John Northcott Joins Lexicon as Vice President of Marketing, Commercial Strategy and Operations

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering breakthrough treatments for human disease, announced today that John Northcott has joined the company as its vice president of marketing, commercial strategy, and operations. Mr. Northcott brings extensive commercial experience to Lexicon, including both pre-launch planning and on-market commercialization across a variety of therapeutic areas.

Mr. Northcott has held commercial roles in both U.S. and Global marketing for Avastin® with Genentech and the Roche Group, having most recently served as International Business Leader for Avastin, leading global product strategy initiatives in oncology. In addition, Mr. Northcott has experience in a variety of therapeutic areas from previous commercial positions at other pharmaceutical companies including Merck and Pfizer.

In this new position, Mr. Northcott will develop the commercial functions for Lexicon and lead the commercialization of Lexicon's products, with initial focus on telotristat etiprate for carcinoid syndrome. The creation of the position reflects the progress of the company's drug development pipeline and is part of its plan to commercialize one or more drugs in specialty indications. Lexicon is progressing with enrollment in the pivotal Phase 3 trial of telotristat etiprate in carcinoid syndrome, which has Orphan and Fast Track status from the FDA as well as Orphan status in Europe. In addition, Lexicon is proceeding with preparations for the initiation of Phase 3 clinical trials of LX4211 in type 2 diabetes and is completing the Phase 2 program of LX1033 in irritable bowel syndrome.

"John is a talented commercial leader with extensive, highly-relevant experience," said Dr. Arthur T. Sands, president and chief executive officer of Lexicon. "He will be instrumental in formulating and executing the strategic and operational plans essential to bring Lexicon's innovative products to patients."

About Lexicon
Lexicon is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering breakthrough treatments for human disease.  Lexicon currently has multiple programs in clinical development for diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, carcinoid syndrome and other indications, all of which were discovered by Lexicon's research team.  Lexicon has used its proprietary gene knockout technology to identify more than 100 promising drug targets.  Lexicon has focused drug discovery efforts on these biologically-validated targets to create its extensive pipeline of clinical and preclinical programs.  For additional information about Lexicon and its programs, please visit www.lexpharma.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements," including statements relating to Lexicon's growth and future operating results, discovery and development of products, strategic alliances and intellectual property, as well as other matters that are not historical facts or information.  All forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations and involve risks, uncertainties and other important factors, specifically including those relating to Lexicon's ability to successfully conduct preclinical and clinical development of its potential drug candidates, advance additional candidates into preclinical and clinical development, obtain necessary regulatory approvals, achieve its operational objectives, obtain patent protection for its discoveries and establish strategic alliances, as well as additional factors relating to manufacturing, intellectual property rights, and the therapeutic or commercial value of its drug candidates, that may cause Lexicon's actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Information identifying such important factors is contained under "Risk Factors" in Lexicon's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Lexicon undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.