S-P's acadesine mimics exercise benefits in mice

10 August 2008

Data published in the July 31 issue of Cell show that Schering-Plough's AICAR induced metabolic genes and enhanced running endurance of sedentary mice, increasing the distance they could run on a treadmill by 44% for 23% longer duration.

The US drug major licensed the compound, also known as acadesine, from New York-based biopharmaceutical firm PeriCor Therapeutics last year (Marketletter September 3, 2007). Mimicking the benefits of exercise represents an entirely novel anti-obesity strategy and it could be a lucrative new indication for the drug, which is currently in Phase III trials as a treatment for cardio- and cerebrovascular complications in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The researchers found that AMPK-activating acadesine provides a transcriptional cue that re-programs the skeletal muscle genome and dramatically enhances endurance. On the day results were reported, S-P's shares rose 4.9% to $21.04 in afternoon trading.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free.  A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Login to your account

Become a subscriber

 

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now
  • Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
  • Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
  • Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
  • Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
  • Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription
The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK



Companies featured in this story

More ones to watch >


Today's issue

Company Spotlight