WALTHAM, Mass., March 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Repligen Corporation
(Nasdaq: RGEN) announced today that the Company has initiated a Phase 3
clinical trial to evaluate the use of RG1068, synthetic human secretin, to
improve the assessment of pancreatic duct structures by magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI). This Phase 3 study is a multi-center, baseline-controlled,
single dose study in which approximately 250 patients will receive an
unenhanced MRI followed by a secretin-enhanced MRI of the pancreas. This
study is designed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of secretin-
enhanced MRI to improve the ability to detect pancreatic duct abnormalities
relative to MRI alone. Detailed visual assessment of the pancreatic ducts
is important in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as
acute and chronic pancreatitis. This study is being conducted at
approximately 30 clinical sites within the United States and Canada.
"Based on discussions with the FDA, we believe a single positive Phase
3 clinical trial of similar design to our Phase 2 study will be sufficient
for an NDA filing," stated Walter C. Herlihy, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Repligen Corporation. "There are approximately 150,000
pancreatic MRI's conducted in the U.S. each year that could benefit from
enhancement with secretin."
Repligen previously conducted a multi-center, baseline-controlled,
single dose Phase 2 study in which 76 patients with a history of
pancreatitis received an unenhanced pancreatic MRI followed by a RG1068
enhanced pancreatic MRI. The results of the study showed an improvement in
sensitivity of detection of structural abnormalities of the pancreatic duct
of approximately 20% with no loss in specificity. In addition, the study
showed highly significant increases in physician confidence in their
ability to identify structural abnormalities, the number of pancreatic duct
segments visualized and improvement in the overall quality of the MRI
images.
RG1068 is a synthetic version of human secretin, a natural
gastrointestinal hormone involved in the process of digestion. Secretin has
been used for many years by gastroenterologists in combination with
endoscopy, an invasive procedure to evaluate and treat diseases of the
pancreas and gallbladder. There are risks associated with the use of
endoscopy, which have generated interest in the development of safer
non-invasive tests to diagnose gastrointestinal disorders. The use of
secretin in combination with a non- invasive procedure such as MRI can
improve the detection of abnormalities and increase the diagnostic quality
of the MRI image of the pancreas. The use of MRI is attractive for patient
care as it can obviate the need for more risky invasive procedures.
About Repligen Corporation
Repligen Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the
development of novel therapeutics for diseases that affect the central
nervous system. In addition, we are the world's leading supplier of
recombinant Protein A, the sales of which partially fund the advancement of
our development pipeline while supporting our financial stability.
Repligen's corporate headquarters are located at 41 Seyon Street, Building
#1, Suite 100, Waltham, MA 02453. Additional information may be requested
from http://www.repligen.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements in this release do not
constitute guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that
statements in this press release which are not strictly historical
statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding current or
future financial performance and position, management's strategy, plans and
objectives for future operations, plans and objectives for product
development, plans and objectives for present and future clinical trials
and results of such trials, plans and objectives for regulatory approval,
litigation, intellectual property, product development, manufacturing plans
and performance such as the anticipated growth in the monoclonal antibody
market and our other target markets and projected growth in product sales,
constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, without
limitation, risks associated with: the success of current and future
collaborative relationships, the market acceptance of our products, our
ability to compete with larger, better financed pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies, new approaches to the treatment of our targeted
diseases, our expectation of incurring continued losses, our uncertainty of
product revenues and profits, our ability to generate future revenues, our
ability to raise additional capital to continue our drug development
programs, the success of our clinical trials, our ability to develop and
commercialize products, our ability to obtain required regulatory
approvals, our compliance with all Food and Drug Administration
regulations, our ability to obtain, maintain and protect intellectual
property rights for our products, the risk of litigation regarding our
intellectual property rights, our limited sales and manufacturing
capabilities, our dependence on third-party manufacturers and value added
resellers, our ability to hire and retain skilled personnel, our volatile
stock price, and other risks detailed in Repligen's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Repligen assumes no obligation to
update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or
with respect to the announcements described herein.
SOURCE Repligen Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.repligen.com/
CONTACT:
Walter C. Herlihy, Ph.D., President & Chief
Executive Officer, +1-781-419-1900, or Laura L. Whitehouse, Vice
President, Market Development, +1-781-419-1812, both of Repligen
Corporation
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