While the FX125L compound is what has most caughtBoehginer Ingelheim's eye, it seems, the drug is part of a larger somatotaxinprogram. Somatotaxins, the companies explain, are a new class ofanti-inflammatory small molecules that exploit a new pathway discovered by FunxionalTherapeutics. This novel pathway acts through the type-2 somatostatin receptorinvolved in the resolution of inflammation, which is disrupted in chronicinflammatory diseases such as asthma, COPD and rheumatoid arthritis. FunxionalTherapeutics' portfolio of somatotaxins exploit this pathway to deliver reportedlybroad and potent anti-inflammatory activity, with different compounds optimizedfor topical, parenteral and oral delivery.
"We are very pleased that the futuredevelopment of FX125L and the somatotaxin programme will be now driven forward byBoehringer Ingelheim," said David Grainger, founder and chief scientific officerof Funxional Therapeutics. "They are a very impressive organization and theirpeople have the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to successfullydevelop FX125L."
