GENFIT - The NASH Education ProgramTM announces the launch of the first International NASH Information Day on June 12, 2018: Save the date!
- A day to raise awareness around NASH, a widespread but little known disease, with severe consequences although characterized by a silent progression
- Intended for the general public, individuals at risk, patients and families, and targeted to involve more than 20 cities across Europe, the U.S. and other countries
- To be organized with the support of KOLs, learned societies, patient associations, and all stakeholders involved in the clinical management of NASH patients
- On-going discussions with several pharmaceutical companies to co-lead the initiative and maximize the outreach
Lille (France), Cambridge (Massachusetts, United States), July 13, 2017 - GENFIT (Euronext: GNFT - ISIN: FR0004163111), a biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of developing therapeutic and diagnostic solutions in metabolic and inflammatory diseases, that notably affect the liver or the gastrointestinal system, today announced that The NASH Education Program, the endowment fund GENFIT has launched in 2017, will organize the first International NASH Information Day on June 12, 2018 with the support of prominent stakeholders in the field.
NASH affects millions of people worldwide and is a leading cause of chronic liver disease in western countries, with severe consequences such as cirrhosis, liver cancer, and cardiovascular events, potentially leading to death.
Today, GENFIT is recognized as a leader in the NASH field by KOLs and healthcare-specialized investors, thanks to its comprehensive approach built upon:
- one of the most advanced therapeutic program in the NASH space, with the first-in-class compound elafibranor currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 trial in NASH and fibrosis, following an encouraging Phase 2b that showed a unique combination of (1) efficacy on NASH resolution, (2) a favorable safety & tolerability, and (3) benefit on cardiovascular risk factors;
- a unique IVD (in-vitro diagnostic) program which entered into the development phase in June 2017, aimed at providing a simple and cost-effective blood test to a broad community of clinicians to easily identify NASH patients eligible for treatment;
- The NASH Education Program, an ambitious disease awareness initiative focusing on NASH launched by GENFIT in March 2017.
Building on the success of 2017, 2018 will be a ramp-up year for The NASH Education Program. The first International NASH Information Day is designed to spread scientific and medical knowledge one step further, with events that will feature informative and educational activities across several cities and countries at the same time.
GENFIT has already received the support of many prominent NASH KOLs across the globe, many of whom have already been closely associated with the activities driven by The NASH Education Program in the first half of 2017.
Collaborations with other parties - including learned societies, patient associations, hospitals and specialized centers - will also contribute to the success of this initiative.
Recent initiatives include:
- Work with ELPA (European Liver Patient Association) in the context of the first European Policy Summit on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease held in May 2017 in Brussels European Parliament. Prof. Sven Francque, President of the Scientific Committee of The NASH Education Program invited two patients to share their experience with summit participants including European Commissioners;
- Collaboration with EASL (European Association for the Study of the Liver), through the organization of a large educational symposium in April 2017 in Amsterdam;
- Ongoing discussions with several pharmaceutical companies involved in NASH, for structuring transversal projects through patient-centric approaches placing physicians at the forefront.
Jean-François Mouney, Chairman & CEO of GENFIT, and President of The NASH Education Program commented: "We are proud to make a new step in our effort to develop disease awareness around NASH, for optimized patient outcome. Not only are NASH patients left with no treatment today, but they cannot even find appropriate information about their disease and have trouble making themselves understood when explaining their condition. 2017 was aimed at evaluating the needs in the space, and at initiating the process. 2018, with the first International NASH Information Day, will be a year of even greater accomplishment and collaboration with multiple stakeholders. The interest and support expressed by several parties after the launch of our first initiatives in 2017 is definitely an encouraging sign showing that a large transversal mobilization across the ecosystem is possible.
Today, because elafibranor has a strong potential for first line treatment, and also the potential to serve as a solid foundation for combination therapy, it is GENFIT's responsibility to anticipate and address unmet needs in the NASH and fibrosis space. GENFIT's leadership means that we have acquired a certain level of expertise. And as a pioneer in NASH disease awareness, our role today is to shape the space, i.e. develop a vision of the future patient journey, including market access for the benefit of the patient."
About NASH
"NASH", or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, is a liver disease characterized by an accumulation of fat (lipid droplets), along with inflammation and degeneration of hepatocytes. The disease is associated with long term risk of progression to cirrhosis, a state where liver function is diminished, leading to liver insufficiency, and also progression to liver cancer.
About GENFIT
GENFIT is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of drug candidates in areas of high unmet medical needs corresponding to a lack of suitable treatment and an increasing number of patients worldwide. GENFIT's R&D efforts are focused on bringing new medicines to market for patients with metabolic, inflammatory, autoimmune and fibrotic diseases, that affect the liver (such as NASH - Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) and more generally the gastro-intestinal arena. GENFIT's approach combines novel treatments and biomarkers. Its lead proprietary compound, elafibranor, is currently in a Phase 3 study. With facilities in Lille and Paris, France, and Cambridge, MA (USA), the Company has approximately 130 employees. GENFIT is a public company listed in compartment B of Euronext's regulated market in Paris (Euronext: GNFT - ISIN: FR0004163111). www.genfit.com
Forward Looking Statement / Disclaimer
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including related to biomarkers, progression of, and results of clinical data from, the RESOLVE-IT trial, review and approvals by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding in particular, elafibranor in NASH and PBC, as well as other indications, and biomarkers, the success of any inlicensing strategies, the Company's continued ability to raise capital to fund its development, as well as those discussed or identified in the Company's public filings with the AMF, including those listed under Section 4 "Main Risks and Uncertainties" of the Company's 2016 Registration Document registered with the French Autorité des marchés financiers on April 28, 2017 under n° R.17-034, which is available on GENFIT's website (www.genfit.com) and on the website of the AMF (www.amf-france.org). Other than as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements. This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to shares in GENFIT in any country. This press release has been prepared in both French and English. In the event of any differences between the two texts, the French language version shall supersede.
CONTACT
GENFIT | Jean-François Mouney - Chairman & CEO | +333 2016 4000
MILESTONES - Press Relations | Bruno Arabian | +331 8362 3484 / +336 8788 4726 - barabian@milestones.fr
