Business
Kezar Life Sciences Reports First Quarter Financial Results and Provides Business Updates
KZR-616 clinical development in three severe autoimmune diseases is advancing with several data readouts expected in 2021 and 2022 KZR-261 IND submission
About this update from Kezar Life Sciences, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\nKZR-616 clinical development in three severe autoimmune diseases is advancing with several data readouts expected in 2021 and 2022 \n\n\nKZR-261 IND submission expected mid-2021, with Phase 1 trial in solid tumors expected to initiate before year-end\n\n\nCash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $142 million as of March 31, 2021\n\n\n SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nKezar Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: KZR), a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for immune-mediated and oncologic disorders, today announced its first quarter 2021 financial results and corporate highlights.\n\n“Last quarter saw excellent execution by the Kezar team across both of our programs. We look forward to sharing data this June from the completed Phase 1b portion of the MISSION study of KZR-616 in SLE patients, followed by an interim review of the Phase 2 portion of MISSION in LN patients in the fourth quarter. Our conviction continues to deepen that immunoproteasome inhibition has the potential to be a powerful, differentiated treatment approach for patients with autoimmune diseases,” said John Fowler, Kezar’s Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. “In addition, we are on track to submit an IND for KZR-261, our first-in-class protein secretion inhibitor, in mid-2021 and commence a Phase 1 study in solid tumors shortly thereafter.”\n\nClinical Highlights & Updates\n\nKZR-616: Selective Immunoproteasome Inhibitor\n\nMISSION – Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in patients with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN), respectively (NCT03393013)\n\n\nThe last patient from the MISSION Phase 1b completed treatment in February 2021, and final clinical data from this 25-week safety and tolerability study of up to 75 mg weekly of KZR-616 in 47 patients with SLE will be presented during the European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2021) in June.\n\n\nThe amended Phase 2 open-label portion of the MISSION trial in patients with active, proliferative lupus nephritis opened for enrollment in August 2020 and is actively recruiting. The primary efficacy endpoint for the trial is the proportion of patients achieving a renal response measured by a 50% or greater reduction in urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR) at six months.\n\n\nInterim data are expected in late 2021, and toplin...