-Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 5:30 pm; Handlery Hotel-
Report is Available for Download at: www.lifesciadvisors.com/clients/anthera
Anthera Pharmaceuticals will host a teach-in event at the Handlery Hotel on Sunday, January 6, 2013 in conjunction with the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference. The Company will highlight its expanded pipeline, which includes a Phase 2/3 program targeting IgA Nephropathy. Dr. Adrian Liew, head of the Renal Medicine Department at the Tang Tock Seck Hospital in Singapore and Principal Investigator for Anthera’s planned late-stage clinical trial in IgA Nephropathy, will present.
Anthera Event
Presentation of Expanded Pipeline
Dr. Adrian Liew
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Handlery Hotel – 351 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA
The teach-in event led by Dr. Adrian Liew, head of the Renal Medicine Department at the Tang Tock Seck Hospital in Singapore, will discuss the epidemiology, pathology and potential use of a BAFF inhibitor such as blisibimod for the treatment if IgA nephropathy. Dr. Liew is the Principal Investigator for Anthera’s planned late-stage clinical trial of blisibimod in IgA nephropathy. IgA nephropathy, also known as Berger’s disease, is the most common cause of primary glomerulonephritis worldwide, with prevalence as high as 45% in Asia. The disease is caused by the deposition of immune complexes in the kidney (primarily IgA). The resultant injury leads to microhematuria and proteinuria with as many as 30% patients eventually progressing to end-stage renal failure.
In our view there are several factors in play which will lead Anthera to accelerate the development of orphan indications for blisibimod in 2013. First and foremost, we believe there is a substantial body of scientific evidence that will validate the development of blisibimod in orphan therapeutic indications, such as immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy and lupus nephritis. In addition, we believe Benlysta’s slow commercial launch has created a temporary overhang on other systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) development programs. While recent Benlysta sales have shown improvement, we believe the company will prioritize investment in orphan indications ahead of SLE until the SLE commercial market is further validated. The development of orphan indications should be substantially less capital intensive, resulting in more reasonable financing requirements. In parallel, we expect Anthera to continue looking for a pharmaceutical partner to help advance blisibimod into a pivotal Phase III trial for patients with lupus.