Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACHN), a
biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing oral small-molecule
factor D inhibitors to modulate the complement alternative pathway,
today announced the launch of a new patient support initiative
called WeC3G™, aimed at raising awareness and understanding of C3
glomerulopathy (“C3G”) a rare and chronic disease affecting the
kidneys.
WeC3G, sponsored by Achillion, is an initiative
to connect patients and families living with C3G to information,
support, resources, and each other to help to shine the light on
C3G. The initial launch includes a program website containing
patient and caregiver resources, educational material, a digital
toolkit, and the ability to sign up for ongoing news and
updates.
Milind Deshpande, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer
of Achillion, commented, “On this Rare Disease Day, Achillion is
proud of its sponsorship of WeC3G, along with other recent efforts,
such as supporting a global natural history study of C3G to track
the course of this disease, and sponsorship of last August’s
Patient Focused Drug-Development (PFDD) meeting for C3G hosted by
the National Kidney Foundation. Achillion is steadfastly committed
to innovative research with a goal of addressing unmet medical
needs of patients with C3G by advancing potentially
disease-modifying therapies.”
To learn more, please visit the WeC3G website,
http://www.WeC3G.com, or follow WeC3G on Facebook,
http://www.facebook.com/wec3g, where patients and caregivers can
join the conversation.
C3 glomerulopathy (glo-MER-u-LOP-ah-the), or
C3G, is a rare, chronic disease in which experts believe that a
specific part of the immune system, the alternative pathway of the
complement system, is not well controlled, resulting in deposition
of C3 protein fragments in the kidney often leading to damage and
potential loss of function. It has been estimated that there are
approximately 4,000 people in the United States living with C3G, a
disease for which there are no approved treatments.
Achillion Pharmaceuticals is focused on
modulation of the complement system via oral small-molecules that
inhibit the alternative pathway (AP), a potentially transformative
approach to overcoming a variety of immunological, hematologic and
nephritic diseases for which patients have limited or no treatment
options. We believe factor D inhibition represents a highly
innovative and differentiated mechanism of action with the
potential to address C3G.
About Rare Disease Day
Rare Disease Day is an annual event that takes
place on the last day of February. Its goal is to help policy
makers and the public understand the impact of rare diseases, such
as C3G, on the lives of patients. To learn more, please visit
http://www.rarediseaseday.org.
About C3G
C3G is a devastating disease affecting the
kidneys for which there is no approved therapy. C3G affects men and
women equally. There are estimated to be approximately 4,000 C3G
patients in the United States, more than 4,000 in Europe, and more
than 1,000 patients with this disease in Japan. C3G describes a
rare renal disease characterized by the presence of predominantly
C3 protein fragments in the filtering units (glomeruli) of the
kidney. These C3 fragment deposits are thought by experts to be the
result of overactivation of the complement alternative pathway. The
chronic deposition of C3 fragments results in inflammation in the
glomeruli (glomerulonephritis) and subsequent permanent renal
damage. An estimated 30-50% of C3G patients will require dialysis
or a transplant within 10 years of diagnosis.
For additional information on Achillion’s C3G
clinical trials, please visit:
- Proof of Concept Study for 6 Month Treatment in Patients With
C3 Glomerulopathy (C3G): NCT03369236
- Proof-of-Mechanism Study to Determine the Effect of ACH-0144471
on C3 Levels in Patients With C3G or IC-MPGN: NCT03124368
About the Complement Factor D
Platform
Achillion has leveraged its internal discovery
capabilities and a novel complement-related drug development
platform to develop small molecule factor D inhibitor compounds
that target the complement AP. Factor D is an essential serine
protease involved in the AP, a part of the innate immune system.
Achillion's complement platform is focused on seeking to advance
small molecule compounds that inhibit factor D and can potentially
be used in the treatment of immune-related diseases in which the AP
plays a critical role. Potential indications currently being
evaluated for these compounds include C3G, immune complex-mediated
membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN), and paroxysmal
nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).
About Achillion
Pharmaceuticals
Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHN) is
a science-driven, patient-focused company seeking to leverage its
capabilities across the continuum from discovery to
commercialization in its goal of providing better treatments for
people with serious diseases. The company employs a
highly-disciplined discovery and development approach that has
allowed it to build a platform of potent and specific complement
factor D inhibitors for AP-mediated diseases. Achillion is rapidly
advancing its efforts to become a fully-integrated pharmaceutical
company with a goal of bringing life-saving medicines to patients
with rare diseases. More information is available
at http://www.achillion.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and
other important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.
Achillion may use words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,”
“target,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,”
“can,” “could” “focus,” “will,” “look forward,” “goal,” “may,”
“potential,” and similar expressions to identify such
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements also
include statements about: the potential benefits of, and potential
indications for Achillion's compounds that inhibit factor D; and
statements concerning Achillion's strategic goals, efforts, plans,
and prospects. Among the important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements are risks relating to, among other
things Achillion's ability to: advance the preclinical and clinical
development of its complement factor D inhibitors under the
timelines it projects in current and future preclinical studies and
clinical trials; obtain and maintain patent protection for its drug
candidates and the freedom to operate under third party
intellectual property; demonstrate in any current and future
clinical trials the requisite safety, efficacy and combinability of
its drug candidates; obtain and maintain necessary regulatory
approvals; establish commercial manufacturing arrangements;
identify, enter into and maintain collaboration agreements with
third-parties; compete successfully in the markets in which it
seeks to develop and commercialize its product candidates and
future products; manage expenses; manage litigation; raise the
substantial additional capital needed to achieve its business
objectives; and successfully execute on its business strategies.
These and other risks are described in the reports filed by
Achillion with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2017, and any subsequent SEC filings.
In addition, any forward-looking statement in
this press release represents Achillion's views only as of the date
of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing
its views as of any subsequent date. Achillion disclaims any duty
to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by
applicable law.
Investors & Media:
Glenn Schulman, PharmD, MPH
Executive Director, Investor Relations
Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tel. (203) 752-5510
gschulman@achillion.com
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