"This collaborative discovery by Alexion and Yale scientists significantly extends our clinical research in patients with both acute and chronic cardiac diseases," said Leonard Bell, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Alexion. "These observations also further support the strong rationale for our three ongoing 1,000 patient clinical efficacy trials in cardiopulmonary bypass and myocardial infarction indications with our humanized antibody fragment 5G1.1-SC."
According to the European Society of Cardiology, there are approximately one million annual hospital admissions in the United States and Western Europe for patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Alexion's C5 complement inhibitors are designed to selectively block the production of inflammation-causing proteins in a process of the human immune system known as the complement cascade. Selective suppression of this immune response may provide a significant therapeutic advantage relative to existing therapies. Because of the generally beneficial effects of the components of the complement cascade prior to the fifth component (C5) and the greater inflammatory disease-promoting effects of the cleavage products of C5, the Company has identified C5 as a potentially effective anti-inflammatory drug target.
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Contact: Dr. Leonard Bell
BellL@alxn.com
203-776-1790
Noonan/Russo Communications
12-Mar-2000