Arena Pharmaceuticals to Host Key Opinion Leader Event on S1P Modulation and Etrasimod in Autoimmune Diseases on January 29 in New York City

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ARNA, today announced that it will host a key opinion leader (KOL) event for investors focused on sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulation in the treatment of autoimmune diseases in New York City on Monday, January 29, from 12-1:30 p.m. EST.

The meeting will feature presentations by KOLs, Jerold Chun, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Senior Vice President of Neuroscience Drug Discovery at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP), and Eric Gershwin, M.D., Distinguished Professor of Medicine, as well as the Jack and Donald Chia Professor of Medicine, and Chief of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of California Davis School of Medicine. The discussion will include the biology and function of S1P receptors and the broad potential of S1P receptor modulators for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.  Both KOLs will be available to answer questions during the event.

Additionally, Arena Pharmaceuticals' management team will provide an overview of etrasimod, an investigational-stage, potentially best-in-class oral, next generation, S1P receptor modulator being evaluated for multiple autoimmune diseases. S1P modulation is associated with over 400 diseases, with 80+ high-potential targets across multiple therapeutic areas. The etrasimod optimized receptor and pharmacokinetic profile provides for broad clinical utility resulting in the potential to treat patients across various autoimmune indications.

Etrasimod is currently in a Phase 2 multinational trial for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC); additional Phase 2 studies for pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are also ongoing.  Etrasimod Phase 2 data in UC are expected in Q1 2018.

Attendance at the event is intended for institutional investors, sell-side analysts, investment bankers, and business development professionals. Please RSVP in advance if you would like to attend, as space is limited. To reserve a spot, please contact LifeSci Advisors LLC at Mac@LifeSciAdvisors.com. A live and archived webcast of the event, with slides, will be available to the public under the investor relations section of Arena's website at www.arenapharm.com and at http://lifesci.rampard.com/20180129/reg.jsp. A replay of the presentation will be available for 30 days following the event.

Jerold Chun, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor and Senior Vice President of Neuroscience Drug Discovery at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP). He is also Adjunct Professor in the Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine and Adjunct Professor in the Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Department at The Scripps Research Institute. Dr. Chun was previously Senior Director and Department Head of Molecular Neuroscience at Merck Research Laboratories before returning to academia as Professor at TSRI and adjunct professor at UCSD. He has made important contributions to our understanding of the brain and its diseases, which has provided clinical researchers with a new understanding of the most common forms of Alzheimer's disease and other brain diseases. In separate work, Dr. Chun identified the first lysophospholipid receptor, which is part of a growing class of lipid receptors that have led to new neuroscience drugs (e.g., Gilenya for Multiple Sclerosis) and an understanding of other diseases including hydrocephalus, schizophrenia, neuropathic pain and fibrosis. He has also made contributions to our understanding of cell death and brain development. Authoring more than 250 scientific papers, he has been recognized in Thomson Reuters' World's Most Influential Scientific Minds citation list, is a member of numerous editorial, advisory, and review boards in both academia and industry; and has received awards from the NIH, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, The Klingenstein Fund, and The March of Dimes.

Eric Gershwin, M.D., is currently Distinguished Professor of Medicine, as well as the Jack and Donald Chia Professor of Medicine, Chief of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of California School of Medicine in Davis. Dr. Gershwin has been continuously funded by NIH since 1975 and has published more than 20 books, 800 experimental papers, and 200 book chapters or review articles. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Autoimmunity and also Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology and on the editorial board of multiple other journals. His major contributions revolve around the theme of autoimmune disease. Dr. Gershwin was the first individual to clone an autoantigen and identified the mitochondrial autoantigens of PBC in 1986. Subsequently, his lab has focused entirely on PBC and his diagnostic reagents have become the standard throughout the world. He is listed in the top 1% of all cited authors in Pubmed in immunology and has published more original work on primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune liver disease than any other individual in the world. Finally, Dr. Gershwin has sat and chaired on committees for NIH, NSF, USDA, FTC and the FDA.

About Etrasimod
Etrasimod (APD334), is an oral, next generation, selective sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator, discovered by Arena, designed to provide systemic and local cell modulation by selectively targeting S1P receptor subtypes 1, 4 and 5, while avoiding subtypes 2, 3. Etrasimod exhibits potentially best-in-class pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics with rapid onset of action and rapid recovery of T lymphocytes. Selective binding with S1P receptor subtype 1 is believed to inhibit a specific subset of activated lymphocytes from migrating to sites of inflammation. The result is a reduction of circulating T and B lymphocytes that leads to anti-inflammatory activity and immune surveillance is maintained. The receptor subtypes 4, 5 exhibit similar activity on additional proliferating immune cell types. Optimized pharmacology and pharmacokinetics may allow improved clinical utility across a broad range of autoimmune or immune-mediated conditions.
Etrasimod is an investigational compound not approved for any use in any country.

About Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by an inappropriate immune response against substances and tissues that are normally present in the body. In an autoimmune reaction, a person's antibodies and immune cells target healthy tissues, triggering an inflammatory response. Reducing the immune and/or inflammatory response is an important goal in the treatment of autoimmune disease.

About Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease that affects the large intestine. The innermost lining of the large intestine becomes inflamed and ulcers may form on the surface, which can cause symptoms such as frequent bowel movements, diarrhea and bloody stools. The inflammation is usually found in the rectum and can include all or a portion of the colon. Currently available treatment options have limitations in terms of side effects, patient response, efficacy and administration. We believe that an effective, oral, selective S1P receptor modulator that provides clinical benefits without current limitations has the potential to improve treatment for patients with ulcerative colitis.

About Arena Pharmaceuticals
Arena Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel, small molecule drugs with optimized receptor pharmacology designed to deliver broad clinical utility across multiple therapeutic areas. Our proprietary pipeline includes potentially first- or best-in-class programs for which we own global commercial rights. Our three most advanced investigational clinical programs are ralinepag (APD811) which will be commencing a Phase 3 program for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), etrasimod (APD334) in Phase 2 evaluation for multiple autoimmune indications, and APD371 in Phase 2 evaluation for the treatment of pain associated with Crohn's disease. In addition, Arena has collaborations with the following pharmaceutical companies: Eisai Co., Ltd. and Eisai Inc. (Belviq®), Axovant Sciences (nelotanserin - Phase 2), Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (preclinical), and Everest Medicines Limited (Greater China and limited other regions for ralinepag and etrasimod).

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements may be identified by introductory words such as "will," "focused on," "potential," "being evaluated for," "expected," "intended," "designed to," "potentially," "believed to," "may," "goal," "can," "believe," or words of similar meaning, or by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about the KOL event; the ongoing Phase 2 program for etrasimod, including the ability to complete planned trials of etrasimod; the expected timing of clinical data; the potential of etrasimod, including to improve treatment of UC patients, to deliver clinical utility across a range of autoimmune conditions and to become a disease modifying or best-in-class therapy; the potential of Arena's drugs and drug candidates; and Arena's focus, programs and collaborations. For such statements, Arena claims the protection of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual events or results may differ materially from Arena's expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include the following: enrolling patients in our ongoing and intended clinical trials is competitive and challenging; clinical trials and other studies may not proceed at the time or in the manner expected or at all; results of clinical trials and other studies are subject to different interpretations and may not be predictive of future results; the timing and outcome of research, development and regulatory review is uncertain; topline data may not accurately reflect the complete results of a particular study or trial; nonclinical and clinical data are voluminous and detailed, and regulatory agencies may interpret or weigh the importance of data differently and reach different conclusions than Arena or others, request additional information, have additional recommendations or change their guidance or requirements before or after approval; unexpected or unfavorable new data; risks related to developing and commercializing drugs; we expect to need additional funds to advance all of our programs, and you and others may not agree with the manner we allocate our resources; our drug candidates may not advance in development or be approved for marketing; Arena's revenues are based in part on estimates, judgment and accounting policies, and incorrect estimates or disagreement regarding estimates or accounting policies may result in changes to Arena's guidance or previously reported results; government and third-party payor actions, including relating to reimbursement and pricing; risks related to relying on collaborative arrangements; the entry into or modification or termination of collaborative arrangements; Arena's and third parties' intellectual property rights; and satisfactory resolution of litigation or other disagreements with others. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by Arena's forward-looking statements are disclosed in Arena's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to our Annual Report on Form 10-K which was filed on March 15, 2017 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q which was filed on November 8, 2017. These forward-looking statements represent Arena's judgment as of the time of this release. Arena disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as may be required under applicable law.

Corporate Contact:
Kevin R. Lind
Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
klind@arenapharm.com
858.210.3636

Media Contact:
Matt Middleman, M.D.
LifeSci Public Relations
matt@lifescipublicrelations.com
646.627.8384

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SOURCE Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.