Ligand Announces Positive Preclinical Data on LGD-6972 at the American Diabetes
Association's 72nd Scientific Sessions
SAN DIEGO, Jun 11, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
(LGND) announced today that a poster entitled "LGD-6972, a Potent,
Orally-Bioavailable, Small Molecule Glucagon Receptor Antagonist for the
Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes" was presented at the 72nd Scientific Sessions of
the American Diabetes Association (ADA), June 8-12, 2012, in Philadelphia. The
poster provides data from preclinical studies of a novel compound, LGD-6972 that
has demonstrated promising glucose lowering activity in various animal models of
type 2 diabetes.
In preclinical studies, Ligand evaluated the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and
safety of LGD-6972.
The key findings include:
-- LGD-6972 is a highly potent and selective glucagon receptor antagonist
-- LGD-6972 inhibits glucagon-induced hyperglycemia in both rats and monkeys
-- LGD-6972 lowers glucose in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus
-- Preclinical studies demonstrated robust pharmacokinetics and predict LGD-6972
will be amenable to once daily oral dosing in humans
-- IND-enabling safety studies support the initiation of clinical development
planning for LGD-6972
"We are extremely pleased with our R&D team's progress on LGD-6972. Type 2
diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and is a major and quickly growing
global health concern that currently affects over 200 million people worldwide,"
said Matthew W. Foehr, Chief Operating Officer of Ligand Pharmaceuticals.
"LGD-6972 is an extremely promising and differentiated novel agent with
significant market potential and a strong intellectual property position.
Glucagon receptor antagonists represent a clinically validated new class of
molecules for the treatment for Type 2 diabetes. We see LGD-6972 as one of our
most promising unpartnered preclinical assets."
About Ligand's Glucagon Receptor Antagonist Program
Glucagon is a hormone produced by the pancreas that stimulates the liver to
produce glucose (sugar). Overproduction of glucose by the liver is an important
cause of high glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and is believed to
be due in part to inappropriately elevated levels of glucagon. High glucose
levels can cause diabetic complications such as blindness and kidney disease.
Glucagon receptor antagonists are designed to lower glucose levels by reducing
the production of glucose by the liver. Glucagon receptor antagonists are novel
molecules that have demonstrated a reduction of glucose and hemoglobin A1c in
mid-stage clinical trials.
About Ligand Pharmaceuticals
Ligand is a biopharmaceutical company with a business model that is based upon
the concept of developing or acquiring royalty revenue generating assets and
coupling them to a lean corporate cost structure. Ligand's goal is to produce a
bottom line that supports a sustainably profitable business. By diversifying the
portfolio of assets across numerous technology types, therapeutic areas, drug
targets, and industry partners, we offer investors an opportunity to invest in
the increasingly complicated and unpredictable pharmaceutical industry. In
comparison to its peers, we believe Ligand has assembled one of the largest and
most diversified asset portfolios in the industry with the potential to generate
revenue in the future. These therapies address the unmet medical needs of
patients for a broad spectrum of diseases including diabetes, hepatitis, muscle
wasting, Alzheimer's disease, dyslipidemia, anemia, asthma and osteoporosis.
Ligand's Captisol platform technology is a patent protected, chemically modified
cyclodextrin with a structure designed to optimize the solubility and stability
of drugs. Ligand has established multiple alliances with the world's leading
pharmaceutical companies including GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Pfizer, Eli Lilly &
Company, Baxter International, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Onyx
Pharmaceuticals, Lundbeck Inc., The Medicines Company, Curis, Inc. and Rib-X
Pharmaceuticals. Please visit captisol.com for more information on
Captisol. For more information on Ligand, please visit ligand.com.
Follow Ligand on Twitter @Ligand_LGND.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements by Ligand that involve
risks and uncertainties and reflect Ligand's judgment as of the date of this
release. These include statements regarding data analysis and evaluation of
LGD-6972 and/or other Glucagon receptor antagonists, utility or potential
benefits to patients, plans for continued development and further studies of such
compounds. Actual events or results may differ from our expectations. For
example, there can be no assurance that other trials or evaluations of LGD-6972
and/or other Glucagon receptor antagonists will be favorable or that they will
confirm results of previous studies, that data evaluation will be completed or
demonstrate any hypothesis or endpoint, that such compounds will provide utility
or benefits to certain patients, that any presentations will be favorably
received, that such compounds will be useful with other drugs, that marketing
applications will be filed or, if filed, approved, or that clinical or commercial
development of these drugs will be initiated, completed or successful or that our
rights to LGD-6972 and/or other Glucagon receptor antagonists will not be
successfully challenged. Our stock price may suffer as a result of the failure of
any trials to be completed or meet their endpoints or if any actual events differ
from our expectations. Additional information concerning these and other risk
factors affecting Ligand can be found in prior press releases as well as in
public periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available
via ligand.com. Ligand disclaims any intent or obligation to update
these forward-looking statements beyond the date of this release.
SOURCE: Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
John Higgins, President & CEO
Erika Luib, Investor Relations
858-550-7896
@Ligand_LGND
or
Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.
Don Markley
310-691-7100
dmarkley@lhai.com
@LHA_IR_PR |
