A quick post with some breaking news: next week, Amylin Pharmaceuticals is scheduled to announce results from an obesity trial it’s doing to, as I understand it, try to understand why synthetic amylin (a hormone marketed under the brand name Symlin) seems to induce weight loss. To quote from the press release:
SAN DIEGO, Calif., Oct. 19, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Amylin
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMLN) today announced that new data from its obesity program will be presented at Obesity 2009, the 27th Annual Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society, to be held in Washington, D.C. October 24-28. Phase 2 data from the pramlintide/metreleptin combination treatment clinical program will be the subject of a late-breaking oral presentation. Obesity 2009 is one of the largest scientific conferences in the field of obesity.
Amylin will also present new scientific findings from preclinical studies related to its clinical-stage obesity programs for pramlintide/metreleptin and davalintide, an optimized amylin analog. These findings include new insights into the synergistic weight loss observed with various dual-hormone combination regimens. Additionally, Amylin will present at the meeting’s pre-conference session focused on obesity pharmacotherapy.
“The discovery of leptin and its role, along with other endocrine signals, in regulating body weight through a neurohormonal feedback system marked the beginning of a new era of obesity research,” said Christian Weyer, M.D., vice president, Medical Development at Amylin Pharmaceuticals. “Amylin’s unique approach to obesity drug development aims to translate this evolving science into innovative new treatment options and builds on over 20 years of experience in peptide-protein therapeutics.”
It’ll be interesting to hear what they announce. I can personally attest that I’ve lost about 5 pounds since starting Symlin in early September, with no real effort (just a bit of nausea and, you know, a distaste for food).
