On March 16, 2017 Mast Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: MSTX) reported it has set a date for a special meeting of its stockholders to vote on matters related to the proposed merger with Savara Inc. (Savara), a privately-held, clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of serious or life-threatening rare respiratory diseases (Press release, Mast Therapeutics, MAR 16, 2017, View Source [SID1234518206]).

The special meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m., local time, on April 21, 2017 at 3611 Valley Centre Drive, Suite 500, San Diego, California 92130. Mast’s stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 13, 2017 are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the special meeting.

The merger has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and the board of directors of Mast unanimously recommends that its stockholders vote "FOR" the special meeting proposals described in the proxy statement/prospectus/information statement declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2017, a copy of which will be provided to Mast stockholders of record as of March 13, 2017. The proposed merger is expected to close promptly after the Mast special meeting scheduled for April 21, 2017, subject to the approval of the stockholders of each company and the satisfaction or waiver of the other closing conditions in the merger agreement between the companies.

The combined company would advance a pipeline of novel inhalation therapies for the treatment of diseases with significant unmet medical needs, featuring three product candidates, each in advanced stages of clinical development:

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AeroVanc, an inhaled dry-powder vancomycin to treat chronic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pulmonary infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) in preparation for a pivotal Phase 3 study;

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Molgradex, an inhaled nebulized GM-CSF to treat pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) currently in Phase 2/3 development; and

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AIR001, an inhaled nebulized sodium nitrite solution to treat heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) currently in Phase 2 development.

Select Anticipated Upcoming Development Milestones

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Closing of proposed merger in Q2/2017.

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Initiate a pivotal Phase 3 study of AeroVanc in Q3/2017.

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Complete negotiations with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the requirements for a pivotal clinical study of Molgradex in the U.S. in Q3/2017.

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Announce strategy related to Molgradex program expansion for the treatment of a rare lung infection in 2017.

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Announce top-line results from Phase 2/3 study of Molgradex, expected to be registration-enabling for the treatment of PAP in Europe and Japan, in Q1/2018.

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Announce results from ongoing Phase 2 study of AIR001 for the treatment of HFpEF being conducted by the Heart Failure Clinical Research Network in Q1/2018.

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