Alnylam partners up to commercialise hypercholesterolemia treatment

Alnylam is working with the Medicines Company to commercialise its hypercholesterolemia treatment.

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has formed a strategic alliance with The Medicines Company to develop and commercialise its ALN-PCS RNAi therapeutic programme for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia around the world.

Together, the organisations believe that the programme will lead to the development of treatments offering patients with the disease significant therapeutic benefits.

The therapy works by targeting the protein PCSK9, which is responsible for regulating lipoprotein receptor levels on hepatocytes, the cells that make up the most part of the liver.

Mutations in PCSK9 are associated with hypercholesterolemia, however removing the function of the protein has been shown to lead to lower levels of unhealthy LDL cholesterol and, as a result, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Dr John Maraganore, chief executive officer at Alnylam, explained that the alliance would see the company's sharing a "culture and commitment to innovation" in commercialising the treatment.

"For Alnylam, this new partnership enables the advancement of ALN-PCS, an important programme within our 'Alnylam 5x15' product development and commercialisation strategy focused on RNAi therapeutics directed towards genetically validated targets," he said.