Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACHN), the
leader in complement alternative pathway therapeutics, today
announced that Mingjun Huang, Ph.D., is being promoted to Senior
Vice President and Head of Research. With this promotion, Dr. Huang
broadens her leadership responsibility to all aspects of discovery
and non-clinical development. The Company also announced today that
Joel Barrish, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific
Officer, plans to leave the Company for personal reasons.
Dr. Huang joined Achillion in 2001 as Director
of Biology and has advanced through her outstanding contributions
to the Company’s discovery efforts and her innovations in building
the Company’s drug portfolio. She is a pioneer in the discovery and
development of the first oral factor D inhibitor, ACH-4471, as well
as the next-generation compounds.
"Mingjun's leadership since the inception of the
complement program has been fundamental to our understanding of the
biology underlying complement factor D inhibition. Her work ethic,
scientific acumen, and passion to develop innovative therapies for
patients are second to none. I am excited that Mingjun is assuming
the leadership of the discovery engine at Achillion," said Milind
S. Deshpande, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Achillion.
Dr. Huang received her medical training at
Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, her Ph.D. at the
University of New Mexico, and her postdoctoral training at the
National Institutes of Health. She was a research fellow at
National Cancer Institute and also head of antiviral research at
Southern Research Institute prior to joining Achillion. Dr. Huang
has published over thirty research articles and reviews in
prestigious journals, and has presented extensively at
international medical and scientific conferences.
Dr. Barrish’s resignation as Chief Scientific
Officer is effective as of July 14, 2017. There are no plans to
seek a replacement for his position at this time. "In the past year
under Joel's tenure, we have significantly expanded the breadth and
depth of our Factor D inhibitor library. We wish him the best in
his new endeavors," said Deshpande.
Achillion continues to dose PNH patients in a
phase 2 study of its first complement factor D inhibitor, ACH-4471,
and plans to report interim data during its second quarter 2017
results call. ACH-4471 is also poised to begin a phase 2 clinical
study in C3G, a rare kidney disease for which there currently are
no approved treatments.
In recent years, Achillion researchers have
designed a library of over 2,000 small molecule inhibitors of
complement factor D. Factor D occupies a critical position in the
complement alternative pathway. Dysregulation of the alternative
pathway can induce inflammation and tissue damage and is associated
with a variety of diseases, including paroxysmal nocturnal
hemoglobinuria (PNH), C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), immune complex
membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) and dry
age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD). Achillion's lead
candidate, ACH-4471, entered the clinic last year and is reported
to be the first factor D inhibitor to demonstrate complement
alternative pathway inhibition in humans after oral dosing.
About the Achillion Complement Factor D
Platform
Achillion has leveraged its internal discovery
capabilities and a novel complement-related platform to develop
small molecule drug candidates that are oral inhibitors of
complement factor D. Factor D is an essential serine protease
involved in the complement pathway, a part of the innate immune
system. Achillion's complement platform is focused on seeking to
advance small molecule compounds that inhibit factor D and can
potentially be used in the treatment of immune-related diseases in
which complement alternative pathway plays a critical role.
Potential indications being evaluated for these compounds include
PNH, C3G, IC-MPGN and geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of
dry AMD.
About Achillion
Pharmaceuticals
Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHN) is
a science-driven, patient-focused company seeking to leverage its
strengths across the continuum from discovery to commercialization
in its goal of providing better treatments for people with serious
diseases. The company employs a highly-disciplined discovery and
development approach that has allowed it to pursue best-in-class
oral antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C (HCV) and build a
platform of potent and specific complement inhibitors. Achillion is
rapidly advancing its efforts to become a fully-integrated
pharmaceutical company with a goal of bringing life-saving
medicines to patients with rare diseases. More information is
available at http://www.achillion.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and
other important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.
Achillion may use words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,”
“target,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,”
“can,” “could” “focus,” “will,” “look forward,” “goal,” “may,”
“potential” and similar expressions to identify such
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements also
include statements about: the development of Achillion’s product
candidates and the timing of reporting interim data; the potential
benefits of, and potential indications for, Achillion’s compounds
that inhibit factor D; and statements concerning Achillion’s
strategic goals, efforts, plans, and prospects. Among the important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those indicated by such forward-looking statements are risks
relating to, among other things, Achillion’s ability to: advance
the preclinical and clinical development of its complement factor D
inhibitors under the timelines it projects in current and future
preclinical studies and clinical trials; obtain and maintain patent
protection for its drug candidates and the freedom to operate under
third party intellectual property; demonstrate in any current and
future clinical trials the requisite safety, efficacy and
combinability of its drug candidates; obtain and maintain necessary
regulatory approvals; establish commercial manufacturing
arrangements; identify, enter into and maintain collaboration
agreements with third-parties, including the current collaboration
with Janssen; compete successfully in the markets in which it seeks
to develop and commercialize its product candidates and future
products; manage expenses; manage litigation; raise the substantial
additional capital needed to achieve its business objectives; and
successfully execute on its business strategies. These and other
risks are described in the reports filed by Achillion with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2017, and its
subsequent SEC filings.
In addition, any forward-looking statement in
this press release represents Achillion's views only as of the date
of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing
its views as of any subsequent date. Achillion disclaims any duty
to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by
applicable law.
Contact:
Glenn Schulman
Executive Director, Investor Relations
Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tel. (203) 752-5510
gschulman@achillion.com
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