Data From Anthera's Plasma Trial To Be Presented As Late Breaker At American College Of Cardiology Scientific Sessions

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials;  Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry;  Conferences
Article Date: 08 Feb 2008 - 0:00 PST

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Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing anti-inflammatory drugs, announced that data from the Phase II trial of its novel secretory phospholipaseA2 inhibitor Varespladib (A-002) for the treatment of coronary heart disease will be presented as a late breaker at the 2008 American College of Cardiology 57th Annual Scientific Session on Monday, March 31, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Phase II trial known as PLASMA (Phospholipase Levels And Serological Markers of Atherosclerosis) was a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled approximately 400 patients with stable coronary heart disease in the U.S. and Ukraine. Subjects were randomized to receive one of four different doses of A-002 or placebo for up to eight weeks. Patients also received doctor-determined standard of care therapies. The primary endpoint was a reduction in secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2). The study also evaluated the effect of Varespladib on cholesterol levels (LDL-C, non-HDL and total cholesterol) as well as inflammation in patients with stable coronary heart disease.

About Anthera Pharmaceuticals

Anthera Pharmaceuticals is a privately-held company committed to developing and commercializing clinical pharmaceutical products that address unmet medical needs of patients with life-threatening, chronic and acute inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders. The Company has acquired from Eli Lilly and Company and Shionogi & Co.‚ Ltd. worldwide rights (excluding Japan) to a series of clinical and pre-clinical compounds that inhibit the enzymatic activity of members of the phospholipase (PLA2) family -- a group of enzymes responsible for the release of arachidonic acid and subsequent production of leukotrienes‚ prostacyclins and other mediators of inflammation. These highly potent compounds inhibit novel‚ upstream steps in the inflammation cascade and have the potential to address a variety of diseases. The company has also acquired exclusive and worldwide rights to a peptide fusion protein, A-623, for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases from Amgen. For more information, please visit http://www.anthera.com.

Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
http://www.anthera.com

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