AtheroGenics
AtheroGenics
www.atherogenics.com
AtheroGenics is a publicly traded, emerging pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel pharmaceutical products that address critical unmet needs in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, including diabetes and atherosclerosis.
The Company’s lead compound, AGI-1067, a novel anti-oxidant compound with anti-inflammatory properties, was discovered by AtheroGenics scientists and is in Phase III clinical development for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
In July 2008, AGIX announced top-line results from ANDES (AGI-1067 as a Novel Anti-Diabetic Agent Evaluation Study), a Phase III clinical trial designed to assess the ability of AGI-1067 to control blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes. ANDES was an international, double-blind, dose comparison study of 887 T2DM patients who were on one or no other oral anti-diabetes therapies. AGI-1067 met the study’s primary endpoint which was the reduction of hemoglobin A1c (A1c), a standard measure of blood sugar levels, at 6 months for both the 75mg and 150mg doses versus placebo. The company is planning the second required Phase III registration trial for AGI-1067, which it expects to commence in early 2009.
AtheroGenics was incorporated in Georgia in 1993 and is based in Alpharetta, Georgia. The Company currently has 30 employees, with a senior management team comprised of executives from leading pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions.
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V-Protectant® Technology
We have developed a proprietary drug discovery technology platform called vascular protectant, or v-protectant®, technology for treating diseases of chronic inflammation like Type 2 Diabetes and Atherosclerosis. Inflammation normally protects the body from infection, injury and disease, but chronic inflammation often causes damage in a misdirected attempt at repair and healing.
Diseases of chronic inflammation that we are targeting include:
Type 2 diabetes, which has reached epidemic proportions, and affects almost 24 million Americans.
Atherosclerosis, including coronary artery disease, which affects nearly 14 million people in the United States and is the leading cause of death in the United States.
V-Protectant® Backgrounder
Our v-protectants® are therapeutic small molecules that block a class of signals called oxidant signals. Oxidant signals lead to the production of selected inflammatory proteins including VCAM-1. These inflammatory proteins attract white blood cells, or leukocytes, to the site of chronic inflammation. Leukocytes destroy infective agents and promote healing but can also amplify chronic inflammation. This cycle of oxidant signals leading to a chronic inflammatory state is referred to as the Oxidative Inflammatory Cascade (OIC). Diseases marked by chronic inflammation, such as diabetes and atherosclerosis, are the therapeutic targets of several classes of currently available drugs. Some drugs are directed toward reduction of risk factors for the underlying disease, such as high blood cholesterol in atherosclerosis. Other drugs provide symptomatic relief. Among these drugs are anti-inflammatories and immunosuppressants that decrease chronic inflammation, but increase the risk of infection. None of these drugs treats the underlying cause of chronic inflammation. In contrast, we believe that our v-protectants® can suppress chronic inflammation by selectively inhibiting the expression of VCAM-1 in endothelial cells without undermining the body's ability to protect itself against infection.
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Diabetes Unmet Need and AGI-1067’s Unique Mechanism of Action
T2DM represents a growing health crisis, which now affects almost 24 million people in the United States (7.8% of the population) and the rates are expected to double by 2030. Over 50% of diagnosed patients with diabetes are not at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) goal of <7% hemoglobin A1c (A1c). Diabetes is now the fifth deadliest disease in the United States. Heart disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related deaths, and cardiovascular disease is recognized as a major burden in type 2 diabetes, in terms of both mortality and morbidity.
AGI-1067 works by selectively inhibiting signaling pathways that are activated in response to oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory stimuli. Oxidative stress and inflammation have been implicated as playing a key role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and diabetes. AGI-1067 targets this Oxidative Inflammatory Cascade, a fundamental mechanism involved in the pathophysiology of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It reduces oxidative stress and inflammation yielding improved insulin resistance and beta-cell function and it may impact the progression of atherosclerosis. Clinical results with AGI-1067 show positive glycemic control and CV safety with evidence of CV benefit.
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Business Strategy
Our objective is to become a leading pharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel drugs for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. The key elements of our long term strategy include the following:
Continue our development program for AGI-1067. We intend to aggressively develop AGI-1067 for the treatment and prevention of diabetes.
Extend our v-protectant® technology platform into additional therapeutic areas that address unmet medical needs. We believe that our v-protectants® have the potential for treating a wide variety of other chronic inflammatory diseases. These indications include chronic organ transplant rejection, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and other diseases.
Expand our clinical product candidate portfolio. We intend to pursue the acquisition of rights to other product candidates and technologies that complement our existing product candidate lines or that enable us to capitalize on our scientific and clinical development expertise. We plan to expand our product candidate portfolio by in-licensing or acquiring product candidates, technologies or companies.
Commercialize our products. We plan to collaborate with large pharmaceutical companies to commercialize products that we develop to target patient or physician populations in broad markets.
CONTACT US
MAILING ADDRESS
AtheroGenics, Inc.
8995 Westside Parkway
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Main: (678) 3...
Fax: (678) 336-2501
VISITING AtheroGenics
If you are visiting AtheroGenics please sign-in at our reception desk. Our facility is located at the intersection of Westside (Morrison) Parkway and Hembree Road, 2 blocks south of Haynes Bridge Road (8995 Westside Parkway).
©2000 AtheroGenics, Inc.
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