19th Mar 2007 10:30
AstraZeneca PLC19 March 2007 Coronary Artery Disease ARISE Trial Showed AGI-1067Did Not Meet Primary Endpoint AstraZeneca today announced that its collaboration partner AtheroGenics, Inc.(Nasdaq: AGIX) revealed first results from the ARISE (Aggressive Reduction ofInflammation Stops Events) phase III clinical outcomes trial which studiedAGI-1067, an investigational anti-atherosclerotic agent with antioxidant andanti-inflammatory effects, in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The ARISE trial did not meet its primary endpoint of a statistically significantrelative risk reduction in a composite cardiovascular endpoint of CV death,resuscitated cardiac arrest, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke,use of coronary revascularisation and for angina pectoris with objectiveevidence of ischemia. AstraZeneca and AtheroGenics will now work together to fully analyse the fulldata set for AGI-1067, including these first results. After completion of thefinal analysis, under the terms of the licence and collaboration agreementAstraZeneca has a 45-day period in which to decide whether or not to continuewith the collaboration. The ARISE study ARISE was a double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled study which involvedmore than 6,000 patients with coronary artery disease from over 250 centres inCanada, South Africa, the UK and the US. The study was designed to evaluate theadditional benefits of adding AGI-1067 to current standard of care therapies, onseveral outcomes due to coronary vascular events such as death, heart attack,stroke, revascularisation and hospital admission for unstable angina. AstraZeneca AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in theresearch, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticalsand the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leadingpharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $26.47 billion and leadingpositions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience,respiratory, oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca is listed in the DowJones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4 Good Index. AtheroGenics AtheroGenics is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization ofnovel drugs for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, including heartdisease (atherosclerosis), rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. In addition toAGI-1067, the Company has another clinical-stage development programme studyingAGI-1096, a novel, oral agent in Phase I that is being developed for theprevention of organ transplant rejection in collaboration with Astellas.AtheroGenics also has preclinical programmes in rheumatoid arthritis and asthmautilizing its proprietary vascular protectant(R) technology. For moreinformation about AtheroGenics, please visit http://www.atherogenics.com. For further updates, news and information please visit http://www.astrazenecapressoffice.com or contact: Media enquiries: Patricia O'Connor, Tel: +46 708 46 76 33 Edel McCaffrey, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5034 Steve Brown, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5033 Investor Relations: Mina Blair, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5084 Jonathan Hunt, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5087 Jorgen Winroth, Tel: +1 (212) 579 0506 Ed Seage, Tel: +1 302 886 4065 19 March 2007 -Ends - This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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