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

To: Roland Batson who wrote (27857)	2/6/1999 9:41:00 AM
From: Henry Niman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 32384

Roland, I don't know about the TA, but the science part is easy. LGND's IR program identifies small molecules that are hormones (like Panretin) or hormone analogs (like Targretin). These molecules act by binding to a receptor and "activating" that receptor (it changes shape and frequently combines with another "activated" receptor before it latches onto DNA and turns on various sets of genes). Since the "activated" receptors form a complex group of proteins which control gene expression, its not uncommon to find synergies (one drug activates one component of the complex, while another drug activates another component). Back in 1992, Ligand scientists and consultants showed that activated RXRs (which can be activated by Panretin or Targretin) combine with PPARs (which can be activated by TZDs such as Rezulin, Avandia, and Actos). The abstract that I uploaded shows that Panretin can synergize with Avandia to suppress tumor growth in virto (pre-clinical tests with cells grown in the laboratory). The TZDs are a very hot item right now because of negative publicity received by WLA's Rezulin and to new drugs (SBH's Avandia and LLY's Actos) which are expected to hit the market this summer (see the Ligand diabetes page at biocognizance.com for details). The TZD launches are a very big deal (today's Financial Times cites the launch as one of the reasons that SBH is selling its Diversified Pharmaceuticals unit as well as its Clinical Laboratories unit (see Merger Mania section of BioCog site for details). Thus, Ligand's rexinoids have been shown to synergize with TZDs (for treating and preventing diabetes and cancer) as well as SERMs (for treating and preventing osteoporosis and breast cancer).