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Biotech / Medical : Ligand (LGND) Breakout! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: David L. Hachey who wrote (15834)	2/25/1998 10:42:00 AM
From: Flagrante Delictu	Respond to of 32384

David, At one of the bio conferences I attended in the fall, during a breakout session, LGND revealed they were working to help cognition & Alzheimers. Bernie

To: David L. Hachey who wrote (15834)	2/25/1998 12:55:00 PM
From: Henry Niman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 32384

Dave, Speaking of memory and Targretin, I think that a quick review of rexinoids and SERMs would be worthwhile. LGND's first alliance was with PFE and it targeted SERMs for treating osteoporosis. It was known that estrogen had many potential benefits (bone loss, cardiovascular, memory, Alzheimer's, baldness) but it's stimulation of uterine tissue limited its potential applications. LGND was looking for compounds that would have the benefits without the side effects. They initially came up with Droloxifene, which I believe is a derivative of Tamoxifen. They subsequently came up with CP-366,156. The osteoporosis research expanded into the women's health alliance with AHP's subsidiary, Wyeth Ayerst. A compound, TSE424, is expect to enter the clinic this quarter for osteoporosis. Most recently, LGND signed a mega deal with LLY that included an initial $49 million for research and one of the research projects targeted combining a Rexinoid (like Targretin) with a SERM (like Evista) for treating cancer (like breast) The earlier rat data indicated that such a combination may be useful in limiting side effects (Targretin not only did not have uterine stimulating properties, but it could reverse the growth stimulation caused by Tamoxifen). More recently, combination therapy using lower doses of Tamoxifen with lower doses of Targretin produce a synergenic effect on elimination of established primary breast cancers. Thus it is clearly evident that the "designer estrogens" could have a wide range of applications, and combination treatment with rexinoids could enhance the benefits.