Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

ICPT starts phase-1 trial of dual-acting INT-767:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/intercept-pharmaceuticals-initiates-phase-1-210500000.html

Intercept Pharmaceuticals…today announced the initiation of a Phase 1 study of INT-767, a dual farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and TGR5 agonist, in healthy volunteers.

INT-767 is Intercept's second bile acid analog to enter clinical development, and is a three-fold more potent FXR agonist than obeticholic acid (OCA), Intercept's lead product candidate. INT-767 also activates TGR5, a second bile acid receptor. TGR5 has been shown to affect energy metabolism, glucose homeostasis, bile composition/secretion, and inflammation. INT-767 has potentially promising preclinical activity in both preventing and reversing organ damage due to fibrosis.

The dual MoA may be an advantage, but having 3x the FXR potency of OCA is not in itself something to crow about (#msg-111502128).