Astellas Begins Screening Another Target From Metabolex Gene Database

Metabolex, Inc. has announced that Astellas Pharma Inc. begun high-throughput screening against another target from Metabolex's proprietary database of human genes associated with insulin resistance and obesity in order to identify potential drug candidates.

"This validated target has a unique pattern of expression and may eventually lead to novel approaches to address insulin resistance, an underlying cause of type 2 diabetes," said Harold E. Van Wart, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Metabolex.

"Astellas' decision to begin screening this target from Metabolex's gene library further underscores our expertise in understanding the molecular underpinnings of insulin resistance."

The move to screen the target triggered an undisclosed milestone payment to Metabolex and marks the latest accomplishment of a four-year partnership between Metabolex and Astellas.

The two companies initiated a research and drug discovery collaboration with the goal of identifying candidate compounds from the validated drug targets and advancing them into development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance and obesity.

The companies have identified 10 targets during their collaboration. Metabolex could receive royalties on eventual sales of any product emerging from the collaboration and will retain co-promotion rights in North and South America.