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Lexicon Genetics Initiates Clinical Trials of LX1031 for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

26 Jan 2007 - Lexicon Genetics Incorporated announced that it has initiated Phase 1 clinical trials of LX1031, its oral drug candidate for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other gastrointestinal disorders. Irritable bowel syndrome is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by pain, discomfort and motility problems that affects between 10-20% of adults in the United States.
 
The Phase 1 clinical trial of LX1031 is a randomized, double-blind, ascending single dose study that will evaluate LX1031's safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics in approximately 40 normal healthy volunteers. This trial is expected to be followed by a randomized, double-blind, ascending multiple dose study of similar size. Lexicon expects results from both of these trials in 2007.
 
LX1031 is an orally-dosed drug candidate for irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal disorders. LX1031 was generated by Lexicon medicinal chemists, and its target was internally identified as a key control point for the regulation of peripheral serotonin levels. LX1031 is designed to act locally in the gastrointestinal tract by reducing the serotonin available for receptor activation, without affecting serotonin levels in the brain or its central nervous system functions. In preclinical studies, LX1031 showed a dose-dependent reduction of serotonin levels in the gastrointestinal tract of multiple species. In human clinical trials, Lexicon intends to use serotonin as a biomarker by which to evaluate the activity of LX1031.