Christopher Aker

Sugen, Inc. developed small molecule drugs and related pharmaceutical products. The company was founded on July 1, 1991 and was headquartered in New York, NY.

Phenomix Corp. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel small-molecule product candidates directed toward clinically validated targets in significant therapeutic markets. It's internally discovered product candidates are designed to have improved efficacy, safety or convenience relative to existing therapies and other product candidates in clinical development. Its lead product candidate, dutogliptin tartrate, is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4, or DPP-4, inhibitor that it is developing as an oral, once-daily treatment for Type 2 diabetes. Its Phase 2b clinical trial of dutogliptin demonstrated statistically significant reductions in HbA1c when administered in combination with existing drugs for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. The company commenced its Phase 3 clinical program in the third quarter of 2008. Its second product candidate, PHX1766, is a protease inhibitor currently in Phase 1 of clinical development for the treatment of hepatitis C virus, or HCV, infection. The company intends to maximize the value of its product candidates through independent development, licensing and other partnership opportunities. These may include co-development or co-marketing agreements, licensing agreements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that possess established development and commercialization capabilities or direct commercialization by building its own sales and marketing force.