BioWorld International Correspondent

PARIS - Hybrigenics SA and Lynx Therapeutics Inc. discovered what they describe as a novel therapeutic target candidate for the treatment of obesity. On the strength of the discovery, they have applied for a joint U.S. patent to protect it.

It was in May 2000 that the two companies entered into a research collaboration for the discovery of expressed genes and protein interactions and pathways in human obesity, and in view of the results so far, they have now decided to extend the term of that 12-month agreement. Hybrigenics' marketing manager, Céline Goupil, told BioWorld International that they had agreed to a six-month extension so they could study the findings in greater depth. After that, it would be a question of deciding whether to go on and validate the therapeutic potential.

Lynx, of Hayward, Calif., applied its proprietary DNA cloning and analysis platforms, including its Megaclone and Megasort technologies, which are designed to identify genes that are preferentially expressed at different stages in the development of human adipocytes (fat cells). Hybrigenics, of Paris, then used the proteins encoded by those genes as starting points for identifying related functional pathways of interacting proteins through the application of its proprietary protein-protein interaction mapping technology, resulting in the discovery of the obesity drug target candidate.

The companies said the candidate was identified thanks to their discovery of a more fundamental and critical mechanism in the regulation of adipogenesis, the key process in fat accumulation that leads to excessive fatty tissue development and weight gain. The target candidate thus could have therapeutic applications not only in obesity but also in diabetes and lipodystrophy.

Hybrigenics' CEO Donny Strosberg said the decision to extend their research collaboration also would enable them to "identify additional drug targets from this newly discovered regulatory mechanism."