Tyrx presents early clinical results from AIGISRXTM antibacterial envelope retrospective registry

Anthera's varespladib meets primary endpoint in phase 2 FRANCIS trial for the treatment of Acute Coronary Syndrome

 
- Favorable results for secondary endpoints support outcomes benefit

HAYWARD, CA – May 6, 2009 – Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing anti-inflammatory drugs, announced today that FRANCIS (Fewer Recurrent Acute coronary events with Near-term Cardiovascular Inflammation Suppression), a clinical trial designed to examine the impact of 500mg of varespladib when administered to patients within 96 hours of an Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) event, met its primary endpoint of a reduction in Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C). All patients in the FRANCIS trial received once daily doses of 80mg of Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium), plus 500mg of varespladib or matching placebo. Varespladib is a potent and highly selective oral inhibitor of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), an inflammatory enzyme implicated in ACS, vascular inflammation, atherosclerosis and adverse lipid profiles.

Anthera to continue impacts trial for the prevention of acute chest syndrome in patients with sickle cell disease

Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing anti-inflammatory drugs, announced today that after completing its review of safety and efficacy data from the first cohort of 30 patients, an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) has recommended that Anthera’s Phase II clinical trial, known as the IMPACTS (Investigation of the Modulation of Phospholipase in Acute ChesT Syndrome) Study can continue under the current protocol based on favorable interim results.

Plexxikon and Roche enter second partnership

Plexxikon Inc. and Roche (SWX:ROG), today announced that they have entered into an agreement to develop and commercialize a second novel kinase inhibitor, PLX5568. The main focus of this partnership will be the development of this small molecule inhibitor of Raf kinase as an oral therapeutic treatment for polycystic kidney disease (PKD). There is currently no registered treatment for PKD which affects over 600,000 patients in the U.S and is the most common life- threatening genetic disease.