- Initiates Methotrexate Interaction Trial of R788 in Rheumatoid Arthritis -
- Files IND for R763 in Cancer -
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Dec. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rigel
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RIGL) today announced that it has advanced the
clinical development programs for R788, an orally available product candidate
for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, and R763, an orally available
multi-Aurora kinase inhibitor being developed to treat cancer. The company
has initiated a Phase I double-blind, placebo controlled trial to investigate
the safety and pharmacokinetics of R788 in combination with methotrexate in
rheumatoid arthritis patients. Methotrexate is a commonly used treatment for
rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rigel also announced that it has filed an
investigational new drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for R763.
"Our clinical and research programs continue to progress and we remain
committed to our goal of initiating clinical trials with at least one new
product candidate each year," said James M. Gower, chairman and chief
executive officer of Rigel. "In 2006, we look forward to initiating efficacy
studies of R788 in rheumatoid arthritis, as well as proceeding with R763 in
cancer development."
R788 is a novel, oral syk kinase inhibitor that blocks the activation of
mast cells, macrophages and B cells that promote swelling and an inflammatory
response. It is being developed initially to treat rheumatoid arthritis, a
chronic inflammatory disease that affects nearly 2.1 million people in the
United States. RA is often progressive and debilitating, preventing people
from living a symptom-free life. Phase I trial results, completed to date,
have demonstrated that R788 is well-tolerated and showed good pharmaceutical
properties. In preclinical studies, Rigel's compound greatly diminished the
swelling and tissue destruction associated with RA. The study, done in
combination with methotrexate, will evaluate 16 patients from the United
States who have stable disease. Rigel plans to begin efficacy studies of R788
in 2006.
R763 is being developed as part of an Aurora kinase collaboration with
Serono. Serono is responsible for the further development and
commercialization of R763, as well as any other product candidates arising
from Rigel's Aurora kinase inhibitor program. R763 has been shown in in vitro
and in vivo tumor xenograft models to inhibit proliferation and trigger
apoptosis in several tumor cell lines including the cervix, colon, lung,
pancreas, and prostate.
About Rigel (www.rigel.com)
Rigel is a clinical-stage drug development company that discovers and
develops novel, small-molecule drugs for the treatment of inflammatory
diseases, cancer and viral diseases. Our goal is to move one new product
candidate for a significant indication into the clinic each year. We have
achieved this goal since 2002. Our pioneering research focuses on
intracellular signaling pathways and related targets that are critical to
disease mechanisms. Rigel's productivity has resulted in strategic
collaborations with large pharmaceutical partners to develop and market our
product candidates. We have product development programs in allergy/asthma,
rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.
This press release contains "forward-looking" statements, including
statements related to Rigel's plans to pursue clinical development of product
candidates and the timing thereof and the potential efficacy of product
candidates. Any statements contained in this press release that are not
statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements.
Words such as "plans," "intends," "expects" and similar expressions are
intended to identify these forward-looking statements. There are a number of
important factors that could cause Rigel's results to differ materially from
those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including risks
associated with the timing and success of pre-clinical studies and clinical
trials, as well as other risks detailed from time to time in Rigel's SEC
reports, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2005. Rigel does not undertake any obligation to update forward-
looking statements.
Contact: Raul Rodriguez
Phone: 650.624.1302
Email: invrel@rigel.com
Media Contact: Carolyn Bumgardner Wang, WeissComm Partners, Inc.
Phone: 415.946.1065
Email: carolyn@weisscommpartners.com
SOURCE Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
-0- 12/20/2005
/CONTACT: Raul Rodriguez of Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-650-624-1302,
or invrel@rigel.com; or Carolyn Bumgardner Wang of WeissComm Partners, Inc.,
+1-415-946-1065, or carolyn@weisscommpartners.com, for Rigel Pharmaceuticals,
Inc./
/Photo: NewsCom: newscom.com
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/Web site: rigel.com /
(RIGL)
CO: Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
ST: California
IN: MTC BIO HEA
SU: TRI
HD
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