Press Releases

07.01.08 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals Announces Exclusive Sirtuin Intellectual Property License Agreement with Boston University.

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced the Company has entered an exclusive license agreement with Boston University to key intellectual property covering discoveries regarding the use of modulators of SIRT1, a member of the sirtuin class of protein deacetylase enzymes. SIRT1 is the human equivalent of Sir2, a gene identified in yeast that has been recognized to play a key role in the control of lifespan, metabolism, resistance to stress and other cellular regulatory pathways. The agreement with Boston University encompasses therapeutic applications for SIRT1 modulators in metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes, as well as therapeutic modulation of SIRT1 for anti-angiogenic activity to treat cancer.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

06.18.08 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals Announces Ghrelin Agonist Data Presentation at the Endocrine Society Annual Meeting.

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that results from in-vivo preclinical studies with the Company’s ghrelin agonist, EX-1314, were presented at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society. EX-1314 is expected to enter human clinical testing this year. This new compound has been the subject of extensive preclinical development, and these new data provide the first demonstrations that an orally active, small molecule ghrelin agonist can enhance gastrointestinal motility. Elixir will develop EX-1314 as a treatment for gastrointestinal disorders, which include gastroparesis, opioid-induced bowel dysfunction and cancer cachexia. These newest findings were presented in a poster session, titled “Enhanced gastrointestinal motility with EX-1314, an orally active small molecule ghrelin receptor agonist,” at ENDO 2008, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society being held in San Francisco. Authors of the study included Soratree Charoenthongtrakul and Brad Geddes, both of Elixir Pharmaceuticals.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

06.09.08 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals Announces New Data at the 2008 American Diabetes Association Annual Meeting.

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced new data validating ghrelin, a potent, naturally occurring hormone, as a master regulator of metabolism. The data provides the most advanced evidence to date of the array of metabolic improvements in mice genetically engineered to lack the receptor for ghrelin (“knockout” mice). In particular, the results demonstrated organ-specific improvements that ultimately may have an impact in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and other widespread metabolic diseases.

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05.28.08 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals Researchers Publish New Data Validating Ghrelin as a Key Metabolic Regulator.

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced publication in a peer-reviewed journal of new data that further establish ghrelin, a potent, naturally occurring hormone, as a master regulator of metabolism. The data describe an array of physical and metabolic improvements in mice genetically engineered to lack the receptor for ghrelin (“knockout” mice), despite their having been fed a high-fat diet. These findings provide additional support for Elixir’s small molecule, oral ghrelin antagonist as a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

04.28.08 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals Announces Issuance of SIRT Patent Covering Development of New Therapies Based on Breakthrough Science.

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today issuance of U.S. Patent No. 7,351,542, which covers the discovery of new and existing chemical entities that modulate the activity of a human sirtuin, SIRT 2. Elixir's rights to this patent were made possible through an exclusive license.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

04.09.08 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today that it has established a national diabetes advisory board.

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today the formation of its U.S. Diabetes Advisory Board to provide independent scientific and clinical advice regarding the Company's product candidates in phase III development, Glinsuna™ (mitiglinide) and Metgluna™ (mitiglinide plus metformin), for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, as well as to provide input on other Elixir product candidates in development to treat metabolic diseases. James R. Gavin III, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical Professor of Medicine at Emory University and past president of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), has been named chair of the Elixir Diabetes Advisory Board. Members of the advisory board also include: Lawrence Blonde, M.D., Rhoda H. Cobin, M.D., John E. Gerich, M.D., Paul S. Jellinger, M.D., John L. Leahy, M.D. and Janet B. McGill, M.D.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

03.25.08 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today that it has completed enrollment in its final pivotal phase III clinical study of mitiglinide for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today that it has completed enrollment in its final pivotal phase III clinical study of mitiglinide for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. The study is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2008, with data available shortly thereafter. The results from this study will supplement the existing clinical database of more than 4,000 patients to form the basis of the Company's anticipated new drug application (NDA) submissions to the FDA in early 2009 for Glinsuna(TM) (mitiglinide) and a fixed combination product, Metgluna(TM), combining metformin and Glinsuna.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

02.22.08 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today new data on the role of ghrelin antagonism in the regulation of metabolism and as a potential treatment for Type 2 diabetes

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today new data on the role of ghrelin antagonism in the regulation of metabolism and as a potential treatment for Type 2 diabetes. The data were presented by Dr. Yong Qi in a platform session during Keystone Symposia’s Neuronal Mechanisms Controlling Food Intake, Glucose Metabolism and Body Weight meeting being held this week in Banff, Alberta, Canada. Elixir’s small molecule ghrelin antagonists derive from the Company’s focus on pathways involved in the regulation of aging. Elixir identifies novel targets in these pathways leading to the development of compounds to treat a range of diseases of aging, including metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

02.06.08 - President and Chief Executive Officer William K. Heiden to present at the 10th Annual BIO CEO and Investor Conference

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its President and Chief Executive Officer William K. Heiden is scheduled to present at the 10th Annual BIO CEO and Investor Conference in New York on Wednesday, February 13, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. ET in the Park Avenue Suite. The conference takes place at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

10.25.07 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals Names Paul M. Martha, M.D. as Chief Medical Officer

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced Paul M. Martha, M.D. has been named to the newly-created position of Chief Medical Officer, reporting to William Heiden, President and Chief Executive Officer. In his new position, Dr. Martha will be responsible for managing the clinical development of Elixir's product candidates. Dr. Martha will be focused initially on overseeing the Phase III program for Glinsuna(TM) (mitiglinide calcium hydrate) and Metgluna(TM) (mitiglinide plus metformin), which are being developed for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, as well advancing the ghrelin antagonist, ghrelin agonist and SIRT programs through clinical development.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

09.24.07 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals Files Registration Statement for Proposed Initial Public Offering

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC will act as sole book-runner for the offering. Pacific Growth Equities, LLC and Leerink Swann LLC will act as co-managers.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

08.20.07 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals Initiates Final Phase III Clinical Study Prior to NDA - Mitiglinide May Offer New Treatment Option for Type 2 Diabetes

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the initiation of its final, pivotal phase III clinical study of mitiglinide for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. The phase III clinical study is expected to be completed in mid-2008, with data available shortly thereafter. The results from this study will supplement the existing clinical database (phases I-III) of nearly 4,000 patients to form the basis of the Company's anticipated New Drug Application submission to the FDA.

In previous clinical studies, mitiglinide therapy has been shown to significantly lower patients' levels of HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c), the standard measure of glucose control. In addition, mitiglinide has been shown to improve the body's own ability to produce insulin in a glucose-dependent manner at meal time, mimicking the natural glucose response by producing a rapid and brief burst of insulin when glucose levels begin to elevate.
To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

07.26.07 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals to present Data from Programs to Treat and Prevent Metabolic Diseases - Chief Scientific Officer Peter DiStefano to Speak at The 3rd Annual Obesity Drug Development Summit Sponsored by the Center for Business Intelligence

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced the presentation of data from the Company's ghrelin antagonist program and its sirtuin program at The Center for Business Intelligence's 3rd Annual Obesity Drug Development Summit, being held in Arlington, Virginia, July 26 - 27, 2007. According to Peter DiStefano, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Elixir, the ghrelin antagonist program is the Company's most advanced internally developed program and represents a potential treatment for a range of metabolic disorders. A naturally occurring hormone, ghrelin has been identified as having a key role in metabolism and energy storage. In preclinical testing, the Company's small molecule ghrelin antagonists have demonstrated a variety of beneficial effects, notably decreasing body weight, improvements in blood glucose and insulin levels, and reductions in fatty liver. Elixir intends to initiate Phase 1 clinical studies of a ghrelin antagonist in 2008.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

07.17.07 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals Announces Presentation of Data in Programs to Treat and Prevent Metabolic Diseases; Chief Scientific Officer Peter DiStefano to Speak at Strategic Research Institute's 6th Annual Metabolic Diseases Drug Discovery & Development World Summit

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced the presentation of preclinical data from the Company's ghrelin antagonist program and its sirtuin program at Strategic Research Institute's6th Annual Metabolic Diseases Drug Discovery & Development World Summit, being held in La Jolla, California, July 16-17, 2007. According to Peter DiStefano, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Elixir, the Company's ghrelin antagonist is the most advanced program of its kind and represents a potential treatment for a range of metabolic disorders. A naturally occurring hormone, ghrelin has been identified as having a key role in metabolism and energy storage. Elixir's lead ghrelin antagonist, EX-1350, has demonstrated a variety of beneficial effects in preclinical studies, notably decreasing body weight, improvements in blood glucose and insulin levels, and reductions in fatty liver. Elixir intends to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of its ghrelin antagonist in 2008.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

06.25.07 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals Presents Preclinical Data Highlighting Its Ghrelin Antagonist Program at the American Diabetes Association’s Annual Meeting

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced the presentation of two sets of preclinical data demonstrating that ghrelin antagonism may be a potential method for future treatment of a range of metabolic disorders. These data demonstrated a variety of beneficial metabolic effects, notably decreasing body weight, improvements in blood glucose and insulin levels, and reductions in fatty liver. The data were presented in poster sessions on Sunday, June 24th, during the American Diabetes Association’s 67th Annual Scientific Sessions meeting, being held in Chicago, IL.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

06.25.07 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals Announces Clinical Data at American Diabetes Association Conference Highlighting Ability of Glufast® to Maintain Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today the publication of clinical data highlighting the ability of Glufast® (mitiglinide calcium hydrate) monotherapy, or combination therapy with metformin, to manage glucose surges before and after meals. The data were published in the Abstract Book for the American Diabetes Association 67th Annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago, Illinois. Glufast is an insulin secretagogue that lowers postprandial (post-meal) glucose levels by improving the body's own ability to produce insulin. Marketed in Japan since 2004, Glufast has an extensive clinical package that demonstrates the product's ability to effectively and safely treat Type 2 diabetes.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

06.15.07 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals co-founder Cynthia Kenyon is interviewed on New York Public Radio.

Dr. Cynthia Kenyon looks at the genes of tiny worms, and discovers that aging may be a battle between good and evil. A literal struggle between two genes (who she calls): The Grim Reaper gene vs. The Fountain of Youth gene. And by fixing the match, she and her team at UCSF have found they can take the worms, and more than DOUBLE their lifespan. She wonders if her research may be applicable to humans.

To listen to the interview audio, please follow this link.

02.13.07 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals and Siena Biotech S.p.A. Enter Agreement to Evaluate SIRT1 Inhibitors in Huntington's Disease

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Siena Biotech S.p.A. announced today that the two companies have entered into an agreement to collaborate on the optimization, validation and evaluation of Elixir's SIRT1 inhibitors in Huntington's disease. Huntington's disease is a hereditary, degenerative brain disorder for which there is no present effective treatment or cure.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

01.29.07 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals names Gregory D. Perry as Chief Financial Officer.

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today the appointment of Gregory D. Perry to the newly created position of Chief Financial Officer. In this position, Mr. Perry will be responsible for the development and execution of financial strategy, management of financial resources and financial operations.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

01.17.07 - CEO William Heiden comments on press release and progress on ghrelin antagonist compound in interview on New England Cable Network

To view the video (Flash), please click here.

01.17.07 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals presents new data highlighting Ghrelin inhibition as a potential method for regulating metabolism and treating diabetes.

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today new data that further elucidate the role of ghrelin antagonism in the regulation of metabolism and as a potential treatment for Type 2 diabetes. The data were presented in poster sessions during Keystone Symposia's Joint Meeting on Diabetes and Obesity being held this week in Keystone, CO.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

11.30.06 - Peter DiStefano, PhD, presented data from its ghrelin antagonist program during the European Conference on Aging.

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , announced today the Company’s Chief Scientific Officer, Peter DiStefano, PhD, presented data from its ghrelin antagonist program during the European Conference on Aging held this week in Innsbruck, Austria. Elixir is focused on the development of drugs to treat and prevent metabolic disease, as well as prevent age-related diseases, based on targets identified in the pathways regulating aging. Dr. DiStefano and colleagues, Drs. Rory Curtis and Bard J. Geesaman, have previously authored an extensive review article, titled “Aging and Metabolism: Drug Discovery Opportunities”, which was published in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery (July 2005, Vol. 4, No. 7).

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

11.28.06 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals Raises $46 Million Proceeds to Support Portfolio of Products to Treat Metabolic and other Age-related Diseases.

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today the Company has closed a Series C and venture debt financings, raising a total of $46 million. The financing included $31 million in equity funding and $15 million in venture debt placement. William K. Heiden, Elixir’s President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “The Series C financing reflects the continued advancement of Elixir and its product portfolio. These funds provide us with the opportunity to advance our leadership position in the innovation and development of next-generation therapeutics for the treatment of major metabolic disorders, as well as to treat and prevent a broader range of agerelated diseases.”

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

03.27.06 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals Acquires Late-Stage Product for the Treatment of Type II Diabetes.

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the Company has signed a definitive agreement with Kissei Pharmaceutical for the exclusive right to develop and commercialize Glufast(R) (mitiglinide calcium hydrate) in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. Currently marketed in Japan, Glufast is an insulin secretagogue that lowers post-meal glucose levels by improving the body's own ability to produce insulin. Glufast has undergone extensive clinical development demonstrating the product's ability to safely and effectively treat Type II diabetes.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

12.15.05 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals Announces Discovery of Potent Sirtuin Inhibitors.

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the discovery of new, potent, orally bioavailable and highly selective inhibitors of SirT1, a member of the sirtuin class of protein deacetylase enzymes. SirT1 is the human equivalent of Sir2, a gene identified in yeast that plays a key role in the control of lifespan, metabolism, resistance to stress and other cellular regulatory pathways.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

07.05.05 - Nature Publication Reports Key Links Between Mechanisms of Aging and Metabolic Disorders.

During the last decade researchers have made a number of important discoveries about the molecular mechanisms regulating aging. This research has suggested the exciting prospect that the rate of aging can be manipulated and slowed, leading to longer human lifespan.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

05.18.05 Elixir Extends Sirtuin Patent Portfolio Signs Second Exclusive IP License Agreement with University of California

Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has secured an exclusive license to intellectual property from the Regents of the University of California (UC) relating to work done by Eric Verdin, M.D. and his research group with SirT1, a member of the sirtuin class of enzymes, and the HIV TAT (Transcriptional Transactivation) protein.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

04.29.05 Elixir Pharmaceuticals Licenses Novel Growth Hormone Secretagogue Compound from Bristol-Myers Squibb for Treatment of Metabolic Disorders.

To read the press release in full, please download the PDF document.

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