Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the advancement of MLN3126, a new product candidate, from the company's discovery engine to its development pipeline. MLN3126 is a selective antagonist of CCR9, a chemokine receptor known to be important in the migration of inflammatory cells into the gastrointestinal tract. Along with MLN0002, an antibody targeting the alpha4beta7 integrin, MLN3126 expands the company's inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) franchise.

MLN0002 already has demonstrated the ability to induce clinical remission in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease and is expected to enter pivotal phase III trials in late 2008 or early 2009 in both indications.

"The development of MLN3126 leverages our knowledge and experience in the area of IBD, a key focus area for Millennium," said Deborah Dunsire, M.D., chief executive officer, Millennium. "Building on our scientific knowledge and broad patent estate in the area of chemokines, we have identified a product candidate that is differentiated from others in this field and potentially could benefit the millions of patients afflicted with Crohn's worldwide."

"We are delighted to move forward some very promising molecules in IBD. In addition to the positive direction of MLN3126, preliminary results from bridging studies with MLN0002 from our new commercially scalable cell line show favourable pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and safety profiles," said Nancy Simonian, M.D., chief medical officer, Millennium. "These results are exciting for Millennium and IBD patients as MLN0002 is one of only a few novel product candidates being tested as alternatives to anti-TNF and other immunosuppressive therapies for the disease."

In pre-clinical models, MLN3126 has shown to be potent and selective in vitro and active as an orally administered molecule in an animal model of IBD. The molecule is expected to enter Phase I clinical trials in early 2009.

IBD is the general name for a group of chronic disorders that cause inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Disorders include ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's disease.