SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.,
Dec. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/
-- Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RIGL), today announced
that Eldon Mayer has resigned from
his position as chief commercial officer effective December 23, 2019, to pursue an opportunity with
an emerging company.
"We would like to thank Eldon for his efforts to successfully
bring Rigel's first product to market," said Raul Rodriguez, president and CEO. "Our highly
experienced and motivated commercial team with proven senior
leadership has grown U.S. TAVALISSE sales on a quarterly basis
since launch and we are well positioned to maintain this upward
momentum. Our goal is to continue to increase U.S. ITP market share
for TAVALISSE while also focusing on the potential of this product
in warm AIHA, for which we remain on track to complete enrollment
in mid-2020."
Rigel's senior commercial leadership team, all of whom have been
with Rigel since prior to the launch of TAVALISSE®
(fostamatinib disodium hexahydrate) tablets and played significant
roles in establishing the current commercial infrastructure, will
report directly to Mr. Rodriguez during this interim period. Rigel
has commenced a search for a new chief commercial officer focusing
on an experienced leader with a track record of driving market
share growth and managing a product in multiple indications.
About ITP
In patients with ITP (immune
thrombocytopenia), the immune system attacks and destroys the
body's own blood platelets, which play an active role in blood
clotting and healing. Common symptoms of ITP are excessive
bruising and bleeding. People suffering with chronic ITP may
live with an increased risk of severe bleeding events that can
result in serious medical complications or even death.
Current therapies for ITP include steroids, blood platelet
production boosters (TPO-RAs) and splenectomy. However, not all
patients respond to existing therapies. As a result, there remains
a significant medical need for additional treatment options for
patients with ITP.
About AIHA
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a
rare, serious blood disorder in which the immune system produces
antibodies that result in the destruction of the body's own red
blood cells. AIHA affects approximately 40,000 adult patients in
the U.S. and can be a severe, debilitating disease. To date, there
are no disease-targeted therapies approved for AIHA, despite the
unmet medical need that exists for these patients. Warm
antibody AIHA (wAIHA), the most common form of AIHA, is
characterized by the presence of antibodies that react with the red
blood cell surface at body temperature.
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
hematologic disorders, cancer and rare diseases. Rigel's pioneering
research focuses on signaling pathways that are critical to disease
mechanisms. The company's first FDA approved product is
TAVALISSE® (fostamatinib disodium hexahydrate), the only
oral spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitor, for the treatment of
adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia who have had an
insufficient response to a previous treatment. Rigel's current
clinical programs include a Phase 3 study of fostamatinib in
autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA); a recently completed Phase 1
study of R8351, a proprietary molecule from its
interleukin receptor associated kinase (IRAK) program; and an
ongoing Phase 1 study of R5521, a proprietary molecule
from its receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIP1) inhibitor
program. In addition, Rigel has product candidates in clinical
development with partners Aclaris Therapeutics, AstraZeneca,
BerGenBio ASA, and Daiichi Sankyo.
1The product for this use or indication is
investigational and has not been proven safe or effective by any
regulatory authority.
Please see www.TAVALISSE.com for full
Prescribing Information.
Forward Looking Statements
This release contains
forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, Rigel's
efforts to identify a chief commercial officer, the commercial
goals of TAVALISSE sales in the U.S. and the potential of
fostamatinib in AIHA. 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 "goals", "potential",
"may", "expects", 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, risks and
uncertainties associated with the commercialization and marketing
of TAVALISSE; risks that the FDA, EMA or other regulatory
authorities may make adverse decisions regarding fostamatinib;
risks that TAVALISSE clinical trials may not be predictive of
real-world results or of results in subsequent clinical trials;
risks that TAVALISSE may have unintended side effects, adverse
reactions or incidents of misuses; the availability of resources to
develop Rigel's product candidates; market competition; 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 September
30, 2019. 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.
IR Contact: David Burke
Phone: 650.624.1232
Email: dburke@rigel.com
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SOURCE Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.