THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Nov. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXRX) announced today management additions directed towards the completion of Phase 3 development and commercial preparations for telotristat etiprate in carcinoid syndrome and preparation for Phase 3 initiation and commercial readiness for sotagliflozin (LX4211) in type 1 diabetes.

Clinical Operations and Clinical Development
Kenneth B. Kassler-Taub, M.D. has joined Lexicon as vice president of clinical operations, with responsibility for managing the execution of all of the company's clinical trials. Dr. Kassler-Taub brings to Lexicon more than 25 years' experience, most recently with Becton Dickinson and Company, where he was vice president, corporate clinical development overseeing the clinical development function company-wide, and where he earlier served as worldwide vice president, medical affairs, BD Medical Segment. Before joining Becton Dickinson, Dr. Kassler-Taub worked for 14 years at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, where he served in a series of roles including vice president, global pharmacovigilance, epidemiology and risk management, global clinical sciences, and vice president, clinical affairs, worldwide clinical research and development.

Commercial Operations
Kiernan A. Seth, Ph.D., MBA has joined Lexicon as executive director of marketing with responsibility for helping advance Lexicon's commercial readiness. Dr. Seth brings to Lexicon more than 19 years' experience. His most recent experience was from Eisai, Inc., where he served as executive director, Eisai Value Maximization Systems and head of the oncology business unit. Before joining Eisai, Dr. Seth served in a series of marketing roles with Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer and Schering-Plough involving products in oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, immunology and central nervous system disorders. Dr. Seth will report directly to John Northcott, Lexicon's vice president of marketing, commercial strategy and operations.

"The addition of Dr. Kassler-Taub further strengthens our organization in clinical operations as we make our final push toward completion of our Phase 3 program for telotristat etiprate in carcinoid syndrome and begin our Phase 3 program with sotagliflozin (LX4211) in type 1 diabetes," said Lonnel Coats, Lexicon's president and chief executive officer. "Dr. Seth will be a great complement to our commercial team as we establish Lexicon's commercial presence."

About Lexicon
Lexicon is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing breakthrough treatments for human disease. Lexicon has clinical-stage drug programs for diabetes, carcinoid syndrome, and other indications, all of which were discovered by Lexicon's research team. Lexicon has used its proprietary gene knockout technology to identify more than 100 promising drug targets. For additional information about Lexicon and its programs, please visit www.lexpharma.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements," including statements relating to Lexicon's clinical development of sotagliflozin (LX4211) and telotristat etiprate (LX1032), including characterizations of the results of and projected timing of clinical trials and the potential therapeutic and commercial potential of sotagliflozin and telotristat etiprate. In addition, this press release also contains forward-looking statements relating to Lexicon's growth and future operating results, discovery and development of products, strategic alliances and intellectual property, as well as other matters that are not historical facts or information. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations and involve risks, uncertainties and other important factors, specifically including those relating to Lexicon's ability to meet its capital requirements, successfully conduct clinical development of sotagliflozin and telotristat etiprate and preclinical and clinical development of its other potential drug candidates, obtain necessary regulatory approvals, achieve its operational objectives, obtain patent protection for its discoveries and establish strategic alliances, as well as additional factors relating to manufacturing, intellectual property rights, and the therapeutic or commercial value of its drug candidates, that may cause Lexicon's actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Information identifying such important factors is contained under "Risk Factors" in Lexicon's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lexicon undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.