SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/
-- Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:RIGL) today announced that Brian L. Kotzin, M.D. has been appointed to
Rigel's board of directors. A well-respected former professor and clinical researcher, Dr. Kotzin brings to Rigel's board
three decades of experience in the areas of immunology and inflammation.
"We are excited to welcome Dr. Kotzin to our board, and we feel confident that his leadership will be of great value to
Rigel," said Raul Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer of Rigel. "We look forward to
working with Dr. Kotzin and benefitting from his strategic counsel, as we continue to evolve our pipeline and move our new IRAK
molecule into clinical development."
A board-certified rheumatologist and internist, Dr. Kotzin is currently Principal Fellow, Clinical Development at Nektar
Therapeutics. From 2004 to 2015, he was Vice President, Global and Clinical Development and Head, Inflammation Therapeutic
Area at Amgen, directing the global development efforts for product candidates in the inflammation area. Before joining Amgen,
Dr. Kotzin was the head of Clinical Immunology in the Department of Medicine and director of the Autoimmunity Center of
Excellence at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. He earned his medical degree
from Stanford and undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Southern
California. Dr. Kotzin has won numerous honors, including elected "Master" of the American College of Rheumatology,
the Kirkland Scholar Award for Lupus Research, the Henry Claman Chair in Clinical Immunology, the Gretchen Kramer Award
for Outstanding Contributions to Medicine, and Chairmanship of the National Institutes of Health Autoimmunity Centers of
Excellence.
"I am very enthusiastic about joining Rigel to support its research and development efforts as it continues to advance its
pipeline," said Dr. Kotzin. "I believe the IRAK program has significant potential for the treatment of autoimmune and
inflammatory diseases, and I look forward to offering my insights and experience as they advance this program into the clinic
next year."
About Rigel ( www.rigel.com
)
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to discovering, developing and providing novel small
molecule drugs that significantly improve the lives of patients with immune and hematological disorders, cancer and rare
diseases. Rigel's pioneering research focuses on signaling pathways that are critical to disease mechanisms. The company's
current clinical programs include clinical trials of fostamatinib, an oral spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitor, in a number of
indications. Rigel has submitted an NDA to the FDA for fostamatinib in patients with chronic or persistent immune
thrombocytopenia (ITP). In addition, Rigel has product candidates in development with partners BerGenBio AS, Daiichi Sankyo and
Aclaris Therapeutics.
Forward Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, the ability of a Rigel IRAK
molecule to be taken into the clinic as well as the potential of such molecules to treat autoimmune and inflammatory
diseases. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be
forward-looking statements. Words such as "planned," "will," "may," "expect," "potential" and similar expressions are intended to
identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Rigel's current expectations and
inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from
those anticipated in such forward looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without
limitation, the FDA may not approve Rigel's submitted NDA; the availability of resources to develop Rigel's
product candidates; Rigel's need for additional capital in the future to sufficiently fund Rigel's operations and research; the
uncertain timing of enrollment and completion of and the results of clinical studies; market competition, risks associated with
and Rigel's dependence on Rigel's corporate partnerships; risks related to changes in estimated cash position based on the
completion of financial closing procedures and the audit of Rigel's financial statements; as well as other risks detailed from
time to time in Rigel's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2017. Rigel does not undertake any obligation to update
forward-looking statements and expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to
any forward-looking statements contained herein.
Contact: Ryan D. Maynard
Phone: 650.624.1284
Email: invrel@rigel.com
Media Contact: Jessica Daitch
Phone: 917.816.6712
Email: jessica.daitch@inventivhealth.com
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SOURCE Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.