Medidata announced that it has been selected by Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc. to help advance PROGRESS, a Phase 2b study of LX9211 in diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP), with the potential for LX9211 to become the first new, non-opioid drug approved for neuropathic pain in over two decades. Medidata will enable Lexicon to accelerate patient enrollment and clinical trials for Lexicon's AAK1 inhibitor LX9211, improving the patient experience with a focus on addressing the high, unmet need for chronic neuropathic pain therapies. Lexicon will utilize Medidata's Decentralized Clinical Trial (DCT) solutions, incorporating artificial intelligence and automation, to conduct real-time remote monitoring and data capture from patients in a real-world setting, regardless of where the trial participant is along their treatment journey.

According to the Mayo Clinic, diabetic neuropathy is a serious complication of diabetes that can affect as many as 50% of patients suffering from this chronic disease. Currently, existing treatments depend on opioids, which can have severe side effects, including addiction, to relieve pain.