Ionis Pharmaceuticals Licences Hepatitis B programme to GSK

Following positive phase II results, Ionis Pharmaceutical has announced that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has exercised its option to licence their antisense medicines for people suffering with chronic hepatitis B virus. (CHB)
CHB is a viral infection of the liver that can lead to health conditions including cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. There are more than 20 million patients worldwide that live with CHB, and current treatments don’t offer any achievement in sustained disease remission.
As part of the deal, GSK is responsible for all the development, regulatory and commercialisation costs of the product, with Ionis receiving license fees and milestone payments up to $262 million, as well as tiered royalties on net sales.
“Our technology could potentially deliver a transformative medicine for those that suffer with the disease.” Said chief operating officer at Ionis Brett Monia. “With GSK’s expertise in development and commercialisation in infectious diseases, we believe this makes them the ideal partner to address the need for this medicine.”