Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
Ionis Pharmaceuticals announced acquisition of the remaining ~24% stake in Akcea Therapeutics it didn't already own at $18.15/share cash, ~$500M total. Brought Tegsedi, Waylivra, pelacarsen and other antisense programs fully back under Ionis. Tender offer completed October 2020. DEVELOPMENTS SINCE: The antisense pipeline that underpinned the buy-in has reshaped materially. Vupanorsen was discontinued in January 2022 after Pfizer reviewed Phase 2b TRANSLATE-TIMI 70 data — the non-HDL-C/triglyceride reduction was insufficient and the drug showed dose-dependent liver-fat and ALT/AST increases — and returned rights to Ionis. Tegsedi (inotersen) was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2024 for low utilization (not safety/quality); it remains available ex-U.S. via Sobi (Europe) and PTC Therapeutics (Brazil). Waylivra (volanesorsen) never secured U.S. FDA approval (thrombocytopenia) and is marketed ex-U.S. only. The principal remaining upside, pelacarsen (Lp(a), partnered with Novartis), completed enrollment of the 8,323-patient Phase 3 Lp(a) HORIZON cardiovascular outcomes trial; Novartis guided topline data to the first half of 2026 (not yet publicly reported as of this review).
Assessment window: 5yr post-close.