Ligand Pharmaceuticals Awarded U.S. Patent for LGD-4665
Ligand Ranked as one of the Top Industry Innovators by Pharmaceuticals Patent Scorecard
SAN DIEGO--
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:LGND) (the Company or
Ligand) today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark
Office issued U.S. Patent No. 7,314,887, titled "Thrombopoietin
Activity Modulating Compounds and Methods," to Ligand for LGD-4665,
the Company's lead thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist and a family
of related compounds. The patent describes LGD-4665 and other
small-molecule TPO mimetic compounds discovered at Ligand,
formulations involving these compounds, as well as methods of making
and using the compounds and formulations.
The Patent Scorecard--Quarterly Leader Board report, issued on
11/30/2007, listed Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated as one of the
top innovators in the industry with the highest score for the Industry
Impact metric (www.patentboard.com/scorecard). The quarterly leader
board data is calculated on 13 week rolling averages and reflects
standard blended quality and quantity patent metrics.
"Receipt of this patent reflects our continued focus on innovation
while strengthening our intellectual property portfolio, and covers a
platform molecule that we believe has significant market potential,"
said John L. Higgins, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ligand
Pharmaceuticals. "Our commitment to creating high-quality drug
compounds and shareholder value is further validated by Ligand's
recent rating as one of the industry's top innovators in the Patent
Board's Pharmaceuticals Patent Scorecard."
About LGD-4665
LGD-4665 was selected from a group of novel oral TPO mimetics
synthesized at Ligand, for which Ligand has retained exclusive
worldwide rights. LGD-4665 has shown a promising profile of
thrombopoietin receptor agonist activity in Phase I studies, and in
terms of efficacy, potency and selectivity has the potential to become
a competitive molecule for the treatment of different forms of
thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia or low platelet count is a common
clinical finding associated with a diverse group of clinical disorders
or conditions affecting platelet production and/or survival. Prevalent
clinical disorders where platelet loss or dysfunction leads to
significant morbidity include hepatitis C, chemotherapy-induced
thrombocytopenia (CIT), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), idiopathic
thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and several other cancers and liver
diseases.
About Ligand Pharmaceuticals
Ligand discovers and develops new drugs that address critical
unmet medical needs of patients in the areas of thrombocytopenia,
hepatitis C, cancer, hormone-related diseases, osteoporosis and
inflammatory diseases. Ligand's proprietary drug discovery and
development programs are based on its leadership position in gene
transcription technology, primarily related to intracellular
receptors.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements by Ligand
that involve risks and uncertainties and reflect Ligand's judgment as
of the date of this release. These statements also include those
regarding timing and results of clinical data for LGD-4665 and other
drug candidates, data analysis and evaluation of LGD-4665, utility or
potential benefits to patients, the potential commercial market for
LGD-4665, plans for continued development and further studies of
LGD-4665 for the treatment of diseases associated with
thrombocytopenia. Actual events or results may differ from our
expectations. For example, there can be no assurance that other trials
or evaluations of LGD-4665 or other TPO-related product candidates
will be favorable or that they will confirm results of previous
studies, that data evaluation will be completed or demonstrate any
hypothesis or endpoint, that LGD-4665 or other TPO-related product
candidates will provide utility or benefits to certain patients, that
any presentations will be favorably received, that LGD-4665 or other
TPO-related product candidates will be useful as a single agent or in
combination with other drugs, that marketing applications will be
filed or, if filed, approved, or that clinical or commercial
development of these product candidates will be initiated, completed
or successful or that our rights to LGD-4665 and other TPO-related
product candidates will not be successfully challenged. Our stock
price may suffer as a result of the failure of any trials to be
completed or meet their endpoints or if any actual events differ from
our expectations. Additional information concerning these and other
risk factors affecting Ligand can be found in prior press releases as
well as in public periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, available via www.ligand.com. Ligand disclaims any intent
or obligation to update these forward-looking statements beyond the
date of this press release. This caution is made under the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Source: Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Released January 8, 2008