AASLD Foundation's Liver Disease Research and Education Initiatives Bolstered by Significant Donation from Allergan

ALEXANDRIA, Va. and DUBLIN, Feb. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Foundation, the largest private supporter of hepatology research in the United States, today announced a significant donation from Allergan to support the AASLD Foundation's research and education initiatives. With this donation, Allergan joins the AASLD Foundation's Founder's Society, the premier donor recognition circle established to honor the generosity and commitment of companies who partner with AASLD Foundation to ensure more resources for liver disease research and advanced hepatology training. AASLD Foundation's Founder's Society companies have each made commitments of $2 million or more to support AASLD Foundation's mission to invest in innovative hepatology research and in the people who study and treat liver disease.

"AASLD Foundation is proud of the impact we are making," says Bruce Bacon, MD, FAASLD, the AASLD Foundation's board of trustees Chair. "In 2016, we invested $2.63 million to fund the ideas of bright young investigators and to provide training opportunities for future hepatology leaders. However, we know there is so much more to be done, and we are grateful that Allergan recognizes that, too. This donation signifies Allergan's partnership in the fight against liver disease and its desire for a long-term investment in the discovery of innovative treatment options that promise improved patient care as well as training more professionals to care for liver disease patients. Their corporate philanthropy will help reduce the annual gap of nearly $4 million needed to fully fund meritorious research and career development awards over the next few years. This commitment will also ensure new resources are created through initiatives like the Foundation's Fundamentals of Liver Disease so more professionals are trained to care for liver disease patients."

"Allergan is focused on identifying, developing and bringing forward innovative treatments for patients with significant unmet medical needs, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The Foundation's efforts in research and training are directly aligned with several of the principles of Allergan's Social Contract with Patients, making this an ideal organization for our philanthropy," says Gavin Corcoran, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer, Allergan. "This donation underscores Allergan's commitment to supporting research and educational initiatives that advance medical innovation and the ability to save more lives, which is possible through increased research and enhanced hepatology training opportunities."

For more information about the AASLD Foundation, visit aasldfnd.org. And, for more information about Allergan, visit Allergan.com.

Allergan NASH Programs

Allergan has demonstrated category leadership in several gastrointestinal disorders (GI) and shown continued commitment to innovate and advance science and treatments for unmet medical needs. Currently, NASH represents one of the greatest unmet medical needs and is a natural and fluid extension of Allergan's broad GI portfolio. 

Late last year, Allergan acquired cenicriviroc (CVC), evogliptin and AGN-242266 (formerly AKN-083), three differentiated, complementary programs targeting different mechanisms for the multi-factorial treatment of NASH. CVC is a first-in-class, once-daily, oral Phase 3 ready, potent immunomodulator that blocks two chemokine receptors, CCR2 and CCR5, which are involved in inflammatory and fibrogenic pathways. AGN-242266 is a potentially best-in-class preclinical farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist in development for the treatment of NASH, and is highly complementary to CVC and Evogliptin. Allergan is committed to advancing its overall portfolio of NASH programs, to focus on bringing forward effective treatments for this critical disease area.

About the AASLD Foundation

AASLD Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization with a mission of investing in innovative hepatology research and in the people who study and treat liver disease. Visit aasldfnd.org to learn more about our work, or aasldfnd.org/donate to support more liver disease research and advanced hepatology training. 

About Allergan plc

Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a bold, global pharmaceutical company and a leader in a new industry model – Growth Pharma.  Allergan is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceuticals, devices and biologic products for patients around the world.

Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products for the central nervous system, eye care, medical aesthetics and dermatology, gastroenterology, women's health, urology and anti-infective therapeutic categories.

Allergan is an industry leader in Open Science, the Company's R&D model, which defines our approach to identifying and developing game-changing ideas and innovation for better patient care.  This approach has led to Allergan building one of the broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry with 65+ mid-to-late stage pipeline programs in development.

Our Company's success is powered by our more than 16,000 global colleagues' commitment to being Bold for Life. Together, we build bridges, power ideas, act fast and drive results for our customers and patients around the world by always doing what is right.

With commercial operations in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives every day.

For more information, visit Allergan's website at www.Allergan.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

Statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Allergan's current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors include, among others, uncertainty associated with the development of commercially successful branded pharmaceutical products; the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of product development efforts and regulatory agency approvals or actions, if any; the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand for Allergan's products; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE Allergan plc

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