Prometic to host Key Opinion Leader meeting on novel treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
LAVAL, QC, Jan. 25, 2018 /CNW/ - Prometic Life Sciences Inc. (TSX: PLI) (OTCQX: PFSCF) ("Prometic") announced that it will host a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) meeting on the topic of novel treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) on Wednesday, January 31 in New York City.
The meeting will feature presentations by Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) Martin Kolb, MD, PhD, McMaster University, and Gerard Criner, MD, Temple University, who will discuss the current treatment landscape, as well as the unmet medical need for treating patients with IPF. Both KOLs will be available to answer questions at the conclusion of the event.
Prometic's management team will provide a clinical overview of their two late stage clinical assets targeting IPF: PBI-4050 and Plasminogen (Ryplazim™), both of which have received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for IPF by the FDA. PBI-4050 is entering pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial. Ryplazim™ is currently under BLA review for congenital plasminogen deficiency and will be evaluated to help manage the acute exacerbation episodes during which IPF patients accumulate hyaline membrane in the lungs contributing to further significant loss of lung function.
Dr. Martin Kolb is the Moran Campbell Professor and Chair in Respiratory Medicine and Director of the Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University. He is also Research Director for the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, McMaster University and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. Dr. Kolb provides tertiary care in interstitial lung disease in his specialty clinic and also practices in General Respirology. He is on the medical staff at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton for Respirology and General Internal Medicine. Dr. Kolb's major research area is focused on mechanisms of lung injury, repair and fibrosis, particularly in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). He has a strong interest in growth factor biology (e.g. TGFβ and IL-1), extracellular matrix, and mesenchymal cell progenitors (mesenchymal stem cells and fibrocytes). Further, Dr. Kolb leads activities in biomarker development for lung fibrosis and he participates as Principal Investigator and Steering Committee members in numerous clinical trials on interstitial lung disease. Dr. Kolb has over 130 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Journal of Clinical Investigation, American Journal of Pathology, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Journal of Immunology, European Respiratory Journal and many others. He has received career awards from the Parker B. Francis Families Foundation, the Department of Medicine at McMaster and the New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institute for Health Research. Dr. Kolb is Chief Editor for the European Respiratory Journal. Before that he was Deputy Editor for Respirology and Associate Editor for Thorax. He is also a standing panel member of the NIH study section for Lung Injury, Repair and Regeneration.
Gerard J. Criner, MD, is Professor and Founding Chair, Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, where he also obtained his medical degree in 1979. Dr. Criner serves on the board of directors for the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and acts as Chairman for the ACCP guidelines on the prevention of acute exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He is a member of the board of directors for the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. In 2013, Dr. Criner was the recipient of the Paul W. Eberman Faculty Research Award from Temple University, the Honored Professor Award from Temple University in 2015 and the Distinguished Medical Research Award from Philadelphia Business Journal in 2016. As a principal investigator, Dr. Criner has received extensive research funding and has conducted several clinical trials in pulmonary disease. His primary research focuses on advanced lung conditions, including COPD, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and respiratory failure. Dr. Criner has published over 360 scientific papers, reviews, and book chapters, with numerous research articles in peer-reviewed journals including New England Journal of Medicine, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (AJRCCM), Chest and Lancet Respiratory Medicine. He serves as Associate Editor for AJRCCM and Thorax. Dr. Criner has lectured nationally and internationally at numerous scientific meetings and congresses.
This event is intended for institutional investors, sell-side analysts, investment bankers, and business development professionals only. Please RSVP in advance if you plan to attend, as space is limited. For those who are unable to attend in person, a live webcast and replay will be accessible here (http://lifesci.rampard.com/20180131/reg.jsp).
More About PBI-4050
PBI-4050 is an orally active lead drug candidate with excellent safety and efficacy profiles confirmed in several in vivo experiments targeting fibrosis. Fibrosis is a very complex process by which continuing inflammation causes vital organs to lose their function as normal tissue is replaced by fibrotic scar tissue. The proof of concept data generated to date confirms our lead drug candidates' anti-fibrotic activity in several key organs including the kidneys, the heart, the lungs and the liver. Twenty six million subjects in the U.S. alone are believed to suffer from chronic kidney diseases ("CKD"). Subjects with severe CKD stages (3 and 4) suffer from a progressive loss of their renal function leading to end-stage renal disease and the need for dialysis or kidney transplant. Cardiovascular complications are the most common cause of death in dialysis subjects.
More About Plasminogen
Plasminogen is a naturally occurring protein that is synthesized by the liver and circulates in the blood. Activated plasminogen, plasmin, is a fundamental component of the fibrinolytic system and is the main enzyme involved in the lysis of blood clots and clearance of extravasated fibrin. Plasminogen is therefore vital in wound healing, cell migration, tissue remodeling, angiogenesis and embryogenesis.
About Prometic Life Sciences Inc.
Prometic Life Sciences Inc. (www.prometic.com) is a long-established biopharmaceutical company with globally recognized expertise in bioseparations, plasma-derived therapeutics and small-molecule drug development. Prometic is active in developing its own novel small molecule therapeutic products targeting unmet medical needs in the field of fibrosis, cancer and autoimmune diseases/inflammation. A number of plasma-derived and small molecule products are under development for orphan drug indications. Prometic also offers its state-of-the-art technologies for large-scale purification of biologics, drug development, proteomics and the elimination of pathogens to a growing base of industry leaders and uses its own affinity technology that provides for highly efficient extraction and purification of therapeutic proteins from human plasma in order to develop best-in-class therapeutics and orphan drugs. Headquartered in Laval (Canada), Prometic has R&D facilities in the UK, the U.S. and Canada, manufacturing facilities in the UK and commercial activities in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements about Prometic's objectives, strategies and businesses that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are "forward-looking" because they are based on our current expectations about the markets we operate in and on various estimates and assumptions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks affect our business, or if our estimates or assumptions turn out to be inaccurate. Such risks and assumptions include, but are not limited to, Prometic's ability to develop, manufacture, and successfully commercialize value-added pharmaceutical products, the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the ability of Prometic to take advantage of business opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes in economic conditions. You will find a more detailed assessment of the risks that could cause actual events or results to materially differ from our current expectations in Prometic's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2016, under the heading "Risk and Uncertainties related to Prometic's business". As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement even if new information becomes available, as a result of future events or for any other reason, unless required by applicable securities laws and regulations. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless indicated otherwise.
SOURCE ProMetic Life Sciences Inc.
Corporate Contacts: Pierre Laurin, President and CEO, Prometic Life Sciences Inc., [email protected], 450.781.0115; Frederic Dumais, Senior Director, Communications & Investor Relations, Prometic Life Sciences Inc., [email protected], 450-781-0115; Investor Contact: Bob Yedid, LifeSci Advisors, [email protected], 646-597-6989; Media Contact: Matt Middleman, M.D., LifeSci Public Relations, [email protected], 646-627-8384
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