SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.,
Aug. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/
-- Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:RIGL) today
announced that Brian L. Kotzin, M.D. has been appointed to
Rigel's board of directors. A well-respected former professor
and clinical researcher, Dr. Kotzin brings to Rigel's board three
decades of experience in the areas of immunology and
inflammation.
"We are excited to welcome Dr. Kotzin to our board, and we feel
confident that his leadership will be of great value to Rigel,"
said Raul Rodriguez, president and
chief executive officer of Rigel. "We look forward to working with
Dr. Kotzin and benefitting from his strategic counsel, as we
continue to evolve our pipeline and move our new IRAK molecule into
clinical development."
A board-certified rheumatologist and internist, Dr. Kotzin is
currently Principal Fellow, Clinical Development at Nektar
Therapeutics. From 2004 to 2015, he was Vice President,
Global and Clinical Development and Head, Inflammation Therapeutic
Area at Amgen, directing the global development efforts for product
candidates in the inflammation area. Before joining Amgen, Dr.
Kotzin was the head of Clinical Immunology in the Department of
Medicine and director of the Autoimmunity Center of Excellence at
the University of Colorado Health Sciences
Center in Denver. He earned his medical degree
from Stanford and undergraduate degree in mathematics
from the University of Southern
California. Dr. Kotzin has won numerous honors,
including elected "Master" of the American College of Rheumatology,
the Kirkland Scholar Award for Lupus Research, the Henry Claman
Chair in Clinical Immunology, the Gretchen Kramer Award
for Outstanding Contributions to Medicine, and Chairmanship of the
National Institutes of Health Autoimmunity Centers of
Excellence.
"I am very enthusiastic about joining Rigel to support its
research and development efforts as it continues to advance its
pipeline," said Dr. Kotzin. "I believe the IRAK program has
significant potential for the treatment of autoimmune and
inflammatory diseases, and I look forward to offering my insights
and experience as they advance this program into the clinic next
year."
About Rigel (www.rigel.com)
Rigel
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to
discovering, developing and providing novel small molecule drugs
that significantly improve the lives of patients with immune and
hematological disorders, cancer and rare diseases. Rigel's
pioneering research focuses on signaling pathways that are critical
to disease mechanisms. The company's current clinical programs
include clinical trials of fostamatinib, an oral spleen tyrosine
kinase (SYK) inhibitor, in a number of indications. Rigel has
submitted an NDA to the FDA for fostamatinib in patients with
chronic or persistent immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). In addition,
Rigel has product candidates in development with partners BerGenBio
AS, Daiichi Sankyo and Aclaris Therapeutics.
Forward Looking Statements
This release contains
forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, the
ability of a Rigel IRAK molecule to be taken into the clinic as
well as the potential of such molecules to treat autoimmune and
inflammatory diseases. Any statements contained in this press
release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to
be forward-looking statements. Words such as "planned," "will,"
"may," "expect," "potential" and similar expressions are intended
to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are based on Rigel's current expectations and inherently
involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the
timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such forward looking statements as a result of these risks and
uncertainties, which include, without limitation, the FDA
may not approve Rigel's submitted NDA; the
availability of resources to develop Rigel's product candidates;
Rigel's need for additional capital in the future to sufficiently
fund Rigel's operations and research; the uncertain timing of
enrollment and completion of and the results of clinical studies;
market competition, risks associated with and Rigel's dependence on
Rigel's corporate partnerships; risks related to changes in
estimated cash position based on the completion of financial
closing procedures and the audit of Rigel's financial statements;
as well as other risks detailed from time to time in Rigel's
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
June 30, 2017. Rigel does not
undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements and
expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release
publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements
contained herein.
Contact: Ryan D. Maynard
Phone: 650.624.1284
Email: invrel@rigel.com
Media Contact: Jessica Daitch
Phone: 917.816.6712
Email: jessica.daitch@inventivhealth.com
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030226/RIGLLOGO
View original
content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rigel-welcomes-brian-kotzin-md-to-board-of-directors-300509548.html
SOURCE Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.