Taipei, Taiwan, 29 April 2017 – ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (ASLAN, 6497.TT), a biotech company focused on the development of immunotherapies and targeted agents for Asia prevalent tumour types, today announced its support of the first biliary tract cancer patient group in Taiwan.
The group is founded and launched by Chung San Medical University Hospital to support biliary tract cancer patients and their caregivers. ASLAN will be conducting an awareness talk on biliary tract cancer and treatment options during the patient group’s launch event on Saturday, 29 April, at the hospital’s Da Vinci Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre. Biliary tract cancer is a highly prevalent disease in Asia. There are more than 100,000 patients suffering from biliary tract cancer in Asia1, and patients diagnosed often face poor prognosis. There are currently no approved therapies for the treatment of biliary tract cancer. ASLAN is currently conducting phase 3 trials for its lead asset, varlitinib, for the treatment of biliary tract cancer.
Dr Hsieh Chih-Yi, General Manager of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, Taiwan, said: “As a company committed to developing treatments for Asia prevalent diseases such as biliary tract cancer, ASLAN is pleased to support the formation of a patient group solely dedicated to biliary tract cancer patients. Patient support groups are important sources of information and comfort for patients and their families – an avenue for them to receive emotional support and care, and to share their experiences with one another.”
ASLAN is also partnering with the Hope Foundation for Cancer Care to develop a mobile application that will provide patients with easily accessible patient care information, and aims to launch the application this year.
Chris Fang
ASLAN Pharmaceuticals
Tel: +886 2 2757 6700
E-mail: investor@aslanpharma.com
Emma Thompson / Stephanie Tan
Spurwing Communications
Tel: +65 6340 7287
Email: ASLAN@spurwingcomms.com
About biliary tract cancer
Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is comprised of several types, including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and gall bladder cancer. There are more than 100,000 patients suffering from BTC in Asia, and incidence rate is particularly high in Southeast Asia due to parasitic infections from liver flukes2.[1][2] .
Depending on the progression of disease, a BTC patient has three main options: surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Late-stage patients are often prescribed chemotherapy as treatment. There is no single dominant form of chemotherapy for BTC as the best regimen remains to be determined.
About ASLAN Pharmaceuticals
ASLAN Pharmaceuticals is an oncology focused biotechnology company developing a portfolio of immunotherapies and targeted drugs, focusing on Asia prevalent tumour types. Led by a highly experienced management team with global pharmaceutical expertise, ASLAN is headquartered in Singapore with a platform that reaches across the region via its offices in Taiwan, China and Australia, enabling the Company to conduct and support regional clinical development programmes. The Company is developing 5 drugs addressing multiple indications including biliary tract cancer, gastric cancer and breast cancer. ASLAN has several compounds in late stage development: varlitinib (ASLAN001), a pan-HER inhibitor which has completed phase 2 studies in gastric and breast cancer, and is entering pivotal studies for biliary tract cancer; and ASLAN002 (partnered with BMS), a RON and cMET inhibitor in phase 2 development for gastric and breast cancer. www.aslanpharma.com
The group is founded and launched by Chung San Medical University Hospital to support biliary tract cancer patients and their caregivers. ASLAN will be conducting an awareness talk on biliary tract cancer and treatment options during the patient group’s launch event on Saturday, 29 April, at the hospital’s Da Vinci Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre. Biliary tract cancer is a highly prevalent disease in Asia. There are more than 100,000 patients suffering from biliary tract cancer in Asia1, and patients diagnosed often face poor prognosis. There are currently no approved therapies for the treatment of biliary tract cancer. ASLAN is currently conducting phase 3 trials for its lead asset, varlitinib, for the treatment of biliary tract cancer.
Dr Hsieh Chih-Yi, General Manager of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, Taiwan, said: “As a company committed to developing treatments for Asia prevalent diseases such as biliary tract cancer, ASLAN is pleased to support the formation of a patient group solely dedicated to biliary tract cancer patients. Patient support groups are important sources of information and comfort for patients and their families – an avenue for them to receive emotional support and care, and to share their experiences with one another.”
ASLAN is also partnering with the Hope Foundation for Cancer Care to develop a mobile application that will provide patients with easily accessible patient care information, and aims to launch the application this year.
Chris Fang
ASLAN Pharmaceuticals
Tel: +886 2 2757 6700
E-mail: investor@aslanpharma.com
Emma Thompson / Stephanie Tan
Spurwing Communications
Tel: +65 6340 7287
Email: ASLAN@spurwingcomms.com
About biliary tract cancer
Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is comprised of several types, including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and gall bladder cancer. There are more than 100,000 patients suffering from BTC in Asia, and incidence rate is particularly high in Southeast Asia due to parasitic infections from liver flukes2.[1][2] .
Depending on the progression of disease, a BTC patient has three main options: surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Late-stage patients are often prescribed chemotherapy as treatment. There is no single dominant form of chemotherapy for BTC as the best regimen remains to be determined.
About ASLAN Pharmaceuticals
ASLAN Pharmaceuticals is an oncology focused biotechnology company developing a portfolio of immunotherapies and targeted drugs, focusing on Asia prevalent tumour types. Led by a highly experienced management team with global pharmaceutical expertise, ASLAN is headquartered in Singapore with a platform that reaches across the region via its offices in Taiwan, China and Australia, enabling the Company to conduct and support regional clinical development programmes. The Company is developing 5 drugs addressing multiple indications including biliary tract cancer, gastric cancer and breast cancer. ASLAN has several compounds in late stage development: varlitinib (ASLAN001), a pan-HER inhibitor which has completed phase 2 studies in gastric and breast cancer, and is entering pivotal studies for biliary tract cancer; and ASLAN002 (partnered with BMS), a RON and cMET inhibitor in phase 2 development for gastric and breast cancer. www.aslanpharma.com
