Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the commencement of dosing in a Phase 1 clinical trial of LX2761, an orally-delivered small molecule compound for the potential treatment of diabetes. LX2761 is an internally generated compound and is designed to inhibit SGLT1 locally in the gastrointestinal tract without any significant inhibition of SGLT2 in the kidney. In preclinical studies, LX2761 delayed and reduced intestinal glucose absorption and reduced postprandial glucose, the level of blood glucose after a meal, while increasing plasma levels of GLP-1, consistent with inhibition of intestinal SGLT1. In addition, LX2761 was minimally absorbed into the systemic circulation, resulting in little effect on urinary glucose excretion, indicating that LX2761 was restricted to the gastrointestinal tract. The initial Phase 1 clinical trial of LX2761 is planned as a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, ascending single dose study in both healthy volunteers and people with type 2 diabetes. The study is designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of LX2761. Lexicon has granted Sanofi certain rights of first negotiation with respect to the future development and commercialization of LX2761.