Zealand Pharma

Regulatory Filings • Sep 12, 2011

Copenhagen, 2011-09-12 12:04 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Company Announcement

No. 15/2011

Lyxumia® (lixisenatide) one-step treatment regimen as effective as two-step
regimen in improving glycemic control in type 2 diabetes

• Data from GetGoal-F1, the sixth consecutive Phase III study of lixisenatide to
  show positive results, support a simplified once-daily dosing regimen

• Study resultsto be presented at the European Association for the Study of
  Diabetes (EASD) 47th Annual Meeting

Copenhagen, 12 September 2011 - Zealand Pharma A/S (NASDAQ OMX: ZEAL), a Danish
biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of
innovative peptide drugs, today announced that its partner Sanofi has reported
positive results from the GetGoal-F1 study with Lyxumia® (lixisenatide).
Lixisenatide is a once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist discovered by Zealand
Pharma and licensed to Sanofi, who is completing clinical Phase III development
of the drug for type 2 diabetes.

The objectives of GetGoal-F1 were to compare the efficacy and safety of
lixisenatide (20 µg once-daily) versus placebo in one-step and two-step dose
increase regimens in type 2 diabetes patients uncontrolled on metformin.
Lixisenatide achieved the primary efficacy endpoint of significant HbA1c
reduction with both dosing regimens. Sanofi will present the study findings on
Wednesday, 14 September in a poster session at the 47th Annual Meeting of the
European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Lisbon, Portugal under the
title:

“Efficacy and Safety of Lixisenatide Once-Daily Versus Placebo in Patients with
Type 2 Diabetes Insufficiently Controlled on Metformin (GetGoal-F1)” - ABSTRACT
784

David H. Solomon, President and CEO of Zealand Pharma, commented:

“We are delighted to see these positive results from the GetGoal- F1 study. Of
the ten studies in the global Phase III GetGoal program with lixisenatide in
type 2 diabetes, six have now reported positive and consistent results to
support the therapeutic relevance of this drug. We look forward to seeing the
results of the remaining studies and to the filing of Lyxumia® by our partner
Sanofi in Europe in Q4 this year and in the US and Japan during 2012.”

The GetGoal-F1 study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled,
parallel group, multicenter study with a 24-week main treatment period. A total
of 482 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized and exposed to one of the
following once-daily treatment regimens: lixisenatide one-step dose increase
(10?g for two weeks, then 20?g); lixisenatide two-step dose increase (10?g for
one week, 15?g for one week, then 20?g), or placebo, as add-on to metformin.

Top-line results show that lixisenatide significantly reduces HbA1c from
baseline to week 24 in both treatment regimens, compared with placebo
(one-step: -0.92%; two-step: -0.83% vs. placebo: -0.42%; p<0.0001). The
percentage of patients reaching HbA1c targets of ? 6.5% and < 7.0% was 25.6%
and 47.4% with the one-step regimen and 20.4% and 42.1% with the two-step
regimen versus 7.6% and 24.1% with placebo, respectively.

In addition, both one- and two-step regimens reduced body weight: one-step,
2.63kg (p=0.0042) and two-step, 2.68kg (p=0.0025), versus placebo, -1.63kg.

Geremia Bolli, MD, of the University of Perugia, Italy and lead investigator of
the GetGoal-F1 study, said: “The GetGoal-F1 study shows that, in people with
type 2 diabetes not achieving adequate glycemic control, lixisenatide once
daily as ‘add on' to metformin is effective in both improving glycemic control
and reducing body weight, and the one-step dose increase regimen may be the
best option for treatment initiation.”

The percentage of patients who discontinued during the main 24-week treatment
period due to adverse events was 5.6% in the one-step regimen, 8.1% in the
two-step regimen versus 2.5% with placebo. Overall, lixisenatide was well
tolerated and gastrointestinal event levels were in line with expectations for
the GLP-1 class. The most frequently reported adverse events were nausea (26.1%
[1-step], 35.4% [2-step] vs. 4.4% with placebo) and vomiting (11.8% [1-step],
15.5% [2-step] vs. 0% with placebo). There was no increased risk of severe
hypoglycemia.

Other results for Lyxumia® (lixisenatide) presented at EASD

In addition to results from the GetGoal-F1 study, additional clinical results
from the GetGoal-S and the GetGoal-X studies (positive top-line results
announced for both studies earlier in 2011) will also be presented on
Wednesday, 14 September at EASD under the following titles:

“Efficacy and safety of lixisenatide once-daily versus exenatide twice-daily in
patients with type 2 diabetes insufficiently controlled on metformin
(GetGoal-X)” - ABSTRACT 786

“Efficacy and safety of lixisenatide once-daily versus placebo in patients with
type 2 diabetes mellitus insufficiently controlled on sulfonylurea +/-
metformin (GetGoal-S)” - ABSTRACT 785

The agreement with Sanofi and financial outlook

Sanofi is developing lixisenatide as monotherapy (Lyxumia®) in the clinical
Phase III GetGoal program and in a combination with Lantus®, its best selling
global insulin product. Under the agreement with Sanofi, Zealand Pharma is
eligible to receive remaining milestone payments of up to USD 235 million and
low double-digit royalties of worldwide sales of both Lyxumia® and combination
products including lixisenatide.

The results of the GetGoal-F1 study do not change Zealand Pharma's financial
guidance for 2011 of total operating expenses of approximately EUR 23 million
and revenues and other income of EUR 20 million related to the agreement with
Boehringer Ingelheim (announced mid-June 2011). Zealand Pharma provides no
further guidance on revenues.

                                  # # #

For further information, please contact:

David H. Solomon, President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +45 2220 6300

Hanne Leth Hillman, Vice President for IR & Corporate Communication

Tel: +45 5060 3689

About Lyxumia® (lixisenatide)

Lixisenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist (GLP-1), is in development for
the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lixisenatide was
discovered by Zealand Pharma A/S andthe global rights are licensed to Sanofi.
Lyxumia® is the intended trademark for lixisenatide. Lixisenatide is not
currently approved or licensed anywhere in the world.

GLP-1 is a naturally-occurring peptide that is released within minutes of
eating a meal. It is known to suppress glucagon secretion from pancreatic alpha
cells and stimulate insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells. GLP-1 receptor
agonists are in development as an add-on treatment for type 2 diabetes and
their use is endorsed by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes,
the American Diabetes Association, the American Association of Clinical
Endocrinologists and the American College of Endocrinology.

The GetGoal phase III clinical program will provide data for lixisenatide in
adults with type 2 diabetes treated with various oral anti-diabetic agents or
insulin. With ten trials in the program, GetGoal started in May 2008 and has
enrolled more than 4,300 patients. To date, GetGoal-X, GetGoal-L, GetGoal-L
Asia, GetGoal-Mono, GetGoal-S and GetGoal-F1 have reported positive top-line
results supporting efficacy and safety for lixisenatide. Further results are
expected during 2011.

About Zealand Pharma

Zealand Pharma A/S is a public (NASDAQ OMX: ZEAL) biopharmaceutical company
based in Copenhagen, Denmark with a mature and growing clinical pipeline of
innovative peptide based drugs. The company's lead product is Lyxumia®
(lixisenatide), a once-daily GLP-1 agonist licensed to Sanofi, which has
Lyxumia® in late-stage Phase III development for the treatment of type 2
diabetes. Zealand Pharma also has a collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim
covering glucagon/GLP-1 dual agonists, including ZP2929 for the treatment of
diabetes and obesity, and a licence agreement with Helsinn Healthcare on
elsiglutide, a clinical stage GLP-2 drug for the treatment of chemotherapy- and
radiotherapy-induced diarrhea.

Zealand Pharma specializes in the discovery, optimization and development of
novel peptide drugs with favorable therapeutic attributes, and all drug
candidates in its pipeline have been identified through the company's own drug
discovery activities. Zealand Pharma's products target disease areas where
existing treatments fail to adequately serve patient needs and where the market
potential for improved treatments through the use of peptide drugs is high. For
further information: www.zealandpharma.com.