Metabolex Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary new medicines for the treatment of metabolic diseases, announced that it has initiated a phase II clinical trial of arhalofenate (MBX-102), its product candidate for the management of hyperuricemia in patients with gout.

“We are excited about initiating our gout trials. Our phase II programme is designed to show that arhalofenate has a broad clinical profile for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout including first-line use and, for patients not reaching treatment goals, in combination with allopurinol or febuxostat,” said Harold Van Wart, president and CEO of Metabolex. “Advancing the development of arhalofenate has the potential to significantly improve the lives of patients suffering from gout.”

Gout is a chronic, progressive rheumatic disease, caused by an inflammatory response to uric acid crystals deposited in joints and soft tissues as a result of excess uric acid in the blood (hyperuricemia). Elevated sUA levels cause urate crystals to form in joints triggering acute arthritic flares, chronic destructive arthropathy and formation of tophi. According to the NHANES (2007-2008) study, the incidence of hyperuricemia in the US is over 45 million and over eight million have progressed to a gout diagnosis.

Metabolex is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary new medicines for the treatment of metabolic diseases.