LX4211 Achieves Positive Results In Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Trial

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, April 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXRX) announced today positive, top-line results in a Phase 2 clinical trial of LX4211 in type 1 diabetes, which achieved the primary endpoint of reducing mealtime insulin use as well as several secondary endpoints, including improved glycemic control.  LX4211 is an oral, first-in-class, dual inhibitor of sodium glucose transporters 1 and 2 (SGLT1 and SGLT2) that is designed to lower blood glucose levels through two insulin-independent mechanisms of action.

In the placebo-controlled, double-blind, 28-day study, LX4211 reduced the total daily mealtime bolus insulin dose by 32% compared to 6% for placebo (p=0.007), while significantly improving glycemic control with a mean HbA1c reduction of 0.55% in the LX4211-treated group compared to a reduction of only 0.06% with placebo (p=0.002).  This improvement was accompanied by significant improvement in the time spent in a glucose range of 70-180 mg/dl, a significant reduction in time in hyperglycemic range, and no increase in hypoglycemia.  Multiple measures indicated that LX4211 treatment resulted in reduced variability in blood glucose levels.  Overall, LX4211 was well tolerated with no discontinuations of study medication due to adverse events.

"The results from this study provide a clear demonstration of proof-of-concept of LX4211 as an oral, investigational new drug for type 1 diabetes complementing insulin therapy," said Arthur Sands, M.D., Ph.D., Lexicon's president and chief executive officer.  "The magnitude of improved glycemic control by several measures, including HbA1c in only four weeks, and lower insulin requirements are highly encouraging and support the progression of LX4211 into late-stage development for type 1 diabetes."

In this multicenter study, 33 patients with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes on either an insulin pump or multiple insulin injection therapy were randomized 1:1 to receive either placebo or a 400 mg dose of LX4211 orally once per day before breakfast for four weeks. Patients adjusted their insulin as needed, recorded their blood sugars, and then were evaluated at the end of the study for amount of insulin used and glycemic control, as measured by HbA1c, continuous glucose monitors and serum blood glucose measures. Lexicon plans to present full results of the study at a scientific congress.

"An oral agent benefiting patients with type 1 diabetes through both substantial improvements in glucose control and significant reduction in the use of insulin with no increase in hypoglycemia is both new and clinically meaningful," said Pablo Lapuerta, M.D., Lexicon's chief medical officer.  "These results provide a strong rationale for demonstrating the effectiveness of LX4211 as an adjunct to insulin in Type 1 diabetes in a longer-term Phase 3 program."

Type 1 diabetes is a serious condition affecting more than one million people in the United States, both children and adults. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which a person's pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food. It occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Insulin is a required treatment, with few additional treatment options.  The effectiveness of insulin is limited by concerns about potentially serious hypoglycemia; therefore, most patients with type 1 diabetes do not achieve their targets for glucose control. In addition, insulin therapy does not necessarily prevent the possibility of the disease's serious complications, which may include kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, heart attack and stroke. As an oral agent, LX4211 is designed to delay the absorption of glucose in the gastrointestinal tract and enhance glucose excretion in the kidney, allowing glucose control to improve and insulin doses to be reduced.

Lexicon Conference Call

Lexicon management will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss the LX4211 Phase 2 top-line data at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on April 14, 2014.

The dial-in number for the conference call is 888-645-5785 (within the US/Canada) or 970-300-1531 (international).  The conference ID for all callers is 30215299.  Investors can access a live webcast of the call at www.lexpharma.com.  An archived version of the webcast will be available on Lexicon's corporate website through May 14, 2014.

About Lexicon

Lexicon is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing breakthrough treatments for human disease.  Lexicon has clinical-stage drug programs for diabetes, 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.  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 clinical development of LX4211, characterizations of the results of and projected timing of clinical trials of LX4211, and the potential therapeutic and commercial potential of LX4211.  The press release also contains forward-looking 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 clinical development of LX4211 and preclinical and clinical development of its other 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, 2013, 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.