Ligand's LGD-6972 meets in Phase II for Type II diabetes

In September, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:LGND) reported top-line data from a Phase II trial in 166 patients with Type II diabetes showing that once-daily oral LGD-6972 met the primary endpoint of reducing HbA1c from baseline to week 12 vs. placebo. Specifically, 5, 10 and 15 mg doses of LGD-6972 reduced HbA1c by 0.9%, 0.92% and 1.2%, respectively, vs. 0.15% for placebo (p<0.0001 for all). LGD-6972 was well tolerated with no serious adverse events or dose-dependent changes in lipids, body weight or blood pressure reported.

The double-blind, U.S. trial enrolled Type II diabetics whose disease was controlled inadequately with metformin. Secondary endpoints include the change from baseline in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting glucagon, fasting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), fasting insulin, fasting lipids and blood pressure...