BOSTON - Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IRWD), a GI-focused healthcare company, reported its second quarter 2022 results and recent business performance.
'We made progress towards our goal of becoming the leading GI healthcare company in the U.S., as the positive momentum across our business continued in the second quarter,' said Tom McCourt, chief executive officer of Ironwood. 'We are pleased by the year-over-year double-digit LINZESS prescription demand growth in the first half of 2022, and we believe there is still significant opportunity to reach appropriate new patients and drive additional growth for the brand. In addition to the commercial success of LINZESS, we continue to make progress with our ongoing clinical trials. We now expect our Phase 3 pediatric study of linaclotide in 6 to 17 year-olds with functional constipation to readout in the third quarter of this year and remain on track with the previously shared data readout timing for IW-3300 and CNP-104. We believe our capabilities in GI, strong balance sheet and disciplined capital allocation continue to position our company for growth moving forward.'
About Ironwood Pharmaceuticals
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: IRWD), an S&P SmallCap 600 company, is a leading gastrointestinal (GI) healthcare company on a mission to advance the treatment of GI diseases and redefine the standard of care for GI patients. We are pioneers in the development of LINZESS (linaclotide), the U.S. branded prescription market leader for adults with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) or chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). Under the guidance of our seasoned industry leaders, we continue to build upon our history of GI innovation and challenge what has been done before to shape what the future holds. We keep patients at the heart of our R&D and commercialization efforts to reduce the burden of GI diseases and address significant unmet needs.
Founded in 1998, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.
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About LINZESS (linaclotide)
LINZESS is the #1 prescribed brand in the U.S. for the treatment of adult patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation ('IBS-C') or chronic idiopathic constipation ('CIC'), based on IQVIA data.
LINZESS is a once-daily capsule that helps relieve the abdominal pain, constipation, and overall abdominal symptoms of bloating, discomfort and pain associated with IBS-C, as well as the constipation, infrequent stools, hard stools, straining, and incomplete evacuation associated with CIC. The recommended dose is 290 mcg for IBS-C patients and 145 mcg for CIC patients, with a 72-mcg dose approved for use in CIC depending on individual patient presentation or tolerability. LINZESS should be taken at least 30 minutes before the first meal of the day.
LINZESS is contraindicated in pediatric patients less than 2 years of age. In neonatal mice, linaclotide increased fluid secretion as a consequence of age-dependent elevated GC-C agonism resulting in mortality within the first 24 hours due to dehydration. There was no age-dependent trend in GC-C intestinal expression in a clinical study of children 2 to less than 18 years of age; however, there are insufficient data available on GC-C intestinal expression in children less than 2 years of age to assess the risk of developing diarrhea and its potentially serious consequences in these patients. The safety and effectiveness of LINZESS in patients less than 18 years of age have not been established.
LINZESS is not a laxative; it is the first medicine approved by the FDA in a class called GC-C agonists. LINZESS contains a peptide called linaclotide that activates the GC-C receptor in the intestine. Activation of GC-C is thought to result in increased intestinal fluid secretion and accelerated transit and a decrease in the activity of pain-sensing nerves in the intestine. The clinical relevance of the effect on pain fibers, which is based on nonclinical studies, has not been established.
In the United States, Ironwood and AbbVie co-develop and co-commercialize LINZESS for the treatment of adults with IBS-C or CIC. In Europe, AbbVie markets linaclotide under the brand name CONSTELLA for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe IBS-C. In Japan, Ironwood's partner, Astellas, markets linaclotide under the brand name LINZESS for the treatment of adults with IBS-C or CIC. Ironwood also has partnered with AstraZeneca for development and commercialization of LINZESS in China, and with AbbVie for development and commercialization of linaclotide in all other territories worldwide.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, including statements about Ironwood's ability to execute its mission; Ironwood's strategy, business, financial position and operations; Ironwood's ability to drive growth and profitability; the demand, development, commercial availability and commercial potential of linaclotide and the drivers, timing, impact and results thereof; Ironwood's continued focused investments and commitment to reaching new patients to drive prescription demand growth moving forward, which include a clinical pediatric programs in IBS-C and functional constipation (including the timing and results thereof); the potential indications for, and benefits of, linaclotide; financial performance and results, and guidance and expectations related thereto, including expectations related to LINZESS U.S. net sales growth, total revenue and adjusted EBITDA in 2022; Ironwood's plans to maximize LINZESS growth via commercial innovation and lifecycle management; the progress of our ongoing clinical trials and the timing of related data readouts; the potential of IW-3300 as a treatment of visceral pain conditions and the size of the IC/BPS and endometriosis populations; the size of estimated U.S. population affected by PBC; and the potential of CNP-104 to be the first PBC disease modifying therapy. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Ironwood undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include those related to the effectiveness of development and commercialization efforts by us and our partners; preclinical and clinical development, manufacturing and formulation development of linaclotide, CNP-104 and our product candidates; the risk that clinical programs and studies may not progress or develop as anticipated, including that studies are delayed or discontinued for any reason, such as safety, tolerability, enrollment, manufacturing, economic or other reasons; the risk that findings from our completed nonclinical and clinical studies may not be replicated in later studies; the risk that we or our partners are unable to obtain, maintain or manufacture sufficient LINZESS or our product candidates, or otherwise experience difficulties with respect to supply or manufacturing; the efficacy, safety and tolerability of linaclotide and our product candidates; the risk that the therapeutic opportunities for LINZESS or our product candidates are not as we expect; decisions by regulatory and judicial authorities; the risk we may never get additional patent protection for linaclotide and other product candidates, that patents for linaclotide or other products may not provide adequate protection from competition, or that we are not able to successfully protect such patents; the risk that we are unable to manage our expenses or cash use, or are unable to commercialize our products as expected; the risk that we may elect to not exercise our option to acquire the exclusive license for CNP-104; the risk that the development of either our clinical pediatric programs in IBS-C and functional constipation in 6 to 17 year-olds, CNP-104 and/or IW-3300 is not successful or that any of our product candidates is not successfully commercialized; outcomes in legal proceedings to protect or enforce the patents relating to our products and product candidates, including abbreviated new drug application litigation; the risk that financial and operating results may differ from our projections; developments in the intellectual property landscape; challenges from and rights of competitors or potential competitors; the risk that our planned investments do not have the anticipated effect on our company revenues; developments in accounting guidance or practice; Ironwood's or AbbVie's accounting practices, including reporting and settlement practices as between Ironwood and AbbVie; the risk that we are unable to manage our expenses or cash use, or are unable to commercialize our products as expected; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; and the risks listed under the heading 'Risk Factors' and elsewhere in Ironwood's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in our subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Contact:
Investors
Greg Martini
T: 617-374-5230
E: gmartini@ironwoodpharma.com
IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 
