RAANANA, Israel, January 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.
(NASDAQ: XTLB, TASE: XTLB) ("XTL" or the
"Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing
its lead product for the treatment of lupus, today announced that
it has accepted the Lupus Foundation of America's (LFA) invitation
to join the foundation's Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) as of
January 2016.
The CAC is a collaboration of biotechnology and pharmaceutical
industry representatives formed by the Foundation to advance its
goal of stimulating development of an arsenal of treatments for
lupus and getting them to the people who need them. The LFA-CAC
partnership seeks to advance the science and medicine of lupus and
bringing down barriers to securing approval of new, more tolerable
and effective therapies for lupus.
"We welcome XTL Biopharmaceuticals as a new member of our
Corporate Advisory Council," said Sandra C.
Raymond, President and CEO of the Lupus Foundation of
America. "XTL joins our global network of lupus scientists,
physicians, industry leaders and people with lupus to help improve
how new drugs are tested and evaluated so we can deliver more
targeted and safer treatments to people with lupus faster. We are
pleased to see the re-emergence of research on the drug candidate,
hCDR1 (edratide), as a potential new treatment for lupus under
XTL."
Josh Levine, Chief Executive
Officer of XTL, commented, "We are very pleased to accept the Lupus
Foundation of America's invitation to join its Corporate Advisory
Council and work with our co-members in an effort to advance
effective treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) which
continues to represent a significant unmet medical need. We look
forward to an exchange of industry-advancing ideas with colleagues
and sharing our development experience with our lead asset,
hCDR1."
"Having recently received encouraging feedback from the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration on our pre-investigational new drug
(IND) meeting package for hCDR1 in the treatment of SLE, we expect
to file the IND shortly and initiate the Phase 2 study in the
second half of 2016," Levine added.
About hCDR1
hCDR1 is a novel compound with a unique mechanism of action and
with clinical data on over 400 patients in three clinical studies.
The drug has a favorable safety profile, is well tolerated by
patients and has demonstrated efficacy in at least one and possibly
more clinically meaningful endpoints. For more information please
see a peer reviewed article in Lupus Science and Medicine journal
(full article).
About Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease involving many systems in
the human body, including joints, kidneys, central nervous system,
heart, hematological system and others. The biologic basis of the
disease is a defect in the immune (defense) system, leading to
production of self (auto) antibodies, attacking the normal organs
and causing irreversible damage. According to the Lupus Foundation
of America, at least 1.5 million Americans have the disease (more
than five million worldwide) with more than 16,000 new cases
diagnosed each year. The majority of patients are women of
childbearing years. There has been only one drug approved by the
FDA in the last over 50 years and recently two of the few drugs in
advanced development did not meet their primary endpoints in Phase
3 trials.
About XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. (XTL)
XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., is a clinical-stage biotech company
focused on the development of pharmaceutical products for the
treatment of autoimmune diseases including lupus. The Company's
lead drug candidate, hCDR1, is a world-class clinical asset for the
treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). There currently is
no effective treatment on the market for SLE. hCDR1 has robust
clinical data in three clinical trials with 400 patients and over
200 preclinical studies with data published in more than 40 peer
reviewed scientific journals. Based on safety and efficacy data
shown in a completed Phase 2 study, the Company expects to initiate
a Phase 2 trial in 2016.
XTL is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market (XTLB) and the Tel
Aviv Stock Exchange (XTLB.TA). XTL shares are included in the
following indices: Tel-Aviv Biomed, Tel-Aviv MidCap, and Tel-Aviv
Tech Index.
Cautionary Statement
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about
XTL's expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other
things, its product development efforts, business, financial
condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. In
addition, from time to time, XTL or its representatives have made
or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "intend,"
"plan," "may," "should" or "anticipate" or their negatives or other
variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact
that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or
current matters. These forward-looking statements may be included
in, but are not limited to, various filings made by XTL with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases or oral
statements made by or with the approval of one of XTL's authorized
executive officers. Forward-looking statements relate to
anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of
the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate
to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are
inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
XTL's actual results to differ materially from any future results
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many
factors could cause XTL's actual activities or results to differ
materially from the activities and results anticipated in such
forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the
factors summarized in XTL's filings with the SEC and in its
periodic filings with the TASE. In addition, XTL operates in
an industry sector where securities values are highly volatile and
may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond its control.
XTL does not undertake any obligation to publicly update
these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. Please see the risk
factors associated with an investment in our ADSs or ordinary
shares which are included in our Annual Report on Form 20-F as
filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on
April 28 2015.
For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations, XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.
Tel: +972-9-955-7080
Email: ir@xtlbio.com
http://www.xtlbio.com
SOURCE XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd