ASTELLAS' SCREENING TRIGGERS MILESTONE PAYMENT TO METABOLEX.Metabolex, Inc., Hayward, Calif., a biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for diabetes and related metabolic disorders Noun 1. metabolic disorder - a disorder or defect of metabolism disorder, upset - a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning; "the doctor prescribed some medicine for the disorder"; "everyone gets stomach upsets from time to time" , announced today that Astellas Pharma Astellas Pharma Inc. (アステラス製薬株式会社 Inc. has begun high- throughput screening against another target from Metabolex's proprietary database of human genes associated with insulin resistance Insulin Resistance Definition Insulin resistance is not a disease as such but rather a state or condition in which a person's body tissues have a lowered level of response to insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas that helps to regulate the level 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 type 2 diabetes n. See diabetes mellitus. ," 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 Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) is a pre-diabetic state of dysglycemia, that is associated with insulin resistance and increased risk of cardiovascular pathology. IGT may precede type 2 diabetes mellitus by many years. IGT is also a risk factor for mortality. and obesity. The companies have identified more than 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 South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . About Metabolex Metabolex is a privately held biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapeutics to transform the treatment of diabetes and related metabolic disorders. Metabolex has drawn on its deep understanding of diabetes to create the largest database of genes involved in diabetes and to build a rich pipeline of product candidates and drug discovery targets. The company's clinical program is focused on developing next-generation insulin sensitizers that lower blood glucose blood glucose Diabetology The principal sugar produced by the body from food–especially carbohydrates, but also from proteins and fats; glucose is the body's major source of energy, is transported to cells via the circulation and used by cells in the presence without the serious safety and tolerability issues associated with currently marketed products. Metabolex is partnering with Ortho-McNeil, a Johnson & Johnson company, to develop and commercialize products for diabetes and metabolic disease metabolic disease, n a disorder that causes dysfunction of the metabolic action of the body, resulting in loss of control of homeostasis. paraneoplastic syndrome , including Metabolex's lead drug candidate, metaglidasen, a second-generation insulin sensitizer sensitizer see antigen. now in a Phase 2/3 clinical trial. For more information, visit http://www.metabolex.com or call 510/293-8800. About Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas Pharma Inc., located in Tokyo, is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. In April 2005, the company was formed through the merger of Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The organization is committed to becoming a global mega pharmaceutical company by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities and continuing to grow in the world pharmaceutical market. For more information, visit http://www.astellas.com. |
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