HAYWARD, Calif., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Metabolex, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary new medicines for the treatment of metabolic diseases, announced that two of its programs (MBX-2982 and MBX-8025) have been recognized in Windhover's "Top 10 most interesting projects available for partnering" in their respective categories. MBX-2982, a potential first-in-class treatment for type 2 diabetes, was recognized in the metabolic category and MBX-8025, a potential treatment for a range of dyslipidemias, was recognized in the cardiovascular category. The selections were made by independent committees assembled by Windhover Information, a leading provider of business information products and services to senior executives in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries.
"We are honored to receive this significant recognition for not one, but two of our current programs. This recognition underscores both MBX-2982's potential to become an important new therapy for type 2 diabetes, and MBX-8025's potential in the treatment of dyslipidemia," said Harold Van Wart, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Metabolex.
The metabolic selection committee was led by Marc Wortman, contributing writer to Windhover's IN VIVO and Start-Up, and Harris Kaplan, President & CEO, and Jun Huangpu, Managing Director, of Healogix, a leading business development strategy consulting firm. The cardiovascular selection committee was led by Ed Saltzman, President, and Michael Rice, Senior Consultant, of Defined Health, a leading business development strategy consulting firm.
Drawing on the analytic resources of these organizations, the selection committees evaluated hundreds of compounds currently in development.
"Selected companies have been screened using a strict set of judging criteria for the Top 10 award and represent what our committees considered the most attractive metabolic and cardiovascular opportunities the industry has to offer," said Roger Longman, Managing Director of Windhover Information. "Winners have met rigorous criteria including: unmet medical need, market potential, diversity of indications, strong science, multi-level partnering opportunities (biotech and pharma), potential for new opportunities beyond initial indications and corporate stability."
Metabolex plans to present information on MBX-2982 and MBX-8025 on November 4, 2008 at Windhover's Therapeutic Area Partnerships conference in Philadelphia, PA.
MBX-2982
MBX-2982 is an agonist of GPR119, a G protein-coupled receptor that is expressed in pancreatic islets and the gastrointestinal tract. Pre-clinical studies conducted by Metabolex and others show that GPR119 agonists can stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion and release of incretin hormones such as GLP-1, and thus may preserve beta cell health. This novel dual mechanism may provide a unique therapeutic benefit in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Additionally, the stimulation of GLP-1 release may mimic the benefits of incretin analogues such as exenatide (a GLP-1 analogue marketed as Byetta(R)). Unlike exenatide, however, MBX-2982 can be delivered orally.
MBX-8025
MBX-8025 is a potent, selective PPAR-delta agonist that helps to regulate fatty acid degradation, lipid storage/transport and insulin sensitivity. MBX- 8025 is being developed to treat a range of dyslipidemias, and early research suggests it may have a broader effect on a number of lipid and metabolic parameters, including triglycerides, LDL and HDL cholesterol, insulin sensitivity and inflammation.
About Windhover
Windhover Information Inc., an Elsevier company, has provided analysis of the healthcare industry to decision-makers at all levels since the founding of its flagship publication, IN VIVO, The Business & Medicine Report, in 1983. Windhover provides its information and analysis in many formats, including print, electronic databases, international conferences and webinars. For more on the company's products and services, please see http://www.windhover.com.
About Metabolex
Metabolex is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary new medicines for the treatment of metabolic diseases, with an emphasis on type 2 diabetes. The company has four clinical-stage compounds: MBX-102/JNJ 39659100, which has completed three Phase 2 trials; MBX-2044, which has completed a Phase 2a trial; MBX-8025, which recently completed a Phase 2 trial in patients with dyslipidemia; and MBX-2982, which recently completed a Phase 1 trial. Ortho-McNeil, Inc. has the exclusive right to develop and commercialize MBX-102/JNJ 39659100. For additional information about Metabolex and its development pipeline, visit http://www.metabolex.com.
CONTACT: Donald Hill of Metabolex, Inc., +1-510-293-8800,
dhill@metabolex.com
Web site: http://www.metabolex.com/
