PTLA Portola Pharmaceuticals Inc

– Differentiated Syk/JAK Inhibitor Studied in Patients with Heavily Pre-Treated T-Cell Malignancies –             

Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.® (Nasdaq: PTLA) today announced that new interim results from the Company’s ongoing Phase 2a study of cerdulatinib in patients with relapsed/refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), will be presented during an oral session at the 2018 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, December 1-4, 2018 in San Diego, California. 

The Company also will present new outcomes-based research on the burden of hospital readmissions for venous thromboembolism among patients with cancer during an oral session on Sunday, December 2, and two investigator-initiated animal studies highlighting the anticoagulant reversal agent Andexxa [coagulation Factor Xa (recombinant), inactivated-zhzo] will be presented in poster sessions.

“As shown at the American Society of Clinical Oncology and European Hematology Association meetings earlier this year, cerdulatinib has shown encouraging results across a range of B- and T-cell malignancies and we look forward to presenting new data specifically focused on patients with PTCL and CTCL,” said John Curnutte, M.D., Ph.D., head of research and development for Portola. “These data also will serve as a basis for further discussions with regulatory agencies regarding the potential regulatory path forward for cerdulatinib in certain tumor subtypes.” Cerdulatinib is an investigational oral, dual Syk/JAK kinase inhibitor that uniquely inhibits two key cell signaling pathways that promote cancer cell growth in certain hematologic malignancies. It is being developed for the treatment of resistant or relapsed hematologic cancer.

Oral Presentations

• 1001. The Novel Syk/JAK Inhibitor Cerdulatinib Demonstrates Good Tolerability and Clinical Response in a Phase 2a Study in Relapsed/Refractory Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma and Cutaneous T-Cell LymphomaAbstract: https://ash.confex.com/ash/2018/webprogram/Paper119944.htmlSession: 624 (Hodgkin Lymphoma and T/NK Cell Lymphoma—Clinical Studies: T Cell Lymphoma: Chemotherapy and Targeted Approaches)Presenter: Steven M. Horwitz, M.D., Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer CenterDate: Monday, December 3, 2018 at 7:15 p.m. PST; Room 6F
• 365. Burden of Hospital Readmissions for Venous Thromboembolism Among Patients with CancerAbstract: https://ash.confex.com/ash/2018/webprogram/Paper112288.htmlSession: 901 (Health Services Research—Non-Malignant Conditions: Thrombosis and AnticoagulationHematology Disease Topics & Pathways)Presenter: Alpesh Amin, M.D., M.B.A., UC IrvineDate: Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. PST; Room 8

Poster Presentations

• 2456. Reversal of Apixaban Anticoagulation with Reduced Doses of Andexanet Alfa in a Porcine Polytrauma ModelAbstract: https://ash.confex.com/ash/2018/webprogram/Paper114426.htmlSession: 321 (Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolytic Factors: Poster II Hematology Disease Topics & Pathways)Presenter: Oliver Grottke, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., University Hospital RWTH Aachen, GermanyDate: Sunday, December 2, 2018 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. PST; Hall GH
• 3778. Comparison of Second and First Generation of Andexanet Alfa in a Porcine Polytrauma Model with Apixaban AnticoagulationAbstract: https://ash.confex.com/ash/2018/webprogram/Paper114542.htmlSession: 321 (Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolytic Factors: Poster II Hematology Disease Topics & Pathways)Presenter: Oliver Grottke, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., University Hospital RWTH Aachen, GermanyDate: Monday, December 3, 2018 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. PST; Hall GH

About Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Portola Pharmaceuticals is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics that could significantly advance the fields of thrombosis and other hematologic diseases. The Company’s two FDA-approved medicines are Andexxa® [coagulation factor Xa (recombinant), inactivated-zhzo], the first and only antidote for patients treated with rivaroxaban and apixaban when reversal of anticoagulation is needed due to life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding, and Bevyxxa® (betrixaban), the first and only oral, once-daily Factor Xa inhibitor for the prevention of VTE in adult patients hospitalized for an acute medical illness. The company also is advancing cerdulatinib, a Syk/JAK inhibitor for the treatment of hematologic cancers.

Investor Contact: Cara Miller Portola Pharmaceuticalsir@portola.com 

Media Contact:Patrick RyanPure Communications pryan@purecommunications.com