SAN MATEO, Calif., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held drug development company, announced today that it has appointed the first five members of its Scientific Advisory Board for A-623, a peptide fusion protein licensed from Amgen in December 2007 for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases. The scientific advisory board will include Jill Buyon, M.D., Betty Diamond, M.D., Kenneth Kalunian, M.D., David Wofsy, M.D., and Debra Zack, M.D., Ph.D.
“We are pleased to have recruited such an outstanding team of internationally recognized experts in the field of autoimmune disease,” said Paul F. Truex, President and Chief Executive Officer of Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “All have made significant contributions to the scientific understanding of lupus. The extraordinary magnitude of research and clinical expertise assembled on this board will be invaluable as we advance our clinical development programs for A-623.”
About AMG 623
AMG 623, which has completed Phase 1b studies in SLE patients, is a peptide fusion protein that binds to B-cell activating factor (BAFF). Anthera anticipates initiating Phase 2 studies in 2008. BAFF, a tumor necrosis factor family member, is critical for the survival and maturation of B cells. AMG 623 is a potent BAFF antagonist that is being developed as a treatment for B-cell dependent autoimmune diseases and is initially targeted for SLE.
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 and autoimmune diseases. 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 A2 (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.
pr@anthera.com
CONTACT: Anne Bowdidge of Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-650-218-6900,
pr@anthera.com
Web site: http://www.anthera.com/
