<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001062822-11-000040.txt : 20111222
<SEC-HEADER>0001062822-11-000040.hdr.sgml : 20111222
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110607160226
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001062822-11-000040
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110607

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEXICON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC./DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001062822
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				760474169
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8800 TECHNOLOGY FOREST PLACE
		CITY:			THE WOODLANDS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77381
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2818633000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8800 TECHNOLOGY FOREST PLACE
		CITY:			THE WOODLANDS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77381

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LEXICON GENETICS INC/TX
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000126
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
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		<title>SEC Response Letter to Amendment No 1 to Form S-3 on Form S-1</title>
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<a name="s630285bd-6c30-4976-a72c-e83356d5ead6"></a><div style="vertical-align:inherit;"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><br><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">[LEXICON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. LETTERHEAD]</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">June 7, 2011</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Division of Corporate Finance</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">100 F Street, N.E.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Attention:</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Mr. Bryan Pitko</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Re:</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:96px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3 on Form S-1</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:96px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Filed May 26, 2011</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:96px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">File No. 333-171953</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Dear Mr. Pitko:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">On behalf of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., we submit the following responses to the comments received on June 2, 2011 from the Securities and Exchange Commission's staff with respect to Lexicon's Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3 on Form S-1 (File No. 333-171953).  Your comments and our responses to those comments are set forth below.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;padding-left:48px;text-align:left;text-indent:-48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">1.</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">The legal opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 to your registration statement improperly assumes that at the time of any offering or sale of common stock, the Company will have a sufficient number of authorized shares.  Please amend your registration statement to include a revised legal opinion that avoids assumption of material facts underlying the opinion.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;padding-left:96px;text-align:left;text-indent:-96px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;">Response</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">:</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">We confirm that, prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, we will amend the registration statement to include a revised legal opinion in the form attached hereto as </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;text-decoration:underline;">Exhibit A</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"> which avoids assumption of material facts underlying the opinion.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;padding-left:48px;text-align:left;text-indent:-48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">2.</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Please confirm that the amount or volume of securities to be sold in the offering and specific information relating to the underwriters and plan of distribution will be disclosed prior to effectiveness of the registration statement.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;padding-left:96px;text-align:left;text-indent:-96px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;">Response</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">:</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">We confirm that the amount or volume of securities to be sold in the offering and specific information relating to the underwriters and plan of distribution will be disclosed prior to effectiveness of the registration statement.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at (281) 863-3443 with any comments or questions concerning this letter or the above-referenced registration statement.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-left:336px;text-align:justify;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Very truly yours,</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-left:336px;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-left:336px;text-align:justify;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">/s/ Brian T. Crum</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-left:336px;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-left:336px;text-align:justify;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Brian T. Crum</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-left:336px;text-align:justify;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;">Vice President and General Counsel</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><br><div style="text-align:center;vertical-align:inherit;"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><a name="sDDD910B5763F9AA94D6C66AD16BA47A7"></a><div style="vertical-align:inherit;"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><br><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">EXHIBIT A</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit 5.1</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">[Letterhead of Vinson &amp; Elkins L.L.P.]</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:32px;padding-top:32px;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">____________, 2011</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">8800 Technology Forest Place</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">The Woodlands, Texas 77381</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-left:48px;text-align:left;text-indent:-48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Re:</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Amendment to Registration Statement on Form S-3 on Form S-1 of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Ladies and Gentlemen:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">We have acted as counsel to Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;), a Delaware corporation, with respect to certain legal matters in connection with the Company's amendment to its Registration Statement on Form S-3 on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-171953) (the &#8220;Registration Statement&#8221;) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Securities Act&#8221;), relating to the registration of shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the &#8220;Common Stock&#8221;). The Common Stock will be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined in light of market conditions at the time of sale and to be set forth in supplements (each a &#8220;Prospectus Supplement&#8221;) to the Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended to the date hereof, and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, (ii) the Registration Statement, (iii) resolutions of the board of directors of the Company and (iv) such other certificates, statutes and other instruments and documents as we considered appropriate for purposes of the opinions hereafter expressed. In addition, we reviewed such questions of law, as we considered appropriate.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations, and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that, with respect to shares of Common Stock, when (i) the board of directors of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the offering thereof and related matters; and (ii) certificates representing the shares of Common Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the board of directors of the Company, then upon payment of the consideration therefor (not less than the par value of the Common Stock) provided for therein, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York, the State of Texas, the General Corporation Laws of the State of Delaware (including the applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws) and the federal laws of the United States of America and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction, domestic or foreign.  </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement under the caption &#8220;Legal Matters.&#8221; In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:336px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Very truly yours,</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:336px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><br><div style="text-align:center;vertical-align:inherit;"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div>	</body>
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