Business
Kezar Life Sciences Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2020 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, subject to developments
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, subject to developments in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.\n\n\nUpcoming poster presentations at AACR validate that inhibition of Sec61 with a small molecule can target multiple tumor types. \n\n\nCash and cash equivalents of $140 million as of December 31, 2020. \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 fourth quarter and year end 2020 financial results and corporate highlights.\n\n“Despite unprecedented circumstances, 2020 was a year of significant corporate and clinical accomplishments, thanks to the excellent execution by the Kezar team,” said John Fowler, Kezar’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “We advanced our lead product candidate, KZR-616, in multiple indications, and the early clinical data from MISSION strongly support its continued development for a wide range of severe immune-mediated diseases. We launched the open-label extension study for patients completing PRESIDIO, and KZR-616 was granted Orphan Drug Designations from the FDA for the treatment of polymyositis and dermatomyositis. This year we look forward to reporting the final results of the MISSION Phase 1b study and interim data from the MISSION Phase 2 study in systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis patients, respectively.” \n\nFowler continued, “Additionally, we continue to be highly encouraged by the therapeutic potential of KZR-261 and look forward to initiating a Phase 1 trial in solid tumors later this year. The data we’ll be presenting from the protein secretion program in two posters during AACR next month provides further support for inhibiting Sec61 as a target to treat various cancers.” \n\nClinical Highlights & Updates\n\nKZR-616: Selective Immunoproteasome Inhibitor\n\nMISSION – Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN), respectively (NCT03393013)\n\n\nThe 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 prima...