SAN DIEGO, May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARNA), today announced that it will host a key opinion leader (KOL) event for investors focused on the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in New York City on Thursday, May 25, from 8–9:30 a.m. EDT.
The meeting will feature presentations by key opinion leaders Lewis Rubin, M.D., Emeritus Professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and Vallerie McLaughlin, M.D., the Kim A. Eagle, M.D. Endowed Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine at University of Michigan, who will discuss the current therapeutic landscape, the remaining unmet medical need and novel approaches for the treatment of PAH. Both KOLs will be available to answer questions during the event.
Arena Pharmaceuticals' management team will also provide an overview of ralinepag, a next-generation, oral, selective prostacyclin receptor (IP) agonist, among the fastest growing class in the PAH treatment space. Ralinepag, an investigational drug candidate currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial, is designed to have improved potency and IV-like therapeutic exposure. Ralinepag Phase 2 top-line data readout is expected in July 2017.
Lewis J. Rubin, MD, is Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, its former director of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. Dr. Rubin has served as Principal Investigator/Steering Committee Chair or Member for the pivotal trials of most currently approved medical therapies for PAH. He has received several honors and awards, including an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians, United Kingdom, the Dickinson Richards Award from the American Heart Association, the Simon Dack Award from the American College of Cardiology, and the College Medalist Award from the American College of CHEST Physicians. He was listed among Thomson Reuters' Most Influential Researchers in the World two years in a row.
Vallerie V. McLaughlin, M.D., is the first Kim A. Eagle, M.D., Endowed Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she also directs the Pulmonary Hypertension Program, the Cardiology Disease Management ACU and the Heart Vessel Blood Clinical Trials Support Unit. Dr. McLaughlin was Chair of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Clinical Expert Consensus Document on Pulmonary Hypertension. She also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, and has served as Chair of the Scientific Leadership Committee, the Board of Trustees, and Editor-in-Chief of Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension, the Official Journal of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. As a recognized expert in PAH, Dr. McLaughlin has been the principal investigator of numerous clinical trials, has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and is frequently invited to lecture at national and international conferences.
Attendance at the event is intended for institutional investors, sell-side analysts, investment bankers and business development professionals. Please RSVP in advance if you would like to attend, as space is limited. To reserve a spot, please contact LifeSci Advisors LLC at Mac@LifeSciAdvisors.com. A live and archived webcast of the event, with slides, will be available to the public under the investor relations section of Arena's website at www.arenapharm.com and at http://lifesci.rampard.com/20170525/reg.jsp. A replay of the presentation will be available for 30 days following the event.
About Ralinepag
Ralinepag (APD811), is an oral, next-generation, selective IP receptor agonist targeting the prostacyclin pathway for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Arena discovered and developed this investigational drug candidate internally. Ralinepag's potency on vasodilation, inhibition of proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and inhibition of platelet aggregation, combined with an extended half-life support its application as a potentially best-in-class agent for the treatment of PAH.
About Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a rare, chronic, progressive, life-threatening disorder characterized by increased pressure in the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. The increased pressure strains the heart, which can limit physical activity, result in heart failure and reduce life expectancy. Current treatment of PAH falls within four distinct therapeutic classes: endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs), phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, prostacyclin analogues and soluble guanylate cyclase (SGc) stimulators. The available therapies have positive effects in PAH, but they do not provide a cure, and in many patients the disease will progress.
About Arena Pharmaceuticals
At Arena, we are focused on developing novel, small molecule drugs with optimized receptor pharmacology designed to deliver broad clinical utility across multiple therapeutic areas. Our proprietary pipeline includes potentially first- or best-in-class programs for which we own global commercial rights. Our three most advanced investigational clinical programs are ralinepag (APD811) in Phase 2 evaluation for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), etrasimod (APD334) in Phase 2 evaluation for multiple autoimmune indications, and APD371 in Phase 2 evaluation for the treatment of pain associated with Crohn's disease. In addition, we have collaborations with the following pharmaceutical companies: Eisai Co., Ltd. and Eisai Inc. (commercial stage), Axovant Sciences (Phase 2 candidate), and Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (preclinical candidate).
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include statements about the upcoming event, the importance of data, the intended use of ralinepag, the growing PAH treatment space, expected results and top-line data readouts, the advancement of our pipeline, and our focus, goals, strategy and clinical programs. For such statements, we claim the protection of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual events or results may differ materially from our expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include those disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent our judgment as of the time of this release. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as may be required under applicable law.
Corporate Contact:
Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Kevin R. Lind, Chief Financial Officer
klind@arenapharm.com
858.210.3636
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SOURCE Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
