Lexicon Presents on Class of Compounds for Gastrointestinal Disorders

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals reported data describing the structure-activity relationship of a class of internally developed compounds that includes LX1031 and other compounds under evaluation by the company as potential treatments for irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal disorders.

LX1031 is currently under evaluation in a Phase Ib clinical trial in healthy volunteers.

In preclinical studies with these molecules, including LX1031, Lexicon scientists confirmed that serotonin levels could be predictably reduced in the intestine without affecting levels of the neurotransmitter in the brain, where it mediates mood and other behaviors, Lexicon said. 

Knockout studies showed that mice lacking a functional tryptophan hydroxylase 1 gene exhibited normal brain levels of serotonin with no detectable levels in the periphery, the company said. The mice were healthy and exhibited no significant adverse effects, the company added.

The company said topline Phase I clinical results for LX1031 are expected to be presented in October.