At its annual R&D Event being held in Reykjavik,
deCODE (Nasdaq:DCGN) management today provided an update on the company’s
drug discovery and development programs; recent gene and target discoveries
with application to drug and diagnostic development; and an overview of progress
in the execution of the company’s business strategy. The presentations at
the event will be webcast live beginning at 9am GMT/5am Eastern Time through
the investors section of the company’s website, www.decode.com.
Highlights include:
Asthma. The company announced positive data from its preliminary Phase II
(Phase IIa) clinical trial of Cephalon Inc.’s CEP-1347 in asthma. Data on
patients receiving active drug in the trial were consistent with a dose-dependent
improvement in some parameters of lung function examined in the study, including
methacholine challenge test and peak expiratory flow rates, as well as in
a biomarker associated with asthma severity and inflammation. There was no
evidence of safety and tolerability concerns. deCODE presented the data from
the trial to Cephalon at the end of last week, and is looking forward to
discussing with Cephalon how to further examine the beneficial effects of
CEP-1347 in asthma patients.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) – DG041. The company last week began dosing
patients in a Phase IIa clinical trial of DG041, its lead developmental compound
for the treatment of PAD. The trial will examine safety and tolerability,
dosing, and the effect of different dose levels on platelet function and
a range of serum biomarkers associated with atherosclerosis. The randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will enroll approximately 150 patients
with intermittent claudication due to PAD, and include patients with and
without the gene variants that deCODE has linked to risk of PAD.
Heart attack – DG031 and DG051. deCODE has identified variants of two genes
that increase risk of heart attack by upregulating the production of leukotriene
B4, a potent inflammatory modulator. The company’s two developmental compounds
target the proteins made by these genes, with the therapeutic goal of reducing
LTB4 production and thereby lowering risk of heart attack. DG031, which in
clinical trials in Iceland has been shown to reduce LTB4 in a dose-dependent
manner, is now being tested in a Phase III trial in the US. In this trial
deCODE is leveraging its ability to identify patients at highest risk through
the pathway targeted by DG031. Later this week, the company expects to file
an IND on DG051, deCODE’s follow-on compound for the prevention of heart
attack, paving the way for the initation of a Phase I clinical program.
Diabetes, breast cancer and prostate cancer. The discovery of gene variants
that confer risk of common diseases provides the basis for deCODE’s drug
discovery and development work. These discoveries can also be applied to
the development of DNA-based diagnostics. Such tests can be used to gauge
individual risk of developing a disease, and to identify patients who may
benefit from a drug targeting the same biological pathway. Through its recent
alliance with Illumina, deCODE is working on developing diagnostic tests
based on deCODE’s gene discoveries in type 2 diabetes, heart attack and breast
cancer. deCODE aims to accelerate its gene discovery efforts and to continue
to expand its intellectual property portfolio through association studies
utilizing Illumina’s whole-genome SNP genotyping platform. The company also
recently announced the identification of the first common genetic variant
conferring risk of prostate cancer in the general population.
About deCODE
deCODE genetics (NASDAQ:DCGN) is a global leader in applying human genetics
to develop drugs for common diseases. Our population approach has enabled
us to discover and target key biological pathways involved in conditions
ranging from heart attack to cancer. We are turning these discoveries into
new medicine to better treat and prevent many of the biggest challenges
to public health. deCODE is delivering on the promise of the new genetics.SM
Visit us on the web at www.decode.com.
Any statements contained in this presentation that relate to future plans,
events or performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, those relating
to technology and product development, integration of acquired businesses,
market acceptance, government regulation and regulatory approval processes,
intellectual property rights and litigation, dependence on collaborative
relationships, ability to obtain financing, competitive products, industry
trends and other risks identified in deCODE’s filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. deCODE undertakes no obligation to update or alter
these forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
