deCODE milestone in obesity alliance with Merck & Co

deCODE has discovered a gene with certain variations that predispose to obesity and others that pre-dispose to thinness

deCODE genetics, of Reykjavik, Iceland, has announced that it has achieved a milestone under its alliance with Merck & Co to develop novel treatments for obesity.

Through genotypic analysis involving more than 1000 women participants in its obesity program, deCODE scientists have isolated a gene, which in one form predisposes to obesity and in another form pre-disposes to thinness. The companies are using this information in their drug discovery program. deCODE receives a milestone payment for the identification of the gene.

'These are exciting results that suggest we have identified key markers within a pathway involved in the regulation of body weight in women,' said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE. 'Obesity and thinness are two sides of the same coin, and with our partners at Merck & Co we are working to identify the best targets for therapeutic intervention within this pathway as well as compounds that are effective against these targets. This is an important step towards developing new drugs that can treat obesity, perhaps by utilising the body's own mechanisms for promoting and maintaining thinness.'