KalVista Pharmaceuticals to Support Global Conference Focused on Hereditary Angioedema

BOSTON and SALISBURY, England, May 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

KalVista Pharmaceuticals today announced its support of the third Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) Global Conference in Madrid, Spain, from 19-22 May 2016. The theme for the 2016 HAE Global Conference is "Creative Advocacy for Expanding Access to Therapy."

Andrew Crockett, KalVista's CEO, said: "KalVista is delighted to support the HAE Global Conference, which aligns with our mission to provide oral treatments for HAE patients. We believe that an oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor provides a more convenient way to manage HAE and improve quality of life."  

HAE is a rare and potentially life-threatening genetic condition. People living with this disease are susceptible to sudden and prolonged attacks of swelling in the hands, feet, face and airway, and abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

The HAE Global Conference is organized by HAEi, the international umbrella organization for the world's HAE patient groups. HAEi brings together patients, care givers, healthcare professionals, and industry representatives as a worldwide network dedicated to raising awareness of C1-inhibitor deficiencies. The HAE Global Conference program will include scientific and medical background on HAE, the most recent clinical and diagnostic advances, and advocacy strategies/techniques for gaining and broadening access to HAE medicines. For more information, click here.

About Hereditary Angioedema 

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare and potentially life-threatening genetic condition that occurs in fewer than 1 in 10,000 people. HAE patients are susceptible to sudden and prolonged attacks of edema, which often occur in the hands, feet, face, gastrointestinal tract, and airway.  Attacks can result in severe swelling and pain, airway blockage, and nausea. Treatment of HAE consists of both prophylaxis and management of acute attacks. For additional information on HAE, click here.

About KalVista Pharmaceuticals 

KalVista is a pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecule serine protease inhibitors for diseases with significant unmet needs. KalVista's R&D team has developed a proprietary portfolio of small molecule plasma kallikrein inhibitors targeting hereditary angioedema (HAE) and diabetic macular edema (DME). The Company's portfolio of orally-delivered plasma kallikrein inhibitors are advancing rapidly towards clinical testing. KalVista's most advanced program, an intravitreally administered plasma kallikrein inhibitor, has successfully completed its first-in-human study in patients with DME and is being prepared for Phase 2 studies. Plasma kallikrein is a serine protease and an important component of the body's inflammatory response. It circulates as an inactive enzyme (plasma prekallikrein), which upon activation at the site of vascular injury initiates a cascade that results in increased levels of the potent vasoactive peptide bradykinin, which in turn leads to dilation of blood vessels and increased vascular permeability, edema, and inflammation.

The Company has raised capital from international life science investors: Longwood Fund, Novo A/S, RA Capital Management, SV Life Sciences, and Venrock. In addition, its development programs have received grant support from the JDRF, Innovate UK, and the European Commission. http://www.KalVista.com