Ligand Pharma Inc Roche Contingent Value Rights (LGNDZ)

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8:06AM Ligand Pharma Announces 'Positive' preclinical data on LGD-6972 at the American Diabetes Association's 72nd Scientific Sessions (LGND) 13.17 : Co announced today that a poster entitled 'LGD-6972, a Potent, Orally-Bioavailable, Small Molecule Glucagon Receptor Antagonist for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes' was presented at the 72nd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, June 8-12, 2012, in Philadelphia. The poster provides data from preclinical studies of a novel compound, LGD-6972 that has demonstrated promising glucose lowering activity in various animal models of type 2 diabetes. In preclinical studies, Ligand evaluated the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety of LGD-6972. The key findings include: LGD-6972 is a highly potent and selective glucagon receptor antagonist LGD-6972 inhibits glucagon-induced hyperglycemia in both rats and monkeys LGD-6972 lowers glucose in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The key findings include: LGD-6972 is a highly potent and selective glucagon receptor antagonist LGD-6972 inhibits glucagon-induced hyperglycemia in both rats and monkeys LGD-6972 lowers glucose in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus Preclinical studies demonstrated robust pharmacokinetics and predict LGD-6972 will be amenable to once daily oral dosing in humans IND-enabling safety studies support the initiation of clinical development planning for LGD-6972.