WASHINGTON, April 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vanda
Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Vanda) (Nasdaq: VNDA) today announced the
initiation of the CALYPSO program to study the role that human
genetic variations play in SARS-CoV-2 ("COVID-19") infection and
disease progression. As a part of the CALYPSO program, Vanda will
collaborate with University of
Washington School of Medicine and its Virology Lab on a
pharmacogenetics study in patients with COVID-19. The study will
focus on the sequencing of the genome of individual patients, as
well as the COVID-19 virus, and the identification of genetic
factors that correlate with disease progression and outcomes.
In support of this study, Vanda and UW Medicine plan to collect
Whole-Genome Sequencing ("WGS") data from over 1,000 patients with
COVID-19 infection, and perform Viral Genome Sequencing, which
should enable Vanda and the UW Medicine Virology Lab to explore
host susceptibility, associations of WGS with clinical outcomes and
severity of disease, as well as host-virus interactions. The study
is scheduled to begin enrollment in the coming weeks and will be
open to patients in hospitals and clinics around the United States.
"We look forward to the advancement of our program and the
opportunity to work with and leverage the expertise of UW Medicine
to expand our understanding of the COVID-19 infection mechanism,"
said Mihael H. Polymeropoulos, M.D.,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Vanda.
"The study has the potential to provide new insights into
virus–host interactions that could lead to more effective public
health strategies and the design and development of vaccines and
therapeutics," said Sandra P.
Smieszek, Ph.D., Head of Genetics at Vanda. "With the vast
amount of data we expect to collect, the team will aim to discern
the factors associated with severity and other critical, clinical
characteristics of the infected individuals."
"By leveraging our sequencing expertise and capabilities in
collaboration with Vanda, we will be able to provide the necessary
insight for potentially life-saving solutions for patients," said
Alex Greninger M.D., Ph.D., M.S.,
M.Phil., Assistant Professor, Laboratory Medicine, Assistant
Director, Virology Division at the University
of Washington School of Medicine. "We believe this
collaboration will help answer critical questions and hopefully
outcomes in the fight against COVID-19."
"We are grateful to collaborate with Vanda as we try to find
better ways to care for people currently suffering from COVID-19,
and as we develop plans for the next phase of the national
response," said Keith R. Jerome,
M.D., Ph.D., Head of Virology Division at the University of Washington School of Medicine. "The
approach of combining host and viral genomics to identify the most
promising treatments may serve as a model for future efforts around
the world. This unique agreement positions UW Medicine and Vanda
for potentially changing the course of the COVID-19 pandemic."
"This is the type of collaboration we need to bring solutions to
patients suffering in this time of crisis," said Dr. Greninger. "We
look forward to getting this important work underway."
About Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Vanda is a leading global biopharmaceutical company focused on
the development and commercialization of innovative therapies to
address high unmet medical needs and improve the lives of patients.
For more on Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc., please visit
www.vandapharma.com and follow us on Vanda's Twitter and
LinkedIn.
About UW Virology
The UW Virology is one of nine divisions comprising the
Department of Laboratory Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The UW
Medicine Virology Clinical Laboratories perform diagnostic testing
for a full range of human pathogens including respiratory viruses,
herpes group viruses, HIV, hepatitis, and enteric viruses, and was
one of the earliest providers of COVID-19 testing. The Division
provides the highest quality patient care and serves as a model of
excellence for clinical laboratories across the nation. Its UW
Virology Lab is also recognized as a worldwide leader in virology
research. UW Medicine Virology's research programs integrate the
latest in computational, laboratory, and clinical research methods
to advance the understanding of infectious diseases. Many past and
current faculty members in the Virology Division have received
prestigious awards recognizing their scientific achievements.
Vanda Contact:
AJ Jones II
Chief Corporate Affairs and Communications Officer
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
202-734-3400
pr@vandapharma.com
UW Medicine Contact:
Susan Gregg
Director, Media Relations
206-616-6730
sghanson@uw.edu
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Various statements in this release are "forward-looking
statements" under the securities laws. These forward-looking
statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the
design, enrollment and anticipated findings of the CALYPSO program,
the promotion of more effective public health strategies and the
design and development of vaccines and therapeutics.
Forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that
involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions and
uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those reflected in Vanda's forward-looking
statements include, among others: Vanda's ability to enroll
patients for, and successfully conduct, the study described in this
press release; the ability of Vanda, either alone or with its
partners, to process the data collected and subsequently develop
effective vaccines or therapeutics; the ability to obtain FDA
approval of any such vaccines or therapeutics; and other factors
that are set forth in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" sections of Vanda's annual report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2019,
which is on file with the SEC and available on the SEC's website at
www.sec.gov. Additional factors may be set forth in those sections
of Vanda's annual report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended
March 31, 2020, to be filed with the
SEC in the second quarter of 2020. In addition to the risks
described above and in Vanda's annual report on Form 10-K and
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, other unknown or unpredictable
factors also could affect Vanda's results. There can be no
assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by
Vanda will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that
they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Vanda.
Therefore, no assurance can be given that the outcomes stated in
such forward-looking statements and estimates will be achieved. All
written and verbal forward-looking statements attributable to Vanda
or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their
entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to
herein. Vanda cautions investors not to rely too heavily on the
forward-looking statements Vanda makes or that are made on its
behalf. The information in this release is provided only as of the
date of this release, and Vanda undertakes no obligation, and
specifically declines any obligation, to update or revise publicly
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
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SOURCE Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.