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Metabolex Recieves Key European Patent for Metaglidasen
Hayward, Calif., (November 7, 2006): Metabolex, Inc., a biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for diabetes and related metabolic disorders, announced today that it has received its first European patent for metaglidasen (MBX-102), the company’s lead drug candidate. The patent covers the use of metaglidasen and a number of chemically similar compounds for treating type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance and obesity.
The European patent further strengthens Metabolex’s intellectual property position surrounding metaglidasen, which Metabolex is now evaluating in a pivotal Phase 2/3 trial of patients with type 2 diabetes. The Company has 14 issued patents covering the use of metaglidasen, including four U.S. patents and more than 60 pending patent applications covering the use, manufacture and formulation of metaglidasen. Metabolex in June entered into a strategic alliance with Ortho-McNeil, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, giving Ortho-McNeil an exclusive license for worldwide development and commercialization of the drug.
“This patent expands the protection for metaglidasen and adds to our existing intellectual property portfolio,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Harold Van Wart, Ph.D. “We believe that metaglidasen will offer patients a unique combination of benefits with an improved side-effect profile compared to current therapies.”
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 without the serious safety and tolerability issues associated with currently marketed products.
For additional information about Metabolex and its development pipeline, visit www.metabolex.com.
   
Contact: Media:
Mark Bagnall
Metabolex
(510) 293-8800
mbagnall@metabolex.com
 Brian Reid
WeissComm Partners
(703) 402-3626
breid@weisscommpartners.com