Lexicon Genetics Unveils New Ophthalmology Therapeutic Program
But what about some INDs ?
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lexicon Genetics Incorporated (Nasdaq: LEXG - News) announced that Brian P. Zambrowicz, Ph.D., executive vice president of research at Lexicon, will announce the addition of a new therapeutic area of ophthalmology. Dr. Zambrowicz will speak at The 5th Brain Research Symposium - Neurogenomics: of Mice and Men in New Orleans, Louisiana at 3:30 p.m. CST on Thursday, November 6, 2003. In addition, Lexicon's associate director of Ophthalmology, Dennis S. Rice, Ph.D., will present novel findings on the ophthalmic function of a transmembrane protein, which was discovered as part of Lexicon's Genome5000 program. To date, Lexicon has identified multiple targets with potential for treating diseases and conditions of the eye. Ophthalmology will be Lexicon's sixth therapeutic area, in addition to metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer, immune system disorders and neurological disorders.
Lexicon's physiology-based assays in the Genome5000 program include non- invasive tests to identify targets with therapeutic utility in ophthalmology. Lexicon has discovered potential ophthalmic uses for druggable targets and will be evaluating their efficacy in areas such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and retinopathy of prematurity. The combination of functional genomics with the assessment of the eye provides Lexicon strong leverage to identify drugs to meet large unmet medical needs in the field of ophthalmology.
"Ophthalmology testing is a natural extension of our work as part of the Genome5000 program," said Dr. Zambrowicz. "For the past few years, we have conducted non-invasive tests on the eye for every gene in our Genome5000 program. Armed with this extensive database of information, we are quickly moving forward with potential drug development targets for ophthalmologic disorders."
About Lexicon Genetics
Lexicon Genetics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery of breakthrough treatments for human disease. Lexicon is using gene knockout technology to systematically discover in living mammals, or in vivo, the physiological functions and pharmaceutical utility of genes. The Company's gene function discoveries fuel therapeutic discovery programs in diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, cancer, immune and ophthalmologic disorders. Lexicon has established drug discovery alliances and functional genomics collaborations with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, research institutes and academic institutions throughout the world to commercialize its technology and turn its discoveries into drugs. Additional information about the Company is available through Lexicon's corporate website, www.lexicon-genetics.com . |
