Galapagos chooses molecule for cachexia trial
05 Jan 2009
Source
Clinical Research
Pharmaceuticals firm Galpagos has chosen a candidate drug to enter trials for the treatment of a weight loss disease.
The small molecule – which has been developed in the company’s Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator scheme – will join the clinical research into cachexia, an illness which causes loss of weight and muscle mass.
Galapagos believes the drug candidate G100192 could prove a successful medication for the disease without the side effects usually associated with androgen treatments, such as cardiovascular, prostate and virility problems.
“The G100192 candidate is a remarkable success story. From an almost completely abandoned program in February 2008, our researchers applied rational drug design to come up with a novel compound,” said Onno van de Stolpe, chief executive officer of the firm.
Last month, Galapagos extended its collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline in the study of osteoarthritis, including an extra two drug targets.
Galapagos received two million euros (£1.9 million) in cash as part of the expanded deal.