Poxel is a research integrated pharmaceutical Company (RIPCO),
spun out from Merck Serono a division of Merck KGaA, Germany, following the
decision of Merck Serono to no longer invest in diabetes research and
development. It aims to advance promising assets for cardio-metabolic
diseases (with a primary focus on Type 2 diabetes) from Research to Phase 2
Clinical Proof-of-Concept, before out-licensing these projects to major
pharmaceutical companies.

Its pipeline consists only of innovative projects with new
mechanisms of action, with a combined activity on glucose metabolism and
other cardiovascular risk factors (lipid disorders and obesity) and with an
improved safety profile compared to currently available therapies.

Poxel has secured several programs from the Merck Serono
pipeline. These include a first-in-class project, Imeglimin -which has
already achieved its clinical proof-of-concept for the Type 2 diabetes
monotherapy indication- and other projects from the Research until close to
clinical development stages.

Poxel’s management is composed of a tight and seasoned team of
professionals who previously led the Merck Serono diabetes franchise from
Research to Clinical & Commercialization. They have a proven track record in
the pharmaceutical industry and extensive skills both in project management
and technical expertise. The whole management team has an integrated
strategic and operational view of the product value chain, from Research to
Marketing, covering the complete product life cycle.

Poxel’s team will perform and coordinate all work required in
the following areas: research, preclinical, clinical and business
development, with a strong focus on cardio-metabolic diseases.

A focused and streamlined development of the company assets
will ensure a successful out-licensing of those assets.

All this provides Poxel with a significant competitive
advantage.

Poxel’s team will be advised by a highly regarded scientific
Advisory Board in Endocrinology and Nutrition from the US and Europe.

Poxel will start the development of its core assets, while
seeking funding in order to create additional value from its unique pipeline.
Neither Merck KGaA nor Merck Serono is shareholders of Poxel.

About Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes is defined by a failure of sensitive tissues
to respond to insulin, a hormone involved in glucose and fatty acid
metabolism, Type 2 diabetes hence being known as non-insulin-dependent
diabetes. 90% of diabetic patients in the world suffer from type 2 diabetes.

In 2007, more than 220 million people suffered from Type 2
diabetes worldwide, including over 65 million patients in the US and Europe.
It is predicted that more than 300 million patients will have this disease by
2025 (IDF).

The market is about EUR bn9.6 turnover in 2007, expected to
reach EUR bn15 by 2016.

Existing therapies on the market are dominated by few dominant
product classes, but significant unmet needs remain.

Source
Poxel SAS