Can MDCO Make Alnylam’s PCSK9 Candidate Work In The Hospital?

Lagging the antibodies in the PCSK9 race, MDCO’s candidate brings certain strengths, not the least being a fundamentally different mechanism. But where the big boys will target larger populations in multiple settings, MDCO is hunkering down in the channel it knows best – the hospital cath lab – counting on changing practice behavior to speed its uptake.

With only early-stage data in hand, The Medicines Co.’s (MDCO) PCSK9 candidate, the centerpiece of its budding lipid franchise, is far behind competitors. But MDCO is counting on a highly differentiated technology, as well as changing practice patterns among interventional cardiologists to help bolster the drug’s uptake. And its last-to-market position may enable it to take optimal advantage of evolving cholesterol management guidelines.

Last February, MDCO entered the PCSK9 race by licensing exclusive global rights to Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s ALN-PCS program for...

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