AP is carring a story on treating emphasyma with retinoic acid. Although the article indicates that human applications are years away, the results begin to demonstrate LGND's long term potential.  LGND's retinoid R&D company, Allegan Ligand Retinoid Therapeutics (ALRIZ) has screened over 3100 retinoids using a pnel of 6 receptors.  They have 3 of them in clinical trials (Panretin, Targretin, and ALRT1550) with 3 more ready to go (and pre-clinical data on a couple of dozen).  The recent report comes out of Georgetown where LGND typically begins retinoid trials (there newest compound, ALRT1550 is currently in trials against a wide range of cancers there).  ALRT1550 is the most potent retinoid isolated to date.  LGND also has a rexinoid, Targretin, in advanced (Phase II/III) trials there to treat non-small cell lung cancer (Targretin stabilizes the difficult to treat disease). Moreover, there most recent addition to their board is Carl Peck who is at Georgetown. Emphasyma of course is a huge market and treatment of this chronic disease could provide very signicant returns to LGND and its shareholders. Henry N Fox Chapel

Last week AP carried a story on treating emphysema with tretinoin (Retin-A) in a rat model of the disease.  Rats grew new lung tissue.  This weekend the story was on CNN. Smart investors (not too many on the street) will make the LGND connection.  The rats received tretinoin (active ingredient in Retin-A, Renova, and Vesinoid).  Vesinoid is oral form (other two are topical) and it has significant side effects.  ALRT1550 is more potent than tretinoin and I suspect side effects are fewer.  It is in Phase I at Georgetown and LGND's new board member, Peck, is also at Georgetown, so I expect LGND is well on their way to testing ALRT1550 in humans (for emphysema).  Just one more reason why LGND will make long term investors EXTREMELY happy.

Last week AP carried a story on treating emphysema with tretinoin (Retin-A) in a rat model of the disease.  Rats grew new lung tissue.  This weekend the story was on CNN. Smart investors (not too many on the street) will make the LGND connection.  The rats received tretinoin (active ingredient in Retin-A, Renova, and Vesinoid).  Vesinoid is oral form (other two are topical) and it has significant side effects.  ALRT1550 is more potent than tretinoin and I suspect side effects are fewer.  It is in Phase I at Georgetown and LGND's new board member, Peck, is also at Georgetown, so I expect LGND is well on their way to testing ALRT1550 in humans (for emphysema).  Just one more reason why LGND will make long term investors EXTREMELY happy. Here's some background info on emphysema: Emphysema           What Is Emphysema?           Emphysema is a condition in which there is over-inflation of structures in the           lungs known as alveoli or air sacs. This over-inflation results from a breakdown           of the walls of the alveoli, which causes a decrease in respiratory function (the           way the lungs work) and often, breathlessness.           Early symptoms of emphysema include shortness of breath and cough.           How Serious Is Emphysema?           Emphysema is a widespread disease of the lungs. In 1993, 1.9 million people in           the U.S. had emphysema.           It is estimated that 50,000 to 100,000 Americans living today were born with a           deficiency of a protein known as alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) which can lead to an           inherited form of emphysema.           Emphysema ranks 15th among chronic conditions that contribute to activity           limitations: over 43 percent of individuals with emphysema report that their daily           activities have been limited by the disease.           Many of the people with emphysema are older men, but the condition is           increasing among women. Males with emphysema outnumber females by 22           percent.           Causes Of Emphysema           The lung has a system of elastic fibers. The fibers allow the lungs to expand and           contract. It is known from scientific research that the normal lung has a           remarkable balance between two classes of chemicals with opposing action.           When the chemical balance is altered, the lungs lose the ability to protect           themselves against the destruction of these elastic fibers. This is what happens in           emphysema.           There are a number of reasons this chemical imbalance occurs. Smoking is           responsible for 82 percent of chronic lung disease, including emphysema.           Exposure to air pollution is one suspected cause. Irritating fumes and dusts on           the job also are thought to be a factor.           A small number of people with emphysema have a rare inherited form of the           disease called alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency-related emphysema, or           early onset emphysema. This form of disease is caused by an inherited lack of a           protective protein called alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT).           How Does Emphysema Develop?           Emphysema begins with the destruction of air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs where           oxygen from the air is exchanged for carbon dioxide in the blood. The walls of           the air sacs are thin and fragile. Damage to the air sacs is irreversible and results           in permanent holes in the tissues of the lower lungs.           As air sacs are destroyed, the lungs are able to transfer less and less oxygen to           the bloodstream, causing shortness of breath. The lungs also lose their elasticity.           The patient experiences great difficulty exhaling.           Emphysema doesn't develop suddenly, it comes on very gradually. Years of           exposure to the irritation of cigarette smoke usually precede the development of           emphysema.           A person may initially visit the doctor because he or she has begun to feel short           of breath during activity or exercise. As the disease progresses, a brief walk can           be enough to bring on difficulty in breathing. Some people may have had chronic           bronchitis before developing emphysema.           Treatment For Emphysema           Doctors can help persons with emphysema live more comfortably with their           disease. The goal of treatment is to provide relief of symptoms and prevent           progression of the disease with a minimum of side effects. The doctor's advice           and treatment may include:                Quitting smoking: the single most important factor for maintaining                healthy lungs.                Bronchodilator drugs (pre_script_ion drugs that relax and open air                passages in the lungs): may be prescribed to treat emphysema if                there is a tendency toward airway constriction or tightening. These                drugs may be inhaled as aerosol sprays or taken orally.                Antibiotics: if you have a bacterial infection, such as pneumococcal                pneumonia.                Exercise: including breathing exercises to strengthen the muscles                used in breathing as part of a pulmonary* rehabilitation program to                condition the rest of the body.                *The term pulmonary refers to the lungs.                Treatment: with Alpha 1-Proteinase Inhibitor (A1PI) only if a                person has AAT deficiency-related emphysema. A1PI is not                recommended for those who develop emphysema as a result of                cigarette smoking or other environmental factors.                Lung transplantation: most recent reports have been encouraging                and the success rate continues to increase.                Lung reduction surgery: this new technique shows promise.                Experience at this time is limited.           Emphysema Research           Continuing research is being done to find answers to many questions about           emphysema, especially about the best ways to prevent the disease.           Researchers know that quitting smoking can prevent the occurrence and           decrease the progression of emphysema. Other environmental controls can also           help prevent the disease.           If an individual has emphysema, the doctor will work hard to prevent the disease           from getting worse by keeping the patient healthy and clear of any infection. The           patient can participate in this prevention effort by following these general health           guidelines:                Emphysema is a serious disease. It damages your lungs, and it can                damage your heart. See your doctor at the first sign of symptoms.                DON'T SMOKE. A majority of those who get emphysema are                smokers. Continued smoking makes emphysema worse, especially                for those who have AAT deficiency, the inherited form of                emphysema.                Maintain overall good health habits, which include proper nutrition,                adequate sleep, and regular exercise to build up your stamina and                resistance to infections.                Reduce your exposure to air pollution, which may aggravate                symptoms of emphysema. Refer to radio or television weather                reports or your local newspaper for information about air quality.                On days when the ozone (smog) level is unhealthy, restrict your                activity to early morning or evening. When pollution levels are                dangerous, remain indoors and stay as comfortable as possible.                Consult your doctor at the start of any cold or respiratory infection                because infection can make your emphysema symptoms worse.                Ask about getting vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal                pneumonia.           COPD: A Growing Problem           Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a term that generally applies to           chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema, has increased by a dramatic 57 percent           between 1982 and 1993.           Today, chronic bronchitis and emphysema combined constitute the most           common chronic lung disease, affecting 15.8 million people in the U.S.           The number of lives claimed by chronic lung disease has increased sharply, too.           In 1979, it accounted for about 50,000 deaths. In 1982, the number rose to           59,000 and by 1992, the number of deaths reached 86,974.

Last week AP carried a story on treating emphysema with tretinoin (Retin-A) in a rat model of the disease.  Rats grew new lung tissue.  This weekend the story was on CNN. Smart investors (not too many on the street) will make the LGND connection.  The rats received tretinoin (active ingredient in Retin-A, Renova, and Vesinoid).  Vesinoid is oral form (other two are topical) and it has significant side effects.  ALRT1550 is more potent than tretinoin and I suspect side effects are fewer.  It is in Phase I at Georgetown and LGND's new board member, Peck, is also at Georgetown, so I expect LGND is well on their way to testing ALRT1550 in humans (for emphysema).  Just one more reason why LGND will make long term investors EXTREMELY happy. Here's the CNN report that came out last week (CNN television story was considerably longer): Vitamin A derivative                      reverses emphysema in rats                      May 27, 1997                      Web posted at: 10:09 p.m. EDT (0209 GMT)                      WASHINGTON (CNN)

Yesterday evening, Reuter's also came out with the story: Release at 5 P.M. EDT (2100 GMT) WASHINGTON, June 1 (Reuter) - A derivative of vitamin A reverses the effects of emphysema in laboratory rats, (U.S.) scientists reported on Sunday. The derivative, retinoic acid, combats the disease by working on the alveoli, the small air spaces in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the bloodstream takes place, researchers said in the journal Nature Medicine. Emphysema destroys alveoli, leading to shortness of breath, disability and eventual death. Rats that were given a substance that produced emphysema-like changes in their lungs, and then were given the vitamin A derivative, ended with their lungs returning to normal, the scientists said. Dr. Claude Lenfant of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health, which supported the study, said this might lead to treatments for emphysema and other lung ailments. However, he stressed that further research was needed and said there was ``absolutely no evidence'' that vitamin A supplements helped in treating lung disorders. Emphysema currently affects some 2 million Americans, most of them longtime smokers over age 45, and accounts for 17,000 deaths in the United States each year and $2.5 billion in annual 10:08 06-01-97

Yesterday evening, Reuter's also came out with the story: Release at 5 P.M. EDT (2100 GMT) WASHINGTON, June 1 (Reuter) - A derivative of vitamin A reverses the effects of emphysema in laboratory rats, (U.S.) scientists reported on Sunday. The derivative, retinoic acid, combats the disease by working on the alveoli, the small air spaces in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the bloodstream takes place, researchers said in the journal Nature Medicine. Emphysema destroys alveoli, leading to shortness of breath, disability and eventual death. Rats that were given a substance that produced emphysema-like changes in their lungs, and then were given the vitamin A derivative, ended with their lungs returning to normal, the scientists said. Dr. Claude Lenfant of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health, which supported the study, said this might lead to treatments for emphysema and other lung ailments. However, he stressed that further research was needed and said there was ``absolutely no evidence'' that vitamin A supplements helped in treating lung disorders. Emphysema currently affects some 2 million Americans, most of them longtime smokers over age 45, and accounts for 17,000 deaths in the United States each year and $2.5 billion in annual 10:08 06-01-97 Here's an alternative to popping a retinoid pill: May 14, 1996 Surgery may offer emphysema relief A new lung surgery for people with advanced emphysema improves breathing in many patients, but doctors do not know how long results last, who will benefit or who will be at highest risk for complications, experts cautioned Monday. In the experimental procedure, called lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS), damaged lung tissue is removed to help remaining tissue function better. Some patients experience dramatic results and no longer require supplemental oxygen. But others have serious side effects, such as air leaks in the lungs, and 5% to 10% die from the procedure. We're not totally sure on optimal patient selection. The procedure hasn't been studied yet in a controlled clinical trial, says Dr. Leonard Hudson, president of the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the medical arm of the American Lung Association (ALA). Because demand for LVRS by patients and surgeons is outpacing careful study of the procedure, the society crafted a position paper on its use. The paper was released Monday at a joint ALA/ATS meeting in New Orleans. About 2 million people in the USA have emphysema, which is caused mostly by smoking. The ATS says only 25% of patients - those with the most severe symptoms - should be considered candidates for the procedure. LVRS is a procedure of last resort, says Richard Casaburi, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles. It is appropriate only when other therapies have failed and the quality of life is very low. Despite little data on safety and effectiveness, experts estimate that thousands of procedures have been done since LVRS was reintroduced last year. It was developed in the 1950s but dropped because it caused high death rates and complications. Surgeons revived the procedure because of improvements in surgical instruments, technique and anesthesia. Standard therapy involves drugs, rehabilitation therapy to improve mobility and supplemental oxygen. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute is launching a controlled clinical trial of the procedure to prove whether it is superior to standard therapy and warrants the risks. For now, the ATS says LVRS should be done only at a qualified medical center. By Tim Friend, USA TODAY