ASLAN Pharmaceuticals and IQVIA Biotech Enter Into Strategic Collaboration

MENLO PARK, Calif. and SINGAPORE, Dec. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ASLN), a clinical-stage, immunology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments to transform the lives of patients, today announced the appointment of IQVIA Biotech, a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry, as its preferred clinical research organization for logistics related to decentralized clinical trials, including the global oversight, expansion and engagement of patients for trials related to the clinical development of ASLAN004 and ASLAN003.

IQVIA Biotech will provide patient recruitment, clinical monitoring, medical writing and biostatistics for ASLAN's upcoming 300-patient Phase 2b trial of ASLAN004 in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. IQVIA Biotech will work closely with ASLAN's management to oversee clinical operations and the recruitment of patients across sites in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. IQVIA Biotech is also positioned to collaborate with ASLAN's clinical operations team on the future development plans for ASLAN003 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with clinical trials commencing early next year. Enrollment of the first patient in the ASLAN004 Phase 2b trial is expected in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Senthil Sockalingam, Head, IQVIA Biotech Japan and Asia Pacific, commented, "We are delighted to collaborate with ASLAN on the clinical development of ASLAN003 and ASLAN004 at this exciting and critical juncture, following the successful proof-of-concept study for ASLAN004 in atopic dermatitis. Emerging biopharma companies represent a significant portion of innovation in life sciences, and their needs are nuanced. IQVIA Biotech is focused on solutions for emerging biopharma, and, with the launch of IQVIA Biotech JAPAC (Japan and Asia Pacific), will look forward to providing ASLAN with a top-tier team to deliver on its clinical milestones."

Stephen Doyle, Chief Business Officer, ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, commented, "We look forward to partnering with IQVIA Biotech as we undertake the late-stage clinical development of ASLAN004. We believe that we have identified a team with a strong reputation and commercial strategy, as well as a wide network of scientific experts with deep experience running dermatology studies to complement the clinical and medical capabilities ASLAN has built internally. Given the number of studies that IQVIA Biotech is conducting in atopic dermatitis, we are confident it can leverage its network of relationships to deliver increased efficiencies in patient recruitment for our upcoming studies."

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About ASLAN Pharmaceuticals

ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ASLN) is a clinical-stage, immunology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments to transform the lives of patients. ASLAN is currently evaluating ASLAN004, a potential first-in-class antibody targeting the IL-13 receptor, in Atopic Dermatitis (AD), and ASLAN003, a potent oral inhibitor of DHODH, which is being developed for autoimmune disease. 

ASLAN recently announced study results on ASLAN004 from a Phase 1b MAD trial which met key primary and secondary endpoints and conclusively established proof of concept, supporting the potential of ASLAN004 as a differentiated, novel treatment for AD. ASLAN has a team in Menlo Park, California, and in Singapore. For additional information please visit www.aslanpharma.com or follow ASLAN on LinkedIn.

About IQVIA

IQVIA (NYSE:IQV) is a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry. IQVIA creates intelligent connections across all aspects of healthcare through its analytics, transformative technology, big data resources and extensive domain expertise. IQVIA Connected Intelligence™ delivers powerful insights with speed and agility — enabling customers to accelerate the clinical development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments that improve healthcare outcomes for patients. With approximately 77,000 employees, IQVIA conducts operations in more than 100 countries.

IQVIA is a global leader in protecting individual patient privacy. The company uses a wide variety of privacy-enhancing technologies and safeguards to protect individual privacy while generating and analyzing information on a scale that helps healthcare stakeholders identify disease patterns and correlate with the precise treatment path and therapy needed for better outcomes. IQVIA's insights and execution capabilities help biotech, medical device and pharmaceutical companies, medical researchers, government agencies, payers and other healthcare stakeholders tap into a deeper understanding of diseases, human behaviors and scientific advances, in an effort to advance their path toward cures. To learn more, visit www.iqvia.com.

Forward looking statements

This release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the management of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Limited and/or its affiliates (the "Company"). These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's business strategy and clinical development plans; the Company's plans to develop and commercialise ASLAN003 and ASLAN004; the safety and efficacy of ASLAN003 and ASLAN004; the Company's plans and expected timing with respect to clinical trials, clinical trial enrolment and clinical trial results for ASLAN003 and ASLAN004; and the potential for ASLAN003 and ASLAN004 as treatments for autoimmune disease and atopic dermatitis, respectively; and the Company's belief that its cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund operations into late 2023. The Company's estimates, projections and other forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect the Company's business, strategy, operations or financial performance, and inherently involve significant known and unknown 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 many risks and uncertainties, which include, unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical studies; clinical site activation rates or clinical trial enrolment rates that are lower than expected; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's business and the global economy; general market conditions; changes in the competitive landscape; and the Company's ability to obtain sufficient financing to fund its strategic and clinical development plans. Other factors that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements are described in the Company's US Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports (Commission File No. 001-38475), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 2021. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "may," "might," "could," "will," "aim," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "plan," or the negative of those terms, and similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are intended to identify estimates, projections, and other forward-looking statements. Estimates, projections, and other forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and, except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or review any estimate, projection, or forward-looking statement.