Lexicon Pharmaceuticals and Fox Chase Publish Findings on Immune Deficiency
June 08 2007 - 7:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, June 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lexicon
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:LXRX) today announced the publication
of new findings from a joint research project with scientists at
Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA. Together with David L.
Wiest, Ph.D., Lexicon researchers have discovered a novel and
surprising role for ribosomal protein L22 (Rpl22) in the
development of T lymphocytes. These findings have been published in
the June issue of the journal Immunity. Dr. Wiest and scientists at
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals discovered that deletion of the
ubiquitously expressed Rpl22 gene resulted in the up-regulation of
p53, a key tumor suppressor gene that triggers apoptosis and cell
death. Further, it was determined that this up-regulation of p53
was responsible for blocking alpha-beta+ T cell development thereby
creating an immune-deficient state. "The connection between Rpl22
and the p53-mediated apoptosis pathway is very exciting," said Dr.
David Wiest, Member, Basic Science Division at Fox Chase Cancer
Center. "If research confirms our theories, Rpl22 may prove to be
an important biomarker for certain T cell immune deficiency
diseases and some types of lymphoid cancers." Rpl22 is one of
several proteins that comprise the large subunit of eukaryotic
ribosomes, cellular complexes that are responsible for translating
messenger RNA and assembling proteins. Although not-required for
translation, Rpl22 may play a role in protein synthesis or
macromolecular assembly that is important for some cell types, but
not others. "These findings could help us to further define the
pathways involved in T lymphocyte development and regulation," said
Dr. Tamas Oravecz, Lexicon's Vice President of Immunology and
Oncology. "While Rp122 will likely prove difficult for development
as a classic drug target, understanding its role could contribute
significantly to its potential as a biomarker for disease." About
Lexicon Lexicon is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the
discovery and development of breakthrough treatments for human
disease. Lexicon currently has clinical programs underway for such
areas of major unmet medical need as irritable bowel syndrome and
cognitive disorders. The company has used its proprietary gene
knockout technology to discover more than 100 promising drug
targets and create an extensive pipeline of clinical and
preclinical programs in the therapeutic areas of diabetes and
obesity, cardiovascular disease, psychiatric and neurological
disorders, cancer, immune system disorders and ophthalmic disease.
To advance the development and commercialization of its programs,
Lexicon is working both independently and through collaborators
including Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Genentech, Inc., N.V.
Organon and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. For additional
information about Lexicon and its programs, please visit
http://www.lexpharma.com/. Editor's Note: 1. The article, "Ablation
of Ribosomal Protein L22 Selectively Impairs alpha-beta T Cell
Development by Activation of a p53-Dependent Checkpoint" may be
obtained with a subscription at
http://www.immunity.com/content/current. 2. For more information on
Dr. David Wiest, please visit Fox Chase Cancer Center's website at
http://www.fccc.edu/ or Dr. Wiest's research page at
http://www.fccc.edu/research/pid/wiest. 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
"Factors Affecting Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors"
in Lexicon's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2006, 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. DATASOURCE: Lexicon Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. CONTACT: Bobbie Faulkner, Manager, Investor Relations of
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-281-863-3503, Web site:
http://www.lexpharma.com/
Copyright
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:LXRX)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:LXRX)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024