Exhibit 99.1
Silence Therapeutics Announces Positive Topline 48-Week Data from Phase 2
Study of Zerlasiran in Patients with Elevated Lipoprotein(a)
Study demonstrated highly significant and sustained reductions in Lp(a) to week 48
Data support advancing zerlasiran into phase 3 with 300 mg dose
20 June 2024
LONDON, Silence Therapeutics plc, Nasdaq: SLN (“Silence” or the “Company”), an experienced and innovative biotechnology company committed to transforming people’s lives by silencing diseases through precision engineered medicines, today announced positive topline 48-week data from the ALPACAR-360 phase 2 study of zerlasiran (SLN360) in 178 subjects with baseline lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), levels at or over 125 nmol/L at high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events. Zerlasiran is a siRNA (short interfering RNA) designed to lower the body’s production of Lp(a), a key genetic risk factor for cardiovascular disease affecting up to an estimated 20% of the world’s population.
In the double-blind placebo-controlled treatment period, zerlasiran was administered at 300 mg subcutaneously every 16 or 24 weeks and 450 mg every 24 weeks to patients with a median baseline Lp(a) of approximately 215 nmol/L. These data demonstrated a highly significant reduction from baseline in Lp(a) compared to placebo to 48 weeks (end of treatment and dosing period). Median maximum Lp(a) reduction of approximately 90% or greater was observed for both doses during the treatment period. Zerlasiran was well tolerated with no serious safety concerns. As previously announced, the study met its primary endpoint and demonstrated a highly significant reduction from baseline in Lp(a) compared to placebo to 36 weeks. The study is ongoing, and patients will be followed through week 60 (end of study).
“We are encouraged by the strength of the phase 2 data and emerging competitive profile of zerlasiran, which support an infrequent dosing regimen of at least quarterly with the 300 mg dose,” said Steven Romano, MD, Head of Research and Development at Silence. “We look forward to advancing zerlasiran to phase 3 as a potential treatment for this major unmet need in cardiovascular disease.”
The Company plans to provide full results at a future scientific meeting or publication following completion of the study.
About Silence Therapeutics
Silence Therapeutics is developing a new generation of medicines by harnessing the body’s natural mechanism of RNA interference, or RNAi, to inhibit the expression of specific target genes thought to play a role in the pathology of diseases with significant unmet need. Silence’s proprietary mRNAi GOLD™ platform can be used to create siRNAs (short interfering RNAs) that precisely target and silence disease-associated genes in the liver, which represents a substantial opportunity. Silence’s wholly owned product candidates include zerlasiran designed to address the high and prevalent unmet medical need in reducing cardiovascular risk in people born with elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) and divesiran designed to address rare hematological diseases, including polycythemia vera. Silence also maintains ongoing research and development collaborations with AstraZeneca and Hansoh Pharma, among others. For more information, please visit https://www.silence-therapeutics.com/.