AdipoGenix Achieves Third Milestone in Collaboration with Johnson & Johnson

AdipoGenix Inc. has announced the achievement of its third milestone in the Company's drug discovery collaboration with Johnson & Johnson.

In November 2002, AdipoGenix and J&J entered a drug discovery collaboration in which AdipoGenix has utilized its proprietary human fat cell- based technologies for discovering compounds that reduce the fat content of human fat cells from J&J's compound collection.

In addition, AdipoGenix has been characterizing the mechanisms of action and identifying molecular targets for the highest priority of the active compounds that were discovered.

The milestone was for the identification of the molecular target for one of J&J's active compounds that was discovered earlier in the collaboration.

"This is the third milestone that we have achieved in our alliance with J&J, and this achievement provides further validation for our capability to discover compounds that have a beneficial effect on fat cells, and to define mechanisms and molecular targets for active compounds," said Ed Cannon, Ph.D., CEO of AdipoGenix.

Monique Berwaer, Principal Scientist and Metabolic Diseases Team Leader, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development commented, "AdipoGenix's human fat cell-based discovery technology is unique and we believe that treating obesity by targeting human fat with pharmaceuticals that reduce fat content is distinctive and an important new approach for combating the growing obesity epidemic."