Latest Analysis on Emerging Diabetes Drugs Reveals an Increasing Focus on Preserving or Regenerating Pancreatic Islet Cell Mass

Emerging diabetes drugs consider beta cell mass and function as an important targe. The next generation of diabetes drugs still is focused on metabolic approaches, but activities to preserve or even regenerate pancreatic islet cell mass and function are gaining momentum

This report’s recent analysis of emerging diabetes drugs and targets details that of the 59 different treatment modalities in clinical development, the majority (36) were metabolic approaches.

Preservation of the pancreatic islet cell mass and function as well as intents to regenerate beta cells represent an area of increasing activity and relevance with eleven different programs in clinical stages. Although still in a pioneer phase, cell therapy is gaining momentum in corporate diabetes programs as islet transplant or stem cell approaches. At least eight clinical stage programs aim at limiting inflammation leading to beta cell destruction and, thus, also preserve mass and function. Two classes of emerging metabolic approaches stand out from the remainder: the glucose-dependent stimulation of insulin release or secretion by glucokinase activators or direct activation of the GPR119 receptor and the suppression of glucocorticoid action by inhibition of the 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehyrogenase type 1 (HSD-1) or directly of the glucocorticoid receptor.

The report provides information on emerging diabetes drugs directed at new targets which are different from the established diabetes targets PPAR, DPP-IV, GLP-1 and SGLT. It lists competitor projects in the clinical and preclinical pipeline of emerging diabetes drug classes such as glucokinase activators, HSD-1 inhibitors, AMP-activated protein kinase activators, FGF-12 approaches and many more metabolic approaches.

The pipeline analysis includes activities to preserve beta cell mass and function by active and passive immunotherapy, by SIRT and gastrin based directions as well as anti-inflammatory approaches. In addition, the report describes the diabetes R&D portfolio of all companies with emerging diabetes drugs including projects for established targets.

Emerging diabetes treatment modalities were assigned to four different clusters:

– Metabolic Approaches – Pancreatic Islet Cell Approaches – Cell Therapy – Anti-Inflammatory Approaches

The majority of emerging diabetes drugs still is derived from metabolic approaches:

– Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B) Inhibitors – – Glucokinase Activators – 11-beta Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase type-1 (HSD-1) Inhibitors – – Adenosine 5′ monophosphate (AMP)-activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) Activators – Glucagon Receptor Agonists & Antagonists – Glucocorticoid Receptor Agonists & Antagonists – Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Receptor (GDIR) Activators – Ghrelin Receptor Antagonists
– FGF-21 Approaches – Inhibitors of Gluconeogenese – Various Gluco-Metabolic Approaches –
A rising number of new approaches is directed at the pancreatic islet cell mass and function:

– SIRT – Gastrin-based Approaches for beta Cell Regeneration – Preservation of beta Cell Capacity to Produce Insulin – Vaccines to Prevent Destruction of beta Cells – Antibodies to Prevent Destruction of beta Cells

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https://www.diabetesincontrol.com/results.php?storyarticle=6141