Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARWR) shares galloped Friday. The company, on FCS Awareness Day, announced the launch of a new disease awareness campaign, ‘We’ll Get There Soon,’ to bring hope to the rare disease community affected by Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome (FCS). The campaign seeks to raise awareness about FCS, a severe and rare condition marked by persistently high triglyceride levels despite standard treatment, which can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening symptoms, including acute pancreatitis.
Arrowhead hosted a launch event at its Pasadena headquarters featuring special guests Julie Klueckman and her husband Gary, who shared their journey with FCS — both as a patient and a caregiver. Julie’s story highlights the significant challenges faced by those living with FCS, including multiple misdiagnoses, persistent and extended hospital stays, no available medicines that adequately treat FCS, and the necessity of maintaining an extremely low-fat diet of up to 20 grams per day — equivalent to less than three tablespoons of peanut butter.
“My journey to diagnosis was a difficult one that ended after a decade-long diagnostic process and countless hours of research, learning about FCS, and finally presenting the idea to my doctor,” Julie explained.
“Despite my eventful history with this condition, including countless hospitalizations, multiple surgeries, a radical hysterectomy, relocating and moving my family to be closer to my trusted doctors, I remain optimistic about the future for FCS patients.”
ARWR shares climbed 59 cents, or 3.1%, Friday to $19.82.
