectiveness, monitor side effects, and compare it to standard care. Successful Phase 3 results are often the final scientific hurdle before regulators decide on approval and market launch—like passing a final exam before graduation—and can sharply change a company's valuation and future revenue prospects.

triglyceride medical

A triglyceride is a common type of fat carried in the bloodstream that stores energy from food; think of it as the body’s pantry of fuel that can be measured with a simple blood test. Investors care because elevated or lowered triglyceride levels are used as a measurable health signal in drug trials, diagnostics and treatment decisions, which affects the market size, regulatory approval prospects and commercial prospects for therapies and medical devices.

– On track to submit supplemental new drug application by end of year –

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IONS) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to olezarsen as an adjunct to diet to reduce triglyceride (TG) levels in adults with severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG) (TG greater than or equal to 500 mg/dL). Breakthrough Therapy designation is intended to expedite the review of medicines that treat a serious or life-threatening condition and have shown preliminary clinical evidence indicating the potential for substantial improvement over available therapies.

“The Breakthrough Therapy designation reflects the groundbreaking nature of the pivotal CORE and CORE2 study results, in which olezarsen significantly lowered triglycerides below the risk threshold of acute pancreatitis in the vast majority of patients,” said Sam Tsimikas, M.D., senior vice president, global cardiovascular development, Ionis. “Existing therapies for sHTG offer only modest reductions in triglyceride levels and often fail to protect against unpredictable and potentially life-threatening acute pancreatitis attacks. As the first investigational therapy for sHTG to significantly reduce acute pancreatitis events, olezarsen has the potential to change the treatment paradigm for this dangerous disease.”

The Breakthrough Therapy designation is based on results from the Phase 3 CORE and CORE2 studies of olezarsen. In the studies, olezarsen demonstrated a highly statistically significant placebo-adjusted reduction in triglyceride levels of up to 72% and an 85% reduction in acute pancreatitis events with favorable safety and tolerability. Additionally, nearly 90% of olezarsen-treated patients achieved triglyceride levels less than 500 mg/dL, which is below the risk threshold for acute pancreatitis. The data were published in The New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.

Ionis is on track to submit a supplemental new drug application to the U.S. FDA by the end of the year.

About the CORE and CORE2 Studies

CORE (NCT05079919; n=617) and CORE2 (NCT05552326; n=446), conducted with The TIMI Study Group, are Phase 3 global, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials investigating the safety and efficacy of olezarsen for severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG). Participants aged 18 and older with triglyceride levels ≥500 mg/dL were enrolled. Participants were required to be on standard of care therapies for elevated triglycerides. At baseline, 47% and 37% of participants had fasting triglycerides ≥880 mg/dL in CORE and CORE2, respectively. Participants were randomized to receive 50 mg or 80 mg of olezarsen or placebo every 4 weeks via subcutaneous injection for 12 months. The primary endpoint was the percent change from baseline in fasting triglycerides at six months compared to placebo.

About Severe Hypertriglyceridemia

Severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG) is defined by severely high triglycerides (≥500 mg/dL) and characterized by an increased risk of acute pancreatitis and other serious health complications. Considered a medical emergency, acute pancreatitis causes debilitating abdominal pain that often requires prolonged hospitalization, can lead to permanent organ damage and can become life-threatening. Preventing the first attack is key. In people with a history of acute pancreatitis episodes, the risk of future attacks is even greater. Current standard of care therapies for sHTG and lifestyle modifications (such as diet and exercise) do not sufficiently or consistently lower triglyceride levels or reduce the risks of sHTG in all patients. Approximately 3 million people are living with sHTG in the U.S., including more than 1 million who are considered high risk. High-risk sHTG includes those with triglycerides ≥880 mg/dL or triglycerides ≥500 mg/dL and a history of acute pancreatitis or other comorbidities.

About Olezarsen

Olezarsen is an investigational RNA-targeted medicine being evaluated for the treatment of sHTG. Olezarsen is designed to lower the body's production of apoC-III, a protein produced in the liver that regulates triglyceride metabolism in the blood. Olezarsen is approved in the U.S. and the European Union as TRYNGOLZA^® for adults with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS).

About Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

For three decades, Ionis has invented medicines that bring better futures to people with serious diseases. Ionis currently has marketed medicines and a leading pipeline in neurology, cardiometabolic disease and select 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.

Ionis Forward-looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding Ionis' business, the therapeutic and commercial potential of our commercial medicines, olezarsen, additional medicines in development and technologies, and our expectations regarding development and regulatory milestones. Any statement describing Ionis' goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions or beliefs is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties including those inherent in the process of discovering, developing and commercializing medicines that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such medicines. Ionis' forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Ionis' forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by Ionis. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning Ionis' programs are described in additional detail in Ionis' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and most recent Form 10-Q, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these and other documents are available from the Company. In this press release, unless the context requires otherwise, "Ionis," "Company," "we," "our" and "us" all refer to Ionis Pharmaceuticals and its subsidiaries.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals^® and TRYNGOLZA^® are trademarks of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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Ionis Investor Contact:

D. Wade Walke, Ph.D.

IR@ionis.com 760-603-2331

Ionis Media Contact:

Hayley Soffer

media@ionis.com 760-603-4679

Source: Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.