Inhibition of ASBT Improves Liver Function in an Animal Model of Cholestatic Liver Disease

Inhibition of ASBT Improves Liver Function in an Animal Model of Cholestatic Liver Disease

Data Presented Today at Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in Washington DC Provides Additional Preclinical Validation for LUM001 Currently Being Evaluated in Phase II Studies in Multiple Cholestatic Liver Disease Populations

SAN DIEGO – November 5, 2013 – Lumena Pharmaceuticals, a company developing oral therapeutics for cholestatic liver diseases, today announced that inhibition of the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) improves liver function in animal models of cholestasis. The data will be presented at 11:15 a.m. EST today in an oral presentation titled “SC-435, an Oral Inhibitor of ASBT, Improves Liver Function in a Rat Partial Bile Duct Ligation Model of Cholestasis,” at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in Washington DC.

Lumena Pharmaceuticals Initiates the CLARITY Phase II Study of LUM001 in Patients with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Novel therapeutic approach to be evaluated for its ability to reduce elevated bile acid levels and associated severe itching

SAN DIEGO – October 29, 2013 – Lumena Pharmaceuticals, a company developing oral therapeutics for rare liver diseases, today announced the dosing of the first patient in the CLARITY Phase II study of its drug candidate LUM001 in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). LUM001 is being developed as a possible therapy for a number of cholestatic liver diseases including, PBC, Alagille syndrome, progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis and primary sclerosing cholangitis, that result in impaired bile acid flow and retention of bile acids in the liver, leading to progressive liver damage and, ultimately, liver failure. In the CLARITY Phase II study, LUM001 is being evaluated for its ability to alleviate the symptom of severe itching associated with PBC.

CoLucid Pharmaceuticals and ILDONG Pharmaceutical Enter into a Distribution and Supply Agreement for Lasmiditan, a Novel Agent for Acute Migraine

CoLucid Pharmaceuticals and ILDONG Pharmaceutical Enter into a Distribution and Supply Agreement for Lasmiditan, a Novel Agent for Acute Migraine

DURHAM, N.C., October 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and ILDONG Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., announced today that they have entered into a distribution and supply agreement for Lasmiditan in South Korea and Southeast Asia.

Under the terms of the agreement, CoLucid will receive upfront and milestone payments in addition to consideration for product supply in exchange for exclusive rights to ILDONG for development and commercialization of Lasmiditan in the territory. ILDONG will be responsible for the costs and activities related to development and regulatory approvals in the territory and will also participate in key registration trials as part of the global development plan.

New Data Highlight Value of Corus® CAD in Reducing Unnecessary Cardiac Testing and Costs for Women with Symptoms Suggestive of Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease

Corus® CAD Has Potential to Reduce Cardiac Diagnostic Costs in Women by More Than $500 per Patient

PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CardioDx, Inc., a molecular diagnostics company specializing in cardiovascular genomics, today announced results of two studies indicating that Corus® CAD, a blood-based gene expression test, may help reduce unnecessary cardiac testing and costs by aiding clinician decision-making in the evaluation of women with symptoms suggestive of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). The studies were presented at The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) 2013 Annual Meeting, taking place October 9-12, 2013 in Dallas, TX.

Ultragenyx Announces the Presentation of Data from a Single Dose Phase 1 Study, Conducted by Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co. Ltd. (KHK), of KRN23 in X-linked Hypophosphatemia (XLH) in Adults

KRN23 increased phosphate levels and was safe and well tolerated
NOVATO, CA – October 6, 2013— Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc., a biotechnology company, announced the release of data from a first-in-human, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single dose study of a human monoclonal anti-FGF23 antibody (KRN23) in X-linked hypophosphatemia in adults. X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is an inherited metabolic bone disease characterized by short stature and skeletal deformities. A Phase I study (US-02) was conducted by KHK with KRN23 to assess its safety and tolerability and to measure changes in biochemical markers in adult patients with XLH. Thirty-eight adults with XLH were randomized to receive single doses of KRN23 or placebo via intravenous (IV) (0.003 to 0.3 mg/kg) or subcutaneous (SC) (0.1 to 1.0 mg/kg) routes.

Chimerix Announces Publication of Positive Phase 2 Results of Brincidofovir (CMX001) in the New England Journal of Medicine

Phase 2 Trial Evaluated Brincidofovir for the Prevention of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients

DURHAM, N.C., Sept. 26, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chimerix, Inc. (Nasdaq:CMRX), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, oral antivirals in areas of high unmet medical need, today announced the publication of results from its Phase 2 Study CMX001-201 evaluating brincidofovir (CMX001) for the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. The article, entitled "CMX001 to Prevent Cytomegalovirus Disease in Hematopoietic-Cell Transplantation," appears in the September 26th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (N Engl J Med 369:1227-36).

Ultragenyx Announces Three Abstracts Accepted for Poster Presentation at 18th Annual World Muscle Society Congress

NOVATO, Calif., Sep 26, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE via COMTEX) -- Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc., a biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for rare and ultra-rare genetic disorders, today announced that three abstracts related to UX001 Sialic Acid for Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathy, also known as GNE Myopathy, were accepted for poster presentation at the 18th Annual World Muscle Society Congress, October 1-5, 2013 in Asilomar, California.

Lumena Pharmaceuticals Receives Orphan Drug Designation from US Food & Drug Administration for LUM001 in Four Rare Liver Diseases

Company Pursuing Orphan Path to Development in Alagille Syndrome, Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

SAN DIEGO – September 26, 2013 – Lumena Pharmaceuticals, a company developing oral therapeutics for rare liver diseases, today announced that it has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Orphan Product Development for LUM001, the company’s lead drug candidate. LUM001 received Orphan Designation in four rare cholestatic liver diseases including Alagille syndrome (ALGS); progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC); primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC); and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

Lumena Pharmaceuticals Launches Global Clinical Program to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of LUM001 in Children with Alagille Syndrome

First patient dosed in U.K. in Phase II IMAGO Study; Phase II ITCH Study to start in U.S.

Cooperative Research and Development Agreement established with the National Institutes of Health and the Childhood Liver Disease Research and Education Network (ChiLDREN)

SAN DIEGO – September 26, 2013 – Lumena Pharmaceuticals, a company developing oral therapeutics for rare liver diseases, today announced the initiation of a global clinical program to evaluate its drug candidate LUM001 in children with Alagille syndrome (ALGS). The first patient has been dosed in the IMAGO Phase II study being conducted in the U.K., and enrollment of pediatric patients is expected to begin later this year in the ITCH Phase II study in the U.S.

Ultragenyx selected as 2013 Fierce 15 Company

FierceBiotech selected Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical as one of the 2013 Fierce 15 Companies.

What makes Ultragenyx fierce: The most recent addition to the pipeline is KRN23, an antibody designed to treat rare cases of X-linked hypophosphatemia that is now wrapping a Phase I/II study at Kyowa Hakko Kirin. At the time KRN23 showed up on Ultragenyx's radar, it was the only rare-disease program at the Japanese pharma company, says CEO Emil Kakkis. When the deal was done just days ago, it was Ultragenyx's fourth midstage therapy.