SAN DIEGO, April 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mast
Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: MSTX) today announced that, in an
ex vivo study conducted at Loyola
University Medical Center, MST-188 reduced the mean
erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) by 50% relative to control in
blood collected from individuals with sickle cell disease.
ESR, a common laboratory test and measure of inflammation,
describes the rate at which red blood cells (RBC) travel through
anti-coagulated blood. When an inflammatory process is
present, the high proportion of proteins in the blood, such as
fibrinogen, cause RBC to form aggregates, increasing viscosity and
impairing microvascular blood flow. Data from the study were
presented at the 8th Annual Sickle Cell Disease Research
& Educational Symposium, currently underway in
Miami.
Martin Emanuele, Ph.D., Senior
Vice President, Development, said: "Patients suffering
vaso-occlusive crisis experience an inflammatory state where cells,
proteins, and other molecules increasingly adhere to each other and
blood vessel walls, resulting in physical 'log jams' that obstruct
blood flow, cause severe pain, and accelerate organ damage and
failure. Reducing RBC aggregation may be integral to
restoring normal blood flow to tissue. The data from this
study are consistent with observations in prior studies that
MST-188 decreases blood viscosity and RBC aggregation and improves
microvascular blood flow, and supportive of the potential for
MST-188 to shorten the duration of sickle cell crisis."
Dr. Emanuele continued: "It is widely understood that multiple
biological processes contribute to vaso-occlusion and that an
effective solution requires a broad, multi-modal approach rather
than a single targeted therapy. In addition to the effects on
RBC aggregation, our data suggest that MST-188 addresses cell
adhesion and platelet activation, reduces hemolysis, lowers blood
viscosity and limits reperfusion injury following restoration of
blood flow. We plan to conduct additional studies that will
augment the growing body of data supporting the broad utility of
MST-188 as a multi-modal approach to treating sickle cell
disease."
Abstract Information:
- The abstract entitled "Effect of Purified Poloxamer 188 or
Various Dextrans on Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate in Patients with
Sickle Cell Disease" was presented by Martin Emanuele, Ph.D., Senior Vice President,
Development
- The abstract is available on the Company's website at
www.masttherapeutics.com/technology/publications/.
About Mast Therapeutics
Mast Therapeutics, Inc. is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical
company headquartered in San
Diego, California. The Company is leveraging the MAST
(Molecular Adhesion and Sealant Technology) platform, derived from
over two decades of clinical, nonclinical and manufacturing
experience with purified and non-purified poloxamers, to develop
MST-188, its lead product candidate, for serious or
life-threatening diseases and conditions typically characterized by
impaired microvascular blood flow and damaged cell
membranes.
The Company is enrolling subjects in EPIC, a pivotal phase 3
study of MST-188 in sickle cell disease, and has initiated a phase
2, clinical proof-of-concept study to evaluate whether MST-188
improves the effectiveness of recombinant tissue plasminogen
activator therapy in patients with acute limb ischemia. The
Company also is developing MST-188 in heart failure and plans to
announce its clinical development plans in this indication in the
second half of 2014. More information can be found on the
Company's web site at www.masttherapeutics.com. (Twitter:
@MastThera)
Mast Therapeutics™ and the corporate logo are trademarks of Mast
Therapeutics, Inc.
Forward Looking Statements
Mast Therapeutics cautions you that statements included in this
press release that are not a description of historical facts are
forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current
expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the
potential of MST-188 in sickle cell disease, including with respect
to shortening the duration of vaso-occlusive crisis, and the
Company's clinical development plans for MST-188 in sickle cell
disease and heart failure. Among the factors that could cause
or contribute to material differences between the Company's actual
results and the expectations indicated by the forward-looking
statements are risks and uncertainties that include, but are not
limited to: the uncertainty of outcomes in ongoing and future
studies of the Company's product candidates and the risk that its
product candidates, including MST-188, may not demonstrate adequate
safety, efficacy or tolerability in one or more such studies,
including EPIC; delays in the commencement or completion of
clinical studies, including as a result of difficulties in
obtaining regulatory agency agreement on clinical development plans
or clinical study design, opening trial sites, enrolling study
subjects, manufacturing sufficient quantities of clinical trial
material, being subject to a "clinical hold," and/or suspension or
termination of a clinical study, including due to patient safety
concerns or lack of funding; the potential for institutional review
boards or the FDA or other regulatory agencies to require
additional nonclinical or clinical studies prior to initiation of a
phase 2 clinical study of MST-188 in heart failure or other
indications; the risk that, even if clinical studies are
successful, the FDA or other regulatory agencies may determine they
are not sufficient to support a new drug application; the potential
that, even if clinical studies of a product candidate in one
indication are successful, clinical studies in another indication
may not be successful; the Company's reliance on contract research
organizations (CROs), contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs),
and other third parties to assist in the conduct of important
aspects of development of its product candidates, including
clinical studies, and regulatory activities for its product
candidates and that such third parties may fail to perform as
expected; the Company's ability to obtain additional funding on a
timely basis or on acceptable terms, or at all; the potential for
the Company to delay, reduce or discontinue current and/or planned
development activities, including clinical studies, partner its
product candidates at inopportune times or pursue less expensive
but higher-risk and/or lower return development paths if it is
unable to raise sufficient additional capital as needed; the risk
that, even if the Company successfully develops a product candidate
in one or more indications, it may not realize commercial success
with its products and may never generate revenue sufficient to
achieve profitability; the risk that the Company is not able to
adequately protect its intellectual property rights relating to the
MAST platform and MST-188 or AIR001 and prevent competitors from
duplicating or developing equivalent versions of its product
candidates; and other risks and uncertainties more fully described
in the Company's press releases and periodic filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's public filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available at
www.sec.gov.
You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date when made. Mast
Therapeutics does not intend to revise or update any
forward-looking statement set forth in this press release to
reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof,
except as may be required by law.
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