Kezar Life Sciences to Present Multiple Abstracts at the 2017 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in San Diego

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Kezar Life Sciences, a private, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel small molecule therapeutics, today announced they will be presenting three abstracts as poster presentations at the 2017 ACR Annual Meeting taking place November 3-7, 2017 in San Diego.  The posters include the first public presentation of data from Kezar's Phase 1a study and new insights relating to the unique and powerful immunomodulatory role of the immunoproteasome.

"The R&D team at Kezar is looking forward to sharing detailed information on our work with the immunoproteasome and KZR-616," stated Kezar Chief Scientific Officer and President, Christopher Kirk, PhD. "We believe these new data further validate the exciting potential of KZR-616 to become a compelling new therapy across a number of unmet needs in autoimmunity." Kezar CEO John Fowler added, "I am proud of our team's excellent progress with the KZR-616 program, and grateful for the opportunity to share the favorable safety and pharmacologic data from our Phase 1a trial at ACR."

Details on the Posters to be Presented:

Title: KZR-616, a Selective Inhibitor of the Immunoproteasome, Shows a Promising Safety and Target Inhibition Profile in a Phase I, Double-Blind, Single (SAD) and Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) Study in Healthy Volunteers
Abstract Code: 2587
Session Information: Tuesday, November 7, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM; Session Title: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – Clinical Aspects and Treatment Poster III: Therapeutics and Clinical Trial Design; Session Type: ACR Poster Session C

Title: KZR-616, a Selective Inhibitor of the Immunoproteasome, Blocks the Disease Progression in Multiple Models of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Abstract Code: 2559
Session Information: Tuesday, November 7, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM; Session Title: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – Animal Models Poster; Session Type: ACR Poster Session C

Title: Selective Inhibition of the Immunoproteasome Subunit LMP7 Is Not Sufficient for Blocking Cytokine Production or Attenuating Progression of Experimental Arthritis
Abstract Code: 81
Session Information: Sunday, November 5, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM; Session Title: Cytokines, Mediators, Cell-Cell Adhesion, Cell Trafficking and Angiogenesis Poster I: The Variable World of Intercellular Signaling; Session Type: ACR Poster Session A

About Immunoproteasome Inhibition and KZR-616

Protein degradation is a key process in the function and survival of all mammalian cells and is mediated by the ubiquitously expressed proteasome.  Inhibitors of the proteasome, such as VELCADE™ and KYPROLIS™, are currently used to treat multiple myeloma, a plasma cell malignancy.  In cells of the immune system, such as T-cells, a unique form of the proteasome, termed the immunoproteasome, is expressed.  The immunoproteasome regulates multiple aspects of immune responses and selective inhibitors, such as KZR-616, are well tolerated and highly active in mouse models of rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, and lupus.

About Kezar Life Sciences

Based in South San Francisco, Kezar Life Sciences is a privately-held, clinical stage company developing novel small molecule therapeutics to treat autoimmune disorders and malignant diseases. Kezar's lead drug candidate, KZR-616, leverages more than a decade of research directed by co-founder Christopher Kirk into the unique role of the immunoproteasome in immune cell biology.  In addition, Kezar is pursuing drug discovery programs targeting protein secretion and transmembrane protein expression that include a structured research collaboration with UC San Francisco.  Kezar Life Sciences is backed by leading life sciences investors, including Cormorant Asset Management, Morningside Venture, Cowen Health Care Investments, EcoR1 Capital, Omega Funds, Pappas Capital, Qiming Venture Partners, Bay City Capital, and others. For more information, please visit www.kezarlifesciences.com.

CONTACTS:

For investors:  

Ben Matone, Burns McClellan, Inc., on behalf of Kezar Life Sciences

212-213-0006, ext. 364

[email protected]

or

Michael Wolfe, Director of Finance & Operations at Kezar Life Sciences

[email protected]

View original content with multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kezar-life-sciences-announces-successful-completion-of-phase-1a-study-and-secures-50-million-in-series-b-financing-300493266.html

SOURCE Kezar Life Sciences

Related Links

http://www.kezarlifesciences.com