Zafgen to Present at The Obesity Society 29th Annual Scientific Meeting

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 28, 2011–Zafgen, Inc., a pharmaceutical company pioneering novel obesity therapeutics to help the body regain and sustain a lean, healthy state by targeting imbalances in fat metabolism, today announced that the company will be presenting at Obesity 2011, The Obesity Society’s 29th Annual Scientific Meeting, being held Oct. 1-5, 2011 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Fla. Zafgen will present a clinical update on beloranib and Phase 1b study highlights, as well as a poster for fumagillin, a prototype methionine aminopeptidase 2 (MetAP2) inhibitor.

“We have madesignificant progress this year in the development of our MetAP2 inhibitor, which is being studied for its potential to be the first drug to produce weight loss approaching that of bariatric surgery,” said Thomas Hughes, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, Zafgen, Inc. “W e are excited to present additional data from preclinical studies and our Phase 1b clinical trial of beloranib at Obesity 2011 as we prepare to initiate Phase 2 clinical trials early next year.”

The schedule of oral presentations is as follows:

• On Oct. 1, Dr. Hughes will present an update and highlights from Zafgen’s Phase 1b study of beloranib from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Sago Conference Room. The session, titled “Beloranib, a Methionine Aminopeptidase 2 Inhibitor, Reduces Body Weight, Plasma Lipids, and In¬ammatory State in Obese Women,”will be held as part of the “Pharmacology Update” pre-conference session. 
• On Oct. 3, Dr. Hughes will present a poster titled “MetAP2 inhibitor treatment acutely reduces ERK phosphorylation and modulates expression of ERK-responsive hepatic lipid metabolism genes in obese C57BL/6 mice,”from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Cypress Ballroom. Dr. Hughes will highlight additional preclinical findings, including the role of the ERK pathway in inhibiting MetAP2 and improving fat metabolism. In his presentation, Dr. Hughes will discuss results from the preclinical study, which evaluated short-term treatment with fumagillin in obese mice on ERK phosphorylation and key downstream effector genes relevant to the control of fat metabolism.
  

About MetAP2 Inhibition and Beloranib
MetAP2 inhibitor treatment has emerged as a new peripheral mechanism driving rapid and substantial weight loss and improvements in cardio metabolic risk factors. MetAP2 inhibitors have the potential to be the first new class of obesity therapeutics to provide the severe obese population with significant weight loss efficacy. Zafgen’s lead molecule is being developed as a twice-weekly subcutaneous injection for severe obesity. The company expects to enter Phase 2 trials in obese patients and obese diabetic patients in early 2012. Zafgen is also developing new compounds suitable for oral administration for use in broader indications as part of its second generation program. Beloranib hemioxalate was initially developed by CKD Pharmaceuticals. The molecule was originally profiled for efficacy in the treatment of solid tumors.

About Obesity
Obesity continues to be one of the world’s most costly and underserved growing medical conditions. It is a complex condition with numerous causes, many of which are largely beyond an individual’s control¹. There exists a tremendous unmet medical need for effective drug therapies to treat this serious disease, which has reached epidemic proportions and is increasing at an alarming rate. Obesity leads to many serious health consequences. As BMI increases, so does one’s risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders and some cancers². Currently available weight loss treatments function by blocking fat absorption or signalling feelings of fullness or diminished appetite in the brain. These drugs are often associated with undesirable side effects and limited efficacy that fails to provide sustainable weight loss in many patients.

According to a recent Gallup poll, Americans are making no progress in the fight against obesity, with a slight increase in obesity rates across all key demographic groups between January 1, 2008 through April 30, 2010. The study found that adult obesity rates did not decrease between 2009 and 2010, with the rate of obesity remaining stable at 26.7 percent in the first quarter of 2010, compared to 26.2 percent in the last quarter of 2009, and that fewer Americans are maintaining a “normal” weight as measured by BMI³.

About Zafgen, Inc.
Zafgen is pioneering novel obesity therapeutics that directly target fat metabolism to help the body regain and sustain a lean, healthy state. The company’s approach focuses on restoring control of key metabolic processes, releasing stored fat which then is used by the body as fuel. Zafgen’s first generation product, beloranib, is being studied for use as a pharmacological alternative to bariatric surgery in the treatment of severe obesity. Zafgen's leadership and scientific advisors include leading experts in obesity, metabolic disorders and medicinal chemistry. Founded in 2005, the company is located in Cambridge, Mass. For more information, visit www.zafgen.com.