Portola Pharmaceuticals Announces Data Presentations Highlighting Syk/JAK Inhibitor Clinical Development Program at 52nd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Dec. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the presentation of preclinical study results for its novel Syk and JAK inhibitor program at the American Society of Hematology's 52nd Annual Meeting and Exposition. Portola's novel Syk and JAK inhibitors are in development to treat chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, and certain cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Poster Presentation Details

Specific Inhibition of Syk Suppresses Leukocyte Immune Function and Alleviates Inflammation In Rodent Models of Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Presenter: Greg Coffey, Ph.D., Portola Pharmaceuticals
• Poster Session: Lymphocytes, Lymphocyte Activation and Immunodeficiency, Including HIV and Other Infections: Poster I
• Date: Saturday, December 4, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Hall A3/A4 (Orange County Convention Center)
• Poster Board I-707

P505-15, a Highly Selective SYK Inhibitor, Shows Significant Activity in Primary CLL Cells and is Synergistic with Fludarabine at Low Concentrations

• Presenter: Stephen Spurgeon, M.D., Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute
• Poster Session: Lymphoma - Pre-Clinical - Chemotherapy and Biologic Agents: Poster I
• Date: Sunday, December 5, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Hall A3/A4 (Orange County Convention Center)
• Poster Board II-719

Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (Syk) Inhibitors Block B Cell Receptor Signaling and Survival In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

• Presenter: Jan Burger, M.D., Ph.D., MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Poster Session: CLL - Biology and Pathophysiology, excluding Therapy: Poster III  
• Date: Monday, December 6, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Hall A3/A4 (Orange County Convention Center)
• Poster Board III-383

Sub-Optimal Inhibition of Thrombus Formation by Aspirin (as measured by RTTP analysis) in Primary Thrombocythemia

• Presenter: Gillian Stephens, Ph.D., Portola Pharmaceuticals
• Poster Session: Pathophysiology of Thrombosis: Poster II
• Date: Monday, December 6, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Hall A3/A4 (Orange County Convention Center)
• Poster Board III-997

About Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Portola Pharmaceuticals develops innovative therapeutics based on targets with established proofs of concept that are designed to provide significant advances over current treatments for cardiovascular disease and inflammation. The company has global development and commercialization agreements with two of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies collectively valued at about $1 billion in upfront and milestone payments plus double-digit royalties on future sales. Betrixaban, its oral direct Factor Xa inhibitor, is licensed to Merck & Co., Inc., and elinogrel, its competitive, reversible direct-acting i.v. and oral P2Y12 ADP receptor antagonist, is licensed to Novartis Pharma AG. Both are Phase 2 product candidates that have best-in-class features to address the global multi-billion dollar hospital, specialty and chronic care antiplatelet and anticoagulant markets.

Portola's proprietary pipeline programs are focused on the discovery and development of PRT064445, a novel recombinant protein anticoagulant antidote, known as the Factor Xa inhibitor antidote, to help manage or reverse the bleeding complications in the tens of millions of patients expected to be treated with Factor Xa inhibitors or low-molecular weight heparin worldwide in the next decade;  PRT061103, a thromboxane receptor antagonist, which is targeted to address a significant unmet need as a potential aspirin alternative for patients intolerant to aspirin; and PRT062607, a novel, oral Syk-specific kinase inhibitor to treat chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis  and certain cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.  It is a part of our broader program based on novel Syk and JAK inhibitors to treat additional inflammatory disease and oncology. For additional information, visit www.portola.com.

SOURCE Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.