NEWER UPDATE HERE

If you follow Zafgen (NASDAQ: ZFGN), you likely have seen the stock lose 50% of value in a couple of days. The Company finally issued a statement today. Let’s take a look at that statement – below.

First, let’s look at the Buzz in the market for ZFGN:

Joan makes a valid comparison:

Slick is basically right… but… our ski is still falling: 

Interesting how many phrase the death in the $ZFGN trial as the cause considering they don’t know the cause of death. The sky is falling huh

Procal sees this death as a death for shareholders. That’s not nice, really, as someone did, in fact, die:

$ZFGN death for longs certified 100%

Biohazard points out how the game would be over:

To Open at 12:30 ET:

From Charles: 

Knutwillie says it would be the same on Monday:

More from Charles:

Did some know FIRST? Looks like it!

Faris notes the halt: 

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OFFICIAL COMPANY TWEET:

 

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Here is the Release: 

Zafgen Issues Statement

BOSTON, Oct. 14, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zafgen, Inc. (Nasdaq:ZFGN), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to significantly improving the health and well-being of patients affected by obesity and complex metabolic disorders, today issued the following statement:

“Zafgen recently learned of a patient death which occurred in the Company’s ongoing double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 3 bestPWS study of beloranib in Prader-Willi Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder with a high rate of mortality linked to obesity and its co-morbidities.  The cause of death remains unknown at this time.  According to normal practice, the event was reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, at which point the Agency initiated a discussion with the Company.  The Company is working with the Agency to expedite a review and understanding of this event, and to determine implications of the event on the conduct of the trial, and anticipates providing an update as its discussions with the Agency progress.  The thoughts of the Company are with the family of the patient at this time.  Zafgen remains committed to ensuring the safety of all patients enrolled in its studies.”

 About Zafgen

Zafgen (Nasdaq:ZFGN) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to significantly improving the health and well-being of patients affected by obesity and complex metabolic disorders. Zafgen is focused on developing novel therapeutics that treat the underlying biological mechanisms through the MetAP2 pathway. Beloranib, Zafgen’s lead product candidate, is a novel, first-in-class, twice-weekly subcutaneous injection being developed for the treatment of multiple indications, including severe obesity in two rare diseases, Prader-Willi Syndrome and obesity caused by hypothalamic injury, including craniopharyngioma-associated obesity; and severe obesity in the general population. Zafgen is also developing ZGN-839, a liver-targeted MetAP2 inhibitor, for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, and abdominal obesity, as well as second-generation MetAP2 inhibitors. Zafgen aspires to improve the lives of patients through targeted treatments and has assembled a team accomplished in bringing therapies to patients with both rare and prevalent metabolic diseases. 

Safe Harbor Statement

Various statements in this release concerning Zafgen’s future expectations, plans and prospects, including without limitation, Zafgen’s expectations regarding beloranib as a treatment for PWS, HIAO, including craniopharyngioma-associated obesity, and other forms of severe obesity, including severe obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes, its expectations with respect to the timing and success of its clinical trials of beloranib and other product candidates, including the Phase 3 bestPWS study of beloranib in PWS, the expected requirements and timing of additional clinical trials and pre-clinical studies, and its plans regarding commercialization of beloranib may constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “could increase the likelihood,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “is planned,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “will enable,” “would be expected,” “look forward,” “may provide,” “would” or similar terms, variations of such terms or the negative of those terms. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, without limitation, the FDA not agreeing with Zafgen’s ultimate assessment of the recent patient death in Zafgen’s Phase 3 bestPWS study of beloranib in PWS, the FDA’s response to the recent patient death in Zafgen’s Phase 3 bestPWS study of beloranib in PWS, which could include additional safety measures in the conduct of the trial, or placing a partial or full clinical hold on the trial, Zafgen’s ability to successfully demonstrate the efficacy and safety of its product candidates, the pre-clinical and clinical results for its product candidates, which may not support further development, actions of regulatory agencies, which may affect the initiation, timing and progress of clinical trials, obtaining, maintaining and protecting its intellectual property, Zafgen’s ability to enforce its patents against infringers and defend its patent portfolio against challenges from third parties, competition from others developing products for similar uses, Zafgen’s ability to manage operating expenses, Zafgen’s ability to obtain additional funding to support its business activities and establish and maintain strategic business alliances and new business initiatives, Zafgen’s dependence on third parties for development, manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution of products, the outcome of litigation, and unexpected expenditures, as well as those risks, are more fully discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Zafgen’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Zafgen’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Zafgen’s views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Zafgen explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT: Media/Investor Relations Contact:

Zafgen, Inc.
Patricia Allen
Chief Financial Officer
617-648-9792

Argot Partners
Investor Relations
David Pitts or Laura Perry
212-600-1902
[email protected]
[email protected]

Spectrum Science
Media Relations
Michelle Strier
202-587-2582
[email protected]