BOUDRY, Switzerland -- (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Celgene International Sàrl, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG), today announced that results from a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase II trial of GED-0301 in 166 patients with active Crohn's disease will be presented at the United European Gastroenterology Week in Vienna, Austria.

The abstract titled, MONGERSEN, AN ORAL SMAD7 ANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDE, IN ACTIVE CROHN'S DISEASE, can be viewed here.

“GED-0301, a first-in-class oral antisense therapy, has the potential to change the treatment landscape for Crohn’s disease,” said Scott Smith, President, Celgene Inflammation and Immunology. “Celgene is excited to pursue the clinical development program for this novel therapy in phase III trials in the near future.”

About GED-0301

The investigational oral drug GED-0301 is an antisense oligonucleotide that targets the messenger RNA (mRNA) for Smad7, thereby reducing Smad7 protein levels. In patients with Crohn’s disease, abnormally high levels of Smad7 interfere with TGF-β1 anti-inflammatory pathways in the gut, leading to increased inflammation. The distinct formulation of the tablet is designed to release GED-0301 into the far end of the small intestine (the terminal ileum) and near the end of the colon (right colon), where it is thought to act locally to reduce Smad7 levels.

About Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is an immune-mediated, chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn’s disease may affect any part of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus but most commonly affects the end of the small bowel (the ileum) and the beginning of the colon. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, weight loss and malnutrition. The worldwide incidence rate varies between 0.1–16/100,000 persons. The exact cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown and there is no cure.

About Celgene

Celgene International Sàrl, located in Boudry, Switzerland, is a wholly-owned subsidiary and international headquarters of Celgene Corporation. Celgene Corporation, headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, is an integrated global pharmaceutical company engaged primarily in the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases through gene and protein regulation. For more information, please visit www.celgene.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are generally statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” “will,” “outlook” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current plans, estimates, assumptions and projections, and speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement in light of new information or future events, except as otherwise required by law. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond our control. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of the impact of a number of factors, many of which are discussed in more detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:

Celgene
Investors:
Patrick E. Flanigan III, 908-673-9969
Vice President, Investor Relations
or
Media:
Catherine Cantone, 732-564-3592
Director, Corporate Communications