Data From Phase 2 Clinical Studies of Telotristat Etiprate in Patients With Carcinoid Syndrome to be Presented at North American

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Oct. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering breakthrough treatments for human disease, announced today that data from its Phase 2 clinical studies of telotristat etiprate (LX1032) will be presented this weekend at the annual meeting of the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Data from a recently-completed placebo-controlled Phase 2 study in the U.S. and preliminary data from an ongoing open-label study in Europe indicate that telotristat etiprate produced biochemical and clinical benefits in patients with carcinoid syndrome who are refractory to currently available therapy.  The drug candidate has demonstrated a favorable safety profile in both studies to date.  For more information on this program or to download a copy of the presentation and posters from the NANETS meeting, please visit www.lexpharma.com.

About Carcinoid Syndrome

Carcinoid syndrome is a chronic condition caused by neuroendocrine tumors that usually originate from the gastrointestinal tract.  It is characterized by severe diarrhea and flushing episodes with long-term consequences including malnutrition, heart disease, and death.  Symptoms of carcinoid syndrome have been linked to excess production of serotonin by metastatic tumor cells.  Telotristat etiprate, an inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase, is designed to reduce serotonin production in the periphery, without affecting brain serotonin levels.

About Lexicon

Lexicon is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering breakthrough treatments for human disease.  Lexicon currently has four drug programs in mid-stage development for diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, carcinoid syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, all of which were discovered by Lexicon's research team.  Lexicon has used its proprietary gene knockout technology to identify more than 100 promising drug targets.  Lexicon has focused drug discovery efforts on these biologically-validated targets to create its extensive pipeline of clinical and preclinical programs.  For additional information about Lexicon and its programs, please visit www.lexpharma.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," including statements relating to Lexicon's clinical development of telotristat etiprate (LX1032), including characterizations of the results of and projected timing of clinical trials of such compounds, and the potential therapeutic and commercial potential of telotristat etiprate (LX1032). This press release also contains forward-looking statements relating to Lexicon's growth and future operating results, discovery and development of products, strategic alliances and intellectual property, as well as other matters that are not historical facts or information.  All forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations and involve risks, uncertainties and other important factors, specifically including those relating to Lexicon's ability to successfully conduct clinical development of telotristat etiprate (LX1032) and preclinical and clinical development of its other potential drug candidates, advance additional candidates into preclinical and clinical development, obtain necessary regulatory approvals, achieve its operational objectives, obtain patent protection for its discoveries and establish strategic alliances, as well as additional factors relating to manufacturing, intellectual property rights, and the therapeutic or commercial value of its drug candidates, that may cause Lexicon's actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Unless specifically indicated otherwise, results were not statistically significant. Information identifying such important factors is contained under "Risk Factors" in Lexicon's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Lexicon undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.