Corcept Therapeutics Initiates a Phase 1 Study of Its Lead Selective Cortisol Receptor (GR-II) Antagonist -- CORT 108297

...A microdosing study of CORT 108297 in healthy humans was completed in March 2008, and demonstrated that the compound is well absorbed, has good bioavailability and has a half-life that appears compatible with once-a-day oral dosing. In 2009 we announced results from preclinical studies of CORT 108297 which demonstrated a statistically significant impact on multiple metabolic markers. Specifically, studies of CORT 108297 combined with olanzapine, the active ingredient in Eli Lilly's antipsychotic medication Zyprexa, administered to rats over a 3-week period demonstrated a dose dependent mitigation of weight gain across doses ranging from 2 to 120mg/kg. CORT 108297 also showed statistically significant benefit in preventing weight gain in a preclinical obesity model in which mice were given a high fat diet and a high sucrose drink ("fast food" diet) for four weeks, as well as in a model of modulation of insulin sensitivity...