Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (hereafter, Daiichi Sankyo) announced today that administration of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (hereafter, DMD) treatment drug DS-5141b (hereafter, the Drug), which is jointly developing with the Orphan Disease Treatment Institute Co., Ltd. (hereafter, ODTI), to the first subject has begun in the first clinical trial in Japan.
DMD is known as a disease that affects one in 3,500 new-born males regardless of ethnicity. It is known that DMD occurs because muscle cells do not produce dystrophin, but there is no fundamental therapy available.
Because the Drug induces exon 45 skipping of a dystrophin mRNA to promote incomplete but functional dystrophin production, it is expected to be an effective treatment for DMD. The Drug contains the active ingredient ENA® oligonucleotide, a modified nucleic acid made using proprietary technology owned by Daiichi Sankyo. Daiichi Sankyo expects to obtain manufacturing and marketing approval by the end of 2020.
Daiichi Sankyo remains committed to meeting the needs of more patients and medical professionals through drug development and contributing to medical care by providing new treatment options.
About ODTI
Daiichi Sankyo jointly established the ODTI with the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan and a fund managed by Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd. - see Daiichi Sankyo press release dated February 14, 2013 entitled, Daiichi Sankyo Announces Development of Nucleic Acid Treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Utilizing Proprietary Technology.
About ENA® oligonucleotides
ENA® is an ethylene-bridged nucleic acid in which ethylene is bridged at the furanose sugar ring at 2'-O and 4'-C ends. Short-chain nucleic acids and ENA® oligonucleotides found in ENA® demonstrate high binding force with complementary DNA and RNA as well as superior thermal stability and nuclease resistance. ENA® is a registered trademark of Daiichi Sankyo.
About Daiichi Sankyo
Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical products to address diversified, unmet medical needs of patients in both mature and emerging markets. With over 100 years of scientific expertise and a presence in more than 20 countries, Daiichi Sankyo and its 17,000 employees around the world draw upon a rich legacy of innovation and a robust pipeline of promising new medicines to help people. In addition to its strong portfolio of medicines for hypertension, dyslipidemia, bacterial infections, and thrombotic disorders, the Group’s research and development is focused on bringing forth novel therapies in cardiovascular-metabolic diseases, pain management, and oncology, including biologics.