Surface Logix To Present Clinical Candidate For Dyslipidemia And Obesity At The American College Of Gastroenterology Scientific Meeting

BOSTON, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Surface Logix today announced it will be presenting, on November 1st, preclinical results on SLx-4090, the Company’s novel, Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein (MTP) inhibitor for dyslipidemia and obesity at the 70th Annual American College of Gastroenterology, Scientific Meeting being held in Honolulu. Surface Logix’s preclinical studies have shown that SLx-4090 acts selectively in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) to prevent the transport of triglycerides through the intestinal wall. SLx-4090 does not pass into systemic circulation, thus eliminating systemic exposure and resultant liver toxicity -- a persistent complication associated with compounds of this class

“In SLx-4090, we have accomplished something many large pharmaceutical companies have failed to demonstrate. Using our Pharmacomer(TM) Technology Platform, we specifically designed SLx-4090 to act selectively in the GI tract. Our preclinical data indicate that SLx-4090 lowers dietary triglyceride levels as intended, but has no detectable impact on the liver or liver function,” notes Dr. Paul Sweetnam, Chief Scientific Officer. “Based on this promising preclinical package, we expect to enter clinical development with SLx-4090 in early 2006.”

About SLx-4090, Dyslipidemia and Obesity

SLx-4090 is a novel Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein (MTP) inhibitor being developed for the treatment of dyslipidemia and obesity. Surface Logix designed SLx-4090 using its proprietary small molecule Pharmacomer(TM) Technology to act specifically in the GI tract to prevent the transport of triglycerides through the intestinal wall. This unique feature of intestinal selectivity allows activity against triglyceride uptake while avoiding toxicity at other sites of MTP expression including the liver, heart, testis, ovary, and eye. SLx-4090 is expected to lead to reduced fat absorption in the GI tract and thus to promote weight loss. It is also expected that the lack of hepatic side effects with SLx-4090 will lead to better patient compliance.

Dyslipidemia currently affects approximately 10% of the global population. There is an increasing prevalence and medical need for lipid-modifying drugs in obese and type 2 diabetic patients. A high proportion of type 2 diabetic patients have abnormal concentrations of lipoproteins. In the US, Japan and Europe there are more than 240 million people with abnormal lipoprotein levels. Of these, more than 55 million have low high density lipoprotein (HDL) and/or high triglyceride levels.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 2 out of 3 US adults are overweight or obese, suggesting that roughly 129 million people are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some forms of cancer and other disabling medical conditions. Prevention of fat absorption has been established as an effective adjunct to dietary control of obesity.

About Surface Logix Inc.

Surface Logix Inc. uses its expertise in biophysical chemistry to create new small molecule drugs that are optimized to meet the challenges of human physiology. The company is advancing multiple internal programs focused primarily on cardiovascular disease, oncology and metabolic disorders and works with strategic partners to create differentiated new chemical entities.

Contact: David H. Donabedian, Ph.D. Vice President, Business Development 617.746.8520 Media: Kari Watson MacDougall Biomedical Communications Inc. 508.647.0209

Surface Logix

CONTACT: David H. Donabedian, Ph.D., Vice President, Business Developmentof Surface Logix, +1-617-746-8520; or Media: Kari Watson of MacDougallBiomedical, Communications Inc., +1-508-647-0209

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