Verva Pharmaceuticals: Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Adds FGFR Drug to Development Pipeline

31 January, 2011 - Verva Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is pleased to report that Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ISIS) has formally added ISIS-FGFR4Rx (fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 antisense oligonucleotide) to its development pipeline. In August 2009, Verva announced an agreement providing Isis an exclusive license to Verva’s intellectual property targeting FGFRs with antisense technology for the treatment of metabolic disorders, including obesity. ISIS-FGFR4Rx is the first drug in Isis’ metabolic franchise to treat obesity.

Further details on the ISIS-FGF4Rx program can be found in the recent Isis press release at www.isispharm.com.


Verva CEO Vince Wacher commented: “Isis has been an excellent partner and we are very pleased with the results from our collaborative work on this important target. Isis has advanced its FGFR anti-obesity drug into development... Verva Pharmaceuticals' Press Release -

Marcadia Biotech : Novel Therapeutic Candidate Targets Two Incretin Hormone Receptors

Feb. 17, 2010 - Marcadia Initiates Phase 1 Clinical Trial of GLP-1/GIP Dual Agonist MAR701 - Novel Therapeutic Candidate Targets Two Incretin Hormone Receptors for Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity – Marcadia Biotech Inc. announced that it has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial of MAR701, a novel dual agonist of the incretin hormone receptors for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP). Marcadia plans to initially develop this compound as a treatment for type 2 diabetes with once-weekly dosing. The Phase 1 trial will evaluate MAR701 in healthy volunteers at escalating dose levels.

MAR701 targets two peptide hormones that are elevated physiologically following a meal and pharmacologically by drugs in the DPP-4 inhibitor class, which are used to lower blood glucose. Drugs in the GLP-1 agonist class directly activate the GLP-1 receptor pathway to lower blood glucose and may also decrease body weight. Preclinical testing by Marcadia of MAR701 demonstrated significant reductions in blood glucose levels and body weight... Marcadia Biotech's Press Release -

Isis Pharmaceuticals : Two New Drugs to Development Pipeline

Jan. 6, 2011 - Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISIS) announced that it has added two new drugs to its development pipeline, ISIS-FGFR4Rx and ISIS-STAT3Rx.

ISIS-FGFR4Rx is designed to treat obesity by increasing metabolism, particularly by increasing lipid and fat burning. ISIS-FGFR4Rx specifically blocks the production of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) in the liver and fat tissue. In addition, ISIS-FGFR4Rx should not reduce FGFR4 expression in the central nervous system (CNS) or heart, thereby avoiding the CNS and cardiovascular side effects associated with many obesity drugs in development. In preclinical studies, inhibition of FGFR4 lowered body weight and enhanced weight loss when administered as a single agent, in combination with a caloric-restricted diet and in combination with an appetite-suppressing drug and a caloric-restricted diet. The reduction in body weight was accompanied by an improvement in insulin sensitivity. ISIS-FGFR4Rx was safe and well tolerated in multiple species. ISIS-FGFR4Rx is the first drug in Isis' metabolic franchise to treat obesity... Isis Pharmaceuticals' Press Release -

IntraPace : CE Mark Certification for the abiliti® System for the Treatment of Obesity

January 11, 2011 – IntraPace, Inc., announced that it has received European CE Mark approval for the abiliti system as a treatment for obesity. The CE Mark certifies that a product has met European Union requirements for commercial marketing in Europe.
“While gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass are very effective treatments for obesity, they alter the digestive tract and are often associated with significant side effects. These side effects make many potential patients reluctant to choose these procedures,” stated Prof.
Thomas Horbach, Chief of Surgery, Stadtkrankenhaus Schwabach, a leading obesity clinic in Germany. “Patients receiving the abiliti system achieved substantial weight loss with almost none of the side effects seen with other bariatric interventions. This therapy addresses the biggest limitation of the established bariatric procedures.”
The implantable device looks similar to a pacemaker and is built on the same proven technology used in millions of cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators each year. Following implantation via a simple minimally invasive surgical procedure, the abiliti system detects when a person eats
or drinks and sends low level electrical impulses to the stomach. This stimulation is intended to help a person feel full before the stomach is actually full, causing them to eat less. As the anatomy of the stomach is not changed, clinical experience with the abiliti system has shown virtua none of the nausea and other side effects seen with gastric bypass surgery and gastric banding. Patients are not restricted in the types of food that they consume, but are encouraged to adopt a healthy diet and exercise program... [PDF] IntraPace's Press Release -

Profil Institute : Expansion of Its Cardiometabolic Capabilities for Diabetes and Obesity Clinical Drug Trials

November 22, 2010 - Profil Institute Expands Its Cardiometabolic Capabilities for Diabetes and Obesity Clinical Drug Trials – Profil™ Institute for Clinical Research, Inc., a company specializing in early phase clinical trials for diabetes and obesity, announced the expansion of its capabilities for cardiac safety and cardiovascular efficacy studies in the company’s early phase diabetes and obesity clinical trials.
"Assessing cardiac safety is a critical early objective for the evaluation of new drugs, particularly in compounds for the treatment of diabetes," said Robert J. Schott, a cardiologist and Director of Cardiometabolic Research at the Profil Institute for Clinical Research. "At Profil Institute we are excited to be implementing new technologies and procedures which allow us to assess cardiac safety signals in Phase I drug research, specifically in our ability to detect a drug's risk for causing sudden cardiac death with prolongation of the QT interval as a marker. We understand that detection of cardiac safety signals is mission-critical in early drug development, and new technologies allow us to do this in a more cost-effective and timely manner for our customers."... [PDF] Profil™ Institute for Clinical Research's Press Release -