IntegraGen discovers therapeutic target in obesity

French company IntegraGen, of Paris, has identified a druggable target in the field of obesity.

It has taken less than a year for the company to complete the gene mapping and target identification for this complex disease using its powerful GenomeHIP (Genome Hybrid Identity Profiling) technology platform.

IntegraGen's gene mapping technology offers a shortcut to the identification of targets for human diseases. The genomic analysis was applied to compare the whole genome of family members suffering from obesity and has allowed the precise location of three disease-related loci in only four months.

'When analysing the first of the three genetic loci linked with obesity, we identified several mutations in a gene that are associated with the disease phenotype,' said Dr Joerg Hager, IntegraGen's cso. 'Further investigation showed that the gene encodes for a G protein-coupled receptor, which is involved in energy metabolism, and could turn out to be a major new druggable target for the treatment of obesity.'

According to ceo Jean-Luc Gerbier, the next step will be to progress this obesity target into the drug discovery process and to investigate the two other genetic loci that were selected. 'Our strategy to capture the maximum value of our target discovery capability is to enter into strategic partnerships with biotech/pharma companies that are focused on obesity. In parallel, we expect to enter joint target identification programmes in other therapeutics areas,' he added.