Sangamo's window panes

Ever since Genentech Inc.'s NGF failed in a Phase III trial in diabetic neuropathy in 1999, development candidates that address the disease, rather than simply palliating pain, have lacked acceptable side effect profiles. The problem is that the therapeutic window for such compounds, including NGF and certain aldose reductase inhibitors, has not coincided with a reasonable side effect profile. Sangamo BioSciences Inc. thinks it has successfully framed the window based on this month's Phase I data for SB-509.

Approved drugs for diabetic neuropathy include Lyrica pregabalin, a GABA analog from Pfizer Inc. (PFE, New York, N.Y.). That drug only manages the neuropathic pain, and does not have effects on neuronal function. Other approved drugs for the indication include pain killers and antidepressants...