GLP1 with Gastrin give mice 6 weeks+ treatment hiatus
Transition Therapeutics Reports Positive Pre-Clinical Data on GLP-1 and Gastrin Combination Therapy
TORONTO, Feb. 2 /CNW/ - Transition Therapeutics Inc. ('Transition")
(TSXV: TTH) today announced positive pre-clinical efficacy data for a second
Islet Neogenesis Therapy, GLP1-I.N.T.(TM). Following a short course of
treatments, blood glucose levels normalized and remained normal for six weeks
post-treatment in diabetic animals. GLP1-I.N.T.(TM) combines the current
leading diabetes drug candidate, Glucagon-Like Peptide (GLP-1), with
Transition's gastrin analogue (G1). This proprietary combination utilizes the
proliferative and blood glucose control properties of GLP-1 together with G1's
ability to differentiate and regenerate new insulin-producing cells from islet
precursor stem cells.
These studies were conducted in collaboration with Dr. Alex Rabinovitch,
a world leader in diabetes research at the University of Alberta. Non-Obese
Diabetic ("NOD") mice received GLP1-I.N.T.(TM) treatments for 18 days and were
monitored for six weeks following treatment. One week following the completion
of treatment, the fasting blood glucose levels of GLP1-I.N.T.(TM) treated mice
returned to normal and remained at such levels through to the end of the study
at six weeks post-treatment. In contrast, the fasting blood glucose of GLP-1
alone treated mice returned to diabetic levels. The untreated control group of
animals had to be sacrificed prior to the scheduled end of the study due to
the severity of disease.
"Although very early stage, these results show that G1 significantly
enhances GLP-1's ability to restore and maintain normal blood-glucose levels
for a long period of time after treatment. This raises the possibility that
periodic short course treatments of GLP1-I.N.T.(TM) could replace regular
insulin or GLP-1 injections," said Tony Cruz, Chairman and CEO of Transition.
Based on these results, Transition is pursuing two additional product
opportunities including the development of GLP1-I.N.T.(TM), a combination
GLP-1 - G1 compound, and a stand alone G1 compound as an adjunct to other
GLP-1 products currently in development. Leveraging from previous pre-clinical
and clinical data on G1, and the well accepted clinical profile of GLP-1
analogues, Transition intends to initiate a Phase I/II study in the second
half of calendar 2004.
In recent years, there has been great interest in GLP-1 as a next
generation product for the treatment of diabetes and a number of long-acting
GLP-1 analogues are currently in different stages of human clinical testing.
The market size for GLP-1 analogues is expected to exceed US$5 Billion.
About Transition
Transition is a Canadian biopharmaceutical company, engaged in the
business of developing novel approaches and therapeutics with the potential
for enhancing the quality of life of patients with such debilitating diseases
as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and restenosis. Transition's lead products
include I.N.T.(TM) for the treatment of diabetes and Interferon Enhancing
Therapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In addition, Transition has
identified a lead class of compounds to inhibit restenosis induced by
stenting. Transition's shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the
symbol "TTH". |
