VIA Pharmaceuticals Enrolls First Patient in Phase 2 Clinical Trial to Measure Impact of VIA-2291 to Reduce Vascular In...( - Comprehensive Phase 2 Program to ...),Health

- Comprehensive Phase 2 Program to Provide Initial Proof-of-Concept Data

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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VIA Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: VIAP), a biotechnology company focused on the development of compounds for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, announced today that it has enrolled the first patient in its Phase 2 clinical trial that utilizes Positron Emission Tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose tracer (FDG-PET) to measure VIA-2291's ability to reduce vascular inflammation in treated patients. The company also provided a comprehensive update of its VIA-2291 Phase 2 clinical program.

VIA-2291 is a potent small molecule drug that targets inflammation in the blood vessel wall, a primary disease process in atherosclerosis. It is being developed as a once-daily, oral drug to potentially decrease the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events associated with inflammation, including heart attack and stroke. The FDG-PET trial is one of three concurrent, ongoing Phase 2 trials testing VIA-2291 in a variety of clinical settings. The Phase 2 clinical program's innovative trial designs are intended to provide new visibility to the role of inflammation in cardiovascular disease and the potential of VIA-2291 to address vascular inflammation.

"The continued momentum in our Phase 2 clinical program and the robustness of the trial designs put us on track to deliver critical proof-of-concept data for VIA-2291 later this year," said Lawrence K. Cohen, PhD, chief executive officer of VIA Pharmaceuticals. "Inflammation is the root cause of cardiovascular disease and there remains a significant unmet need to address the major adverse events, including heart attack and stroke,
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