Kezar Life Sciences Reports First Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

• Noreen R. Henig, MD appointed as Chief Medical Officer
  
  
• Additional data from the ongoing Phase 1b portion of the MISSION study to be presented before the end of Q2 2020
  
  
• IND submission for KZR-261, a first-in-class protein secretion inhibitor, is on track for Q1 2021
  
  
• Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $123 million as of March 31, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO, May 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kezar Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: KZR), a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel small molecule therapeutics to treat unmet needs in autoimmunity and cancer, today announced its first quarter 2020 financial results and corporate highlights.

“During this unprecedented health crisis, I’ve been deeply impressed by our team’s focus and continued execution across both of our programs,” said John Fowler, Kezar’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are working closely with all the sites participating in our trials with KZR-616 and look forward to sharing new data from the Phase 1b portion of our MISSION study next month.  In addition, we will present more preclinical data on our novel protein secretion inhibitor, KZR-261, in an e-poster during ASCO 2020 and remain on track for an IND submission in the first quarter of 2021.”

Recent Clinical and Business Highlights

Appointment of Chief Medical Officer

Kezar appointed Noreen Roth Henig, MD as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Henig is a seasoned leader whose career spans clinical practice, academic medicine, translational science, clinical development, medical and regulatory affairs. As an integral member of the Company’s Executive Leadership team, Dr. Henig will oversee all aspects of the Company’s clinical development, regulatory strategy, and medical affairs.

KZR-616 – Selective Immunoproteasome Inhibitor

On April 9, 2020, Kezar provided a statement on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to its clinical operations relating to KZR-616:

• Kezar’s three clinical trials with KZR-616 (MISSION, MARINA, and PRESIDIO) remain active, but due to the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare system, delays are anticipated for Phase 2 clinical development and data release milestones.
  
  
  • Kezar’s clinical team is working closely with clinical trial sites around the world to provide them with guidance for patients to safely enroll and continue on study.
    
    
  • Home health care services are available for patients participating in clinical trials with KZR-616.
    
    
  • Virtual site initiations and patient visits are being conducted where applicable.