Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXRX) today announced that
Matthew Cullen is joining the company as vice president of value
and access, effective November 1, 2023, and Lisa DeFrancesco will
join as head of investor relations and corporate strategy,
effective November 13, 2023.
Mr. Cullen brings Lexicon more than 35 years of
industry experience in market access and sales leadership.
Before joining Lexicon, Matt served as vice president, value,
access and policy at Apellis Pharmaceuticals where he led the
market access launch of rare disease drug EMPAVELI® (pegcetacoplan)
and ophthalmology drug SYFOVRE® (pegcetacoplan injection). His
responsibilities included pricing and contracting, payer strategy
and marketing, corporate and strategic account
management, field reimbursement, trade and distribution, and
training. Prior to Apellis, Mr. Cullen led strategic payer
marketing and access teams at Bristol-Myers Squibb for ELIQUIS®
(apixaban) and ORENCIA® (abatacept). While at Bristol-Myers
Squibb, Mr. Cullen also served as head of sales in immunology and
led the launch of ZEPOSIA® (ozanimod) for multiple sclerosis
(MS). Before joining Bristol Myers Squibb, Mr. Cullen served
as vice president, value and access at Sanofi-Genzyme, and was
involved in the launches of AUBAGIO® (teriflunomide) and LEMTRADA®
(alemtuzumab) in MS. Mr. Cullen is a graduate of the
University of Connecticut where he received both his BA and
MBA.
Ms. DeFrancesco is an accomplished senior
executive with nearly 25 years of experience in various investor
relations, finance and corporate communications roles. Ms.
DeFrancesco was most recently senior vice president, investor
relations and corporate affairs for Amarin Pharma, a
biopharmaceutical company focused in the cardiovascular space.
Before joining Amarin, Ms. DeFrancesco was senior vice president,
investor relations and corporate affairs for Intercept
Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the
development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat
progressive non-viral liver diseases. Prior to Intercept, Ms.
DeFrancesco was the senior vice president of corporate affairs for
Melinta Therapeutics, an antibiotic focused biotech. Ms.
DeFrancesco also spent eight years at Allergan as vice president,
investor relations leading the investor relations function through
a number of transformational mergers and acquisitions totaling over
$150 billion, from Watson Labs, Actavis, Warner Chilcott, Forest
Labs and ultimately Allergan, which was recently acquired by
Abbvie. Ms. DeFrancesco began her career as a Wall Street equity
research analyst at Ladenburg Thalmann & Co Inc. Ms.
DeFrancesco holds a BS in Business Administration from Seton Hall
University and is a member of the National Investors Relations
Institute. She is the recipient of numerous Institutional Investor
Awards received from 2013-2015, as well as two IR Magazine Awards
received in 2012 and 2013.
“Matt and Lisa’s experience and knowledge will
be instrumental in our execution of the launch of INPEFA®
(sotagliflozin) in heart failure and the advancement of LX9211 into
late-stage development for the long-term creation of value for our
stakeholders,” said Lonnel Coats, Lexicon’s chief executive
officer.
About Lexicon
Pharmaceuticals
Lexicon is a biopharmaceutical company with a
mission of pioneering medicines that transform patients’ lives.
Through its Genome5000™ program, Lexicon scientists studied the
role and function of nearly 5,000 genes and identified more than
100 protein targets with significant therapeutic potential in a
range of diseases. Through the precise targeting of these proteins,
Lexicon is pioneering the discovery and development of innovative
medicines to treat diseases safely and effectively. Lexicon has
advanced multiple medicines to market and has a pipeline of
promising drug candidates in heart failure, neuropathic pain,
diabetes and metabolism and other indications. For additional
information, please visit www.lexpharma.com.
About INPEFA®
(sotagliflozin)
Discovered using Lexicon’s unique approach to
gene science, INPEFA® (sotagliflozin) is an oral inhibitor of two
proteins responsible for glucose regulation known as sodium-glucose
cotransporter types 2 and 1 (SGLT2 and SGLT1). SGLT2 is responsible
for glucose reabsorption by the kidney and SGLT1 is responsible for
glucose absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. INPEFA has been
studied in multiple patient populations encompassing heart failure,
diabetes, and chronic kidney disease in clinical studies involving
approximately 20,000 patients.
INDICATION
INPEFA is indicated to reduce the risk of
cardiovascular death, hospitalization for heart failure, and urgent
heart failure visit in adults with:
- heart failure
or
- type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic
kidney disease, and other cardiovascular risk factors
IMPORTANT SAFETY
INFORMATION
Dosing: Assess renal function
and volume status and, if necessary, correct volume depletion prior
to initiation of INPEFA. INPEFA dosing for patients with
decompensated heart failure may begin when patients are
hemodynamically stable, including when hospitalized or immediately
upon discharge.
Contraindications: INPEFA is
contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to any
component.
Warnings and Precautions:
Ketoacidosis: INPEFA increases
the risk of ketoacidosis in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus
(T1DM). Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and pancreatic disorders
are also risk factors. The risk of ketoacidosis may be greater with
higher doses. There have been postmarketing reports of fatal events
of ketoacidosis in patients with type 2 diabetes using sodium
glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Before initiating INPEFA,
assess risk factors for ketoacidosis. Consider ketone monitoring in
patients with T1DM and consider ketone monitoring in others at risk
for ketoacidosis, and educate patients on the signs/symptoms of
ketoacidosis. Patients receiving INPEFA may require monitoring and
temporary discontinuation of therapy in clinical situations known
to predispose to ketoacidosis.
Assess patients who present with signs and
symptoms of metabolic acidosis or ketoacidosis, regardless of blood
glucose level. If suspected, discontinue INPEFA, evaluate, and
treat promptly. Monitor patients for resolution of ketoacidosis
before restarting INPEFA.
Volume Depletion: INPEFA can
cause intravascular volume depletion which may sometimes manifest
as symptomatic hypotension or acute transient changes in
creatinine. There have been post-marketing reports of acute kidney
injury, some requiring hospitalization and dialysis, in patients
with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving SGLT2 inhibitors. Patients
with impaired renal function (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2), elderly
patients, or patients on loop diuretics may be at increased risk
for volume depletion or hypotension. Before initiating INPEFA in
patients with one or more of these characteristics, assess volume
status and renal function, and monitor for signs and symptoms of
hypotension during therapy.
Urosepsis and Pyelonephritis:
Treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors, including INPEFA, increases the
risk for urinary tract infections. Serious urinary tract infections
including urosepsis and pyelonephritis requiring hospitalization
have been reported. Evaluate patients for signs and symptoms of
urinary tract infections and treat promptly.
Hypoglycemia with Concomitant Use with
Insulin and Insulin Secretagogues: Insulin and insulin
secretagogues are known to cause hypoglycemia. INPEFA may increase
the risk of hypoglycemia when combined with insulin or an insulin
secretagogue. Therefore, a lower dose of insulin or insulin
secretagogue may be required to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia
when used with INPEFA.
Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Perineum
(Fournier’s Gangrene): Reports of Fournier’s Gangrene, a
rare but serious and life-threatening necrotizing infection
requiring urgent surgical intervention, have been identified in
post-marketing surveillance in patients with diabetes mellitus
receiving SGLT2 inhibitors. Assess patients who present with pain,
tenderness, erythema, or swelling in the genital or perineal area,
along with fever or malaise. If suspected, start treatment
immediately with broad-spectrum antibiotics and, if necessary,
surgical debridement. Discontinue INPEFA, closely monitor patient
signs and symptoms, and provide appropriate alternative therapy for
heart failure.
Genital Mycotic Infections:
INPEFA increases the risk of genital mycotic infections. Monitor
and treat as appropriate.
Urinary Glucose Test and
1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) Assay: these are not reliable
for patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors. Use alternative testing
methods to monitor glucose levels.
Common Adverse Reactions: the
most commonly reported adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5%) were
urinary tract infection, volume depletion, diarrhea, and
hypoglycemia.
Drug Interactions:
- Digoxin: Monitor patients appropriately as
there is an increase in the exposure of digoxin when coadministered
with INPEFA 400 mg.
- Uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)
Inducer: The coadministration of rifampicin, an inducer of
UGTs, with sotagliflozin resulted in a decrease in the exposure of
sotagliflozin.
- Lithium:
Concomitant use of an SGLT2 inhibitor with lithium may decrease
serum lithium concentrations. Monitor serum lithium concentration
more frequently during INPEFA initiation and with dosage
changes.
Use in Specific Populations:
- Pregnancy and Lactation: INPEFA is not
recommended during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy,
nor while breastfeeding.
- Geriatric Use: No INPEFA dosage change is
recommended based on age. No overall differences in efficacy were
detected between these patients and younger patients, and other
reported clinical experience has not identified differences in
responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater
sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out. Elderly
patients may be at increased risk for volume depletion adverse
reactions, including hypotension.
- Renal Impairment: INPEFA was evaluated in
patients with chronic kidney disease (eGFR 25 to
60 mL/min/1.73 m2) and in patients with heart failure with
eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. The safety profile of INPEFA
across eGFR subgroups in these studies was consistent with the
known safety profile. There was an increase in volume-related
adverse events (e.g., hypotension, dizziness) in patients with eGFR
<30 mL/min/1.73m2 relative to the overall safety
population. Efficacy and safety studies with INPEFA did not enroll
patients with an eGFR less than 25 mL/min/1.73 m2 or on dialysis.
After starting therapy in the studies, patients were discontinued
if eGFR fell below 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or were initiated on chronic
dialysis.
- Hepatic Impairment: INPEFA is not recommended
in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment.
Click here for full Prescribing
Information.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains “forward-looking
statements,” including statements relating to the therapeutic and
commercial potential, research and clinical development and
regulatory status of INPEFA® (sotagliflozin). In addition, this
press release also contains forward looking statements relating to
Lexicon’s financial position and long-term outlook on its business,
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 Lexicon’s ability
to meet its capital requirements, successfully commercialize INPEFA
in heart failure on the timeline and/or at the prices currently
contemplated or at all, conduct preclinical and clinical
development and obtain necessary regulatory approvals of INPEFA (in
other indications), LX9211 and its other drug candidates on its
anticipated timelines, 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. Any of these risks, uncertainties and
other factors 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, 2022 and other
subsequent disclosure documents 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.
For Investor Inquiries:Investor
RelationsLexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.lexinvest@lexpharma.com
For Media Inquiries:Alina
CocuzzaLexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.acocuzza@lexpharma.com
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