June 23, 2010 - Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANTH), a biopharmaceutical company developing drugs to treat serious diseases associated with inflammation and autoimmune disorders, announced patient enrollment has commenced in the Company's pivotal VISTA-16 (Vascular Inflammation Suppression to Treat Acute Coronary Syndrome for 16 Weeks) Phase 3 clinical study of varespladib (A-002). High-risk patients are defined as those who have additional disease characteristics that increase their likelihood of experiencing another coronary event; these characteristics include a history of previous cardiovascular disease, age, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome."Current best practice to slow coronary artery disease (CAD) progression and reduce the risk of a subsequent cardiovascular event is directed at the treatment of individual cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol or clotting. The VISTA-16 study with varespladib is designed to validate the hypothesis that reduction of inflammation, particularly following an ACS, leads to improved outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. The enrollment of patients in VISTA-16 is an important milestone for the development of varespladib,"... Anthera Pharmaceuticals' Press Release -
