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Biotech / Medical : Ligand (LGND) Breakout!
LGND 197.62+0.1%Dec 24 12:59 PM EST
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To: Andrew H who wrote (3592)6/18/1997 6:20:00 AM
From: Henry Niman   of 32384
 
Andy, LGND has two leptin deals in the works. The first targets signalling and it should benefit the most from the latest AMGN clinicals. That program targets small molecules that will mimic the signal generated when leptin binds to its receptor. It would bypass a potential defect in leptin transport across the blood brain barrier (which LGND thinks is a significant problem among a subset of obese individuals). The small molecules would passively cross the barrier and affect appetite. It could be much more effective than injected leptin or even increasing serum levels of leptin.

The second approach uses small molecules that interact with proteins regulating leptin levels. This approach is more like AMGN's except LGND is developing small molecules that could be taken orally. Thus a higher dose could be acheived without injection. Injection has caused problems at high doses. Moreover, the protein (leptin) will be much more expensive to make and costs to the patient will be much higher. The small molecules that LGND identifies will not only be cheap to manufacture, but they are also very easily to modified in the lab which then generates a long line of 2nd and 3rd generation compounds as is happening with the retinoids and anti-estrogens (as well as all other non-polypeptide hormones and analogs that LGND is persuing).

Henry
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