SURFACE LOGIX SLx-4090 SELECTED AMONG TOP 10 MOST PROMISING LICENSING CANDIDATES IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
BOSTON, Mass.
(October 18, 2007) – Surface Logix, Inc. announced today
that SLx-4090, a clinical-stage compound, has been
selected as one of the top ten most licensable
cardiovascular therapeutics in development, offering
significant potential for strategic partnering. SLx-4090
is a first-in-class enterocyte-specific
microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) inhibitor
being developed for the treatment of dyslipidemia
(abnormal levels of lipids in the bloodstream) and
obesity. The
selection was made by an independent committee assembled
by Windhover Information, a leading provider of business
information products and services to senior executives
in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device
industries. As a selected company, Surface Logix has
been invited to present data on SLx-4090 on Thursday,
October 25, 2007 at Windhover's Therapeutic Area
Partnerships conference being held in Philadelphia, PA.
"Selected
companies have been screened using a strict set of
judging criteria for the top ten award, and represent
what our committee considered the most attractive
cardiovascular licensing opportunities the industry has
to offer," stated Roger Longman of Windhover
Information.
"It is an
honor to be chosen by this respected
group of industry professionals, and we welcome the
independent validation of SLx-4090," said Jim Mahoney,
Surface Logix President and Chief Executive Officer. "We
will be completing a Phase 2a trial this quarter, and
preliminary data continue to show that within only 14
days, administration of SLx-4090 results in reductions
in LDL levels, postprandial triglyceride levels and body
weight, while avoiding any of the toxicities seen with
systemic MTP inhibitors."
The selection
committee was led by Marc Wortman, PhD, contributing
writer to Windhover's IN VIVO and Start Up,
and Ed Saltzman, president of Defined Health, a leading
business development strategy consulting firm. Drawing
on the analytic resources of both organizations, the
group evaluated hundreds of compounds currently in
development for the treatment of cardiovascular disease
prior to selecting SLx-4090 among the top ten most
attractive.
The evaluation
measured a number of factors including:
-
Unmet
medical need
-
Market
potential
-
Multi-level partnering opportunities (biotech and
pharma)
-
Potential
for new opportunities beyond initial indications
-
Diversity
of indications
-
History of
the molecule and drug
-
Strong
science
-
Strong
company
About SLx-4090 in Dyslipidemia
SLx-4090 is a novel microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) inhibitor being developed for the treatment of dyslipidemia (abnormal levels of lipids in the bloodstream). Surface Logix designed SLx-4090 using its proprietary small molecule Pharmacomer™ technology to act specifically in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to prevent the transport of fats through the intestinal wall. This unique feature of intestinal selectivity allows potent activity against fat uptake while avoiding toxicity at other sites of MTP expression in the body including the liver, heart, testis, ovary, and eye.
Dyslipidemia currently affects approximately 10% of the global population, with 25% of these patients having elevated triglyceride levels. In addition, there is an increasing prevalence and medical need for lipid-modifying drugs in obese patients and patients with type 2 diabetes, as a high proportion of type 2 diabetic patients have abnormal concentrations of lipoproteins. In the U.S., Japan and Europe, it is estimated that there are more than 240 million people with abnormal lipoprotein levels. Of these, more than 55 million are estimated to have low high density lipoprotein (HDL) and/or high triglyceride levels.
About Surface Logix
Inc.
Surface Logix Inc. uses
its expertise in biophysical chemistry to create
and develop novel small molecule drugs (NCEs) with
superior intrinsic drug-like properties that are clearly
differentiated from competitive products. The company
is advancing multiple internal programs focused
primarily on cardiovascular, metabolic, inflammatory and
fibrotic diseases. For more information, please visit
http://www.surfacelogix.com.
Contact:
Leland Webster, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Surface Logix Inc.
Vice President, Corporate Development
617.746.8520
Media:
Sarah Cavanaugh
MacDougall Biomedical Communications Inc.
scavanaugh@macbiocom.com
508.647.0209
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