If drugmakers can find new drugs that can silence Syndrome X, also known as metabolic syndrome, they could deal a devastating blow to heart disease--and reap huge sales.

FORBES: Silencing "Syndrome X"

Amgen also has a partnership with Stockholm's Biovitrum to develop new drugs for the metabolic syndrome, a constellation of risk factors for diabetes and heart disease that has big drug firms salivating.

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The market is even larger given the new appreciation for a condition called the metabolic syndrome, a hodgepodge of risk factors for diabetes and heart disease that is estimated to afflict some 50 million Americans.

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Forty-seven million Americans have metabolic syndrome, which means they have at least three risk factors for heart disease and diabetes.

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