* Novel Target for Regulating Intraocular Pressure in the Eye
* Currently No Marketed Drugs Targeting LX7101 Mechanism of Action
* Glaucoma Affects 4 Million Americans, 65 Million Worldwide
* Lexicon Now Has Six Drug Candidates in Development
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Aug. 12, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:LXRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for human disease, announced today that it has initiated formal preclinical development of LX7101, a new drug candidate for glaucoma. LX7101 is a small molecule compound that may have application in treating glaucoma by lowering fluid pressure in the eye through a new mechanism of action. Glaucoma is a disease of the eye which gradually impairs vision and is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. Upon successful completion of preclinical development, Lexicon plans to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for LX7101.
Drugs currently on the market for glaucoma lower intraocular pressure by either reducing aqueous humor production or by increasing the passive outflow of fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye. Lexicon's drug candidate, LX7101, reduces intraocular pressure by enhancing the outflow facility of the eye. Increased resistance to fluid outflow facility is thought to be a major contributing factor to the higher incidence of glaucoma that is observed as people age.
"Our drug discovery strategy is continuing to produce a pipeline of novel programs with significant potential to advance medicine," said Arthur T. Sands, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer. "LX7101 is now the sixth drug discovery program to enter formal preclinical development as part of Lexicon's 10TO10 Program."
The target of LX7101 was discovered by Lexicon scientists through the company's Genome5000(tm) program, which was designed to determine the function of 5,000 druggable genes using knockout mice. Lexicon's ophthalmology team launched a drug discovery program based on the observation that knockout mice lacking the gene encoding the target of LX7101 had lower intraocular pressure compared to normal mice. Lexicon's medicinal chemists then developed a series of small molecules that could be administered in an eye drop. A single topical dose significantly reduced intraocular pressure in a model of ocular hypertension. After extensive testing, LX7101 was identified as a drug candidate with the right profile to enter formal preclinical development.
"Our LX7101 compound addresses an important mechanism that regulates intraocular pressure in humans," said Brian Zambrowicz, Ph.D., Lexicon's executive vice president and chief scientific officer. "LX7101 has the potential to be an effective pressure lowering agent in patients with glaucoma."
Video Presentation on LX7101
For additional information about LX7101, please view the video presentation on Lexicon's website, www.lexpharma.com.
About Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually impair vision and are usually associated with abnormally high fluid pressure within chambers of the eye (intraocular pressure). All forms of glaucoma damage the optic nerve, and may lead to blindness. While diagnosis and treatment options have improved, many patients still suffer from partial or total vision loss. Risk factors for glaucoma include age, genetic history, diabetes, and nearsightedness. According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, glaucoma is estimated to affect 65 million people worldwide, including more than 4 million Americans.
About Lexicon
Lexicon is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for human disease. Lexicon currently has six drug candidates in development for autoimmune disease, carcinoid syndrome, cognitive disorders, diabetes, glaucoma and irritable bowel syndrome, all of which were discovered by the company's research team. The company is using its proprietary gene knockout technology to characterize approximately 5,000 genes in its Genome5000(tm) program, and has discovered more than 100 promising drug targets. Lexicon has applied small molecule chemistry and antibody technology to these biologically-validated targets to create its extensive pipeline of clinical and preclinical programs. Lexicon's goal is to advance 10 drug candidates into human clinical trials by the end of 2010, the strategic objective of its 10TO10 program. For additional information about Lexicon and its programs, please visit www.lexpharma.com.
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Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements," including statements relating to Lexicon's preclinical development of LX7101, and the potential therapeutic and commercial potential of LX7101. This press release also contains forward-looking statements relating to Lexicon's growth and future operating results, discovery and development of products, strategic alliances and intellectual property, as well as other matters that are not historical facts or information. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations and involve risks, uncertainties and other important factors, specifically including those relating to Lexicon's ability to successfully complete preclinical development of LX7101, and preclinical and clinical development of its other potential drug candidates, advance additional candidates into preclinical and clinical development, obtain necessary regulatory approvals, achieve its operational objectives, obtain patent protection for its discoveries and establish strategic alliances, as well as additional factors relating to manufacturing, intellectual property rights, and the therapeutic or commercial value of its drug candidates, that may cause Lexicon's actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Information identifying such important factors is contained under "Factors Affecting Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in Lexicon's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lexicon undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.