Astellas extends collaboration with Metabolex

Metabolex and Astellas Pharma initiated a multi-year research and drug discovery collaboration in late March 2002 and extended the agreement for one year in March 2005.

Focused on discovering and validating novel drug screening targets identified through Metabolex’s discovery program, the goal of the collaboration is to identify candidate compounds from at least 10 targets and advance them into development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance and obesity.

Dr Isao Yanagisawa, senior corporate officer of Astellas Pharma said: “These novel targets were identified based on their differential expression in human diabetes clinical samples, including muscle and fat. As a result, they are more likely to play a causative role in the diabetes disease process and may prove to be better therapeutic targets than others.”

The selection of these additional targets has triggered undisclosed milestone payments to Metabolex. The company could receive royalties on eventual sales of any product emerging from the collaboration, and will retain co-promotion rights in North and South America.