SAN DIEGO, Nov. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Mast
Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: MSTX), a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company leveraging its molecular adhesion and
sealant technology (MAST) platform to develop novel therapies for
sickle cell disease, heart failure, and stroke, today announced
that data from nonclinical studies investigating vepoloxamer, its
lead product candidate, will be featured in three poster sessions
at the 57th Annual American Society of Hematology (ASH)
Meeting and Exposition. The ASH Meeting is being held at the
Orange County Convention Center in
Orlando, Florida, December 5 through December 8, 2015.
The studies to be presented demonstrate the anti-adhesive
effects of vepoloxamer on sickle red blood cells (RBC) as well as
its protective effects on the membranes of red blood cells and
platelets. In one study, vepoloxamer was shown to result in
statistically significant reductions in the number of adherent
sickle RBC to immobilized vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)
and reductions in hemolysis in blood from patients with sickle cell
disease (SCD) (n=12). In other studies, vepoloxamer was shown
to preserve platelet function under extended storage conditions as
well as prevent exposure of a marker of platelet damage
(phosphatidyl serine) in blood samples from patients with SCD.
Dr. R. Martin Emanuele, Senior
Vice President, Development, said: "These results are encouraging
since they continue to demonstrate vepoloxamer's membrane
protecting effects. Protecting the integrity of RBC and platelet
membranes may be an important treatment goal in several clinical
conditions but especially in sickle cell disease where hemolysis
and platelet thrombosis are well known to be associated with
worsening outcomes."
Poster Information:
- A poster entitled "Evaluation of Purified Poloxamer -188
(vepoloxamer) on Sickle Red Blood Cell (RBC) Membrane Function
Properties," will be presented by Dr. Jennell White on December
6, 2015 as part of the Hemoglobinopathies, Excluding
Thalassemia – Clinical Program, Oral and Poster Abstracts Session:
114 in Hall A, Level 2.
- A poster entitled "Functional Protection of Platelets By
Tri-Block Polymer (Poloxamer-188) As Studied in Agonist Induced
Platelet Aggregation Systems," will be presented by Dr. Nil Guler
on December 5, 2015 as part of the
Platelet Activation and Biochemistry Program: Oral and Poster
Abstracts Session: 301 in Hall A, Level 2.
- A poster entitled "Characterizing Cellular Interactions
Contributing to Vaso-Occlusion in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease
Utilizing a Novel Endothelialized Microfluidic Device," will be
presented by Dr. Margo Rollins on
December 7, 2015 as part of the
Hemoglobinopathies, Excluding Thalassemia – Basic and Translational
Science Program: Oral and Poster Abstracts Session: 113 in Hall A,
Level 2.
- Copies of the posters will be available concurrent with the
presentations on the Company's website at:
http://www.masttherapeutics.com/technology/publications/
About Mast Therapeutics
Mast Therapeutics, Inc. is a
publicly traded biopharmaceutical company headquartered in
San Diego, California. The
Company is leveraging its MAST platform, derived from over two
decades of clinical, nonclinical and manufacturing experience with
purified and non-purified poloxamers, to develop vepoloxamer (also
known as MST-188), its lead product candidate, for serious or
life-threatening diseases and conditions typically characterized by
impaired microvascular blood flow and damaged cell membranes.
The Company is also developing AIR001, a sodium nitrite solution
for inhalation via nebulizer, for the treatment of heart failure
with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
Vepoloxamer is an investigational new drug being tested in a
pivotal Phase 3 study called EPIC for the treatment of
vaso-occlusive crisis in patients with sickle cell disease and in a
Phase 2 study for the treatment of patients with chronic heart
failure. AIR001 is an investigational new drug being tested in two
institution-sponsored Phase 2a studies in patients with HFpEF. More
information can be found on the Company's web site at
www.masttherapeutics.com. (Twitter: @MastThera)
Mast Therapeutics™ and the corporate logo are trademarks of Mast
Therapeutics, Inc.
Forward Looking Statements
Mast Therapeutics cautions
you that statements included in this press release that are not a
description of historical facts are forward-looking statements that
are based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions.
Such forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited
to, statements relating to prospects for successful development and
commercialization of the Company's investigational drugs, including
vepoloxamer and AIR001, and anticipated timing of achievement of
development milestones, such as commencement and completion of
clinical studies or regulatory activities, and of announcement of
study data. Among the factors that could cause or contribute to
material differences between the Company's actual results and the
expectations indicated by the forward-looking statements are risks
and uncertainties that include, but are not limited to: the
uncertainty of outcomes in ongoing and future studies of the
Company's product candidates and the risk that its product
candidates, including vepoloxamer, may not demonstrate adequate
safety, efficacy or tolerability in one or more such studies,
including EPIC and the Phase 2 study of vepoloxamer in chronic
heart failure; delays in the commencement or completion of clinical
studies, including as a result of difficulties in obtaining
regulatory agency agreement on clinical development plans or
clinical study design, opening trial sites, enrolling study
subjects, manufacturing sufficient quantities of clinical trial
material, being subject to a "clinical hold," and/or suspension or
termination of a clinical study, including due to patient safety
concerns or lack of funding; the risk that, even if planned
clinical studies are successful, the FDA or other regulatory
agencies may determine they are not sufficient to support a new
drug application; the potential that, even if clinical studies of a
product candidate in one indication are successful, clinical
studies in another indication may not be successful; the potential
for additional nonclinical or clinical studies to be required prior
to initiation of a planned clinical study; the Company's reliance
on contract research organizations (CROs), contract manufacturing
organizations (CMOs), and other third parties to assist in the
conduct of important aspects of development of its product
candidates, including clinical studies, manufacturing, and
regulatory activities for its product candidates, and that such
third parties may fail to perform as expected; the risk that the
Company may be required to repay its outstanding debt obligations
at a time that could be detrimental to its financial condition,
operations and/or business strategy; the Company's ability to
obtain additional funding on a timely basis or on acceptable terms,
or at all; the potential for the Company to delay, reduce or
discontinue current and/or planned development activities,
including clinical studies, partner its product candidates at
inopportune times or pursue less expensive but higher-risk and/or
lower return development paths if it is unable to raise sufficient
additional capital as needed; the risk that, even if the Company
successfully develops a product candidate in one or more
indications, it may not realize commercial success and may never
achieve profitability; the risk that the Company is not able to
adequately protect its intellectual property rights, through
patents or otherwise, and prevent competitors from duplicating or
developing equivalent versions of its product candidates or that
the use or manufacture of its products or product candidates
infringe the proprietary rights of others; and other risks and
uncertainties more fully described in the Company's press releases
and periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission are available at www.sec.gov.
You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date when made. Mast
Therapeutics does not intend to revise or update any
forward-looking statement set forth in this press release to
reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof,
except as may be required by law.
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120612/LA22456LOGO-a
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vepoloxamer-data-selected-for-presentation-at-57th-annual-american-society-of-hematology-ash-meeting-300179037.html
SOURCE Mast Therapeutics, Inc.