Radius Selects First Preclinical Candidate From SARM Discovery Program for the Treatment of Muscle Loss and Other Musculoskeletal Conditions
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Radius Health ("Radius") announced today that the company has selected the first lead candidate, RAD140, from its internal nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulator ("SARM") discovery program, for full preclinical development as a potential therapy for the treatment of age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) and other musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoporosis. Radius selected RAD140 from a series of promising SARMs after it demonstrated exceptional selectivity for anabolic activity in well-validated in vivo models. Radius expects to complete formal toxicology studies that will allow the company to commence human clinical trials for RAD140 in the first half of 2009.
"We are highly encouraged by data on RAD140 from our in vivo models, which demonstrate RAD140's strong potential to build new bone and muscle, with significant selectivity over prostate and other non-target tissues, excellent oral availability, and a promising safety profile," said Chris Miller, PhD, Vice President of Chemistry of Radius.
"The selection of RAD140 for pre-IND development is a significant milestone for Radius as it represents the first novel proprietary compound to emerge from the company's internal discovery program," said C. Richard Lyttle, PhD, President and CEO of Radius. "The Radius team has been extremely productive in advancing this first lead SARM candidate, and I am confident in our ability to complete preclinical studies and to initiate expected clinical trials in 2009."
About SARMs
Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are a novel class of androgen receptor ligands that bind to and selectively activate androgen receptors to promote or inhibit specific androgen action in different tissues. SARMs have the potential to substantially expand the clinical benefits of androgens, including testosterone, on muscle and bone while avoiding the unwanted side-effects, which include stimulation of the prostate. SARMs provide the opportunity to design tissue-selective, orally delivered anabolic therapies for bone loss and/or muscle wasting caused by aging, burns and trauma, cancer, chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other diseases.
About Sarcopenia
About 17% of men and 24% of women under the age of 70 suffer from age-related muscle wasting, or sarcopenia. The degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength contributes to frailty, immobility, and the loss of independence in older adults, with prevalence rising to more than 50% in men and women over 80 years of age. An estimated nine million Americans over the age of 65 suffer from sarcopenia, and there are currently no FDA-approved treatment options available. This deterioration of skeletal strength can also exacerbate other age-related conditions such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Additional chronic diseases that involve loss of muscle strength with a significant impact on quality of life include cancer cachexia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic renal disease.
ABOUT RADIUS (www.radiuspharm.com)
Radius is a leading company in the discovery and development of a new generation of drug therapies for osteoporosis and women's health. Radius has raised $91.5 million in private equity financing since its establishment in 2003 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
CONTACT: Nick Harvey, Chief Financial Officer, +1-617-551-4704
Web site: http://www.radiuspharm.com/