THE WOODLANDS, TX, USA I September 27, 2017 I Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXRX) today announced the company has initiated dosing in a Phase 1 study of LX9211, an orally-administered small molecule for the treatment of neuropathic pain. LX9211 is a selective inhibitor of AAK1 (adapter-associated kinase), which in preclinical studies demonstrated significant reduction in pain response in a series of pain models and was well-tolerated at and above efficacious doses in animals.

“The successful filing of the IND followed by initiation of the first-in-human clinical study for LX9211 are significant milestones for the company as these events validate our robust preclinical results and bring us closer to demonstrating clinical proof-of-concept for LX9211 in patients with neuropathic pain,” said Praveen Tyle, Ph.D., Lexicon’s executive vice president, research and development. “Based on animal data, LX9211 has the potential to significantly reduce pain response while offering a novel therapeutic approach to neuropathic pain through inhibition of AAK1. We look forward to producing important early data to guide our future development plans.”

The Phase 1 double-blind, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose study for LX9211 is designed to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of LX9211 across nine oral escalating dose levels (5 mg to 300 mg) in healthy volunteers.

About Lexicon Pharmaceuticals

Lexicon is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company that is applying a unique approach to gene science based on Nobel Prize-winning technology to discover and develop precise medicines for patients with serious, chronic conditions. Through its Genome5000™ program, Lexicon scientists have studied the role and function of nearly 5,000 genes over the last 20 years and have identified more than 100 protein targets with significant therapeutic potential in a range of diseases. Through the precise targeting of these proteins, Lexicon is pioneering the discovery and development of innovative medicines to safely and effectively treat disease. In addition to its first commercial product, XERMELO® (telotristat ethyl), Lexicon has a pipeline of promising drug candidates in clinical and pre-clinical development in diabetes and metabolism and neuropathic pain. For additional information please visit www.lexpharma.com.

SOURCE: Lexicon Pharmaceuticals