Unique First In Class Imeglimin Confirmed in Trial

Imeglimin, a novel compound, works on the pancreas, liver and muscles…. 

A new class of antidiabetic drugs, known as the ‘glimins’, target key defects of type 2 diabetes by providing a unique mechanism of action that works on the pancreas, liver and muscles. Currently, imeglimin, the first in this new class, is in Phase II clinical development. The oral formulation works to decrease hepatic glucose production, increase muscle glucose uptake, and increase pancreatic glucose-dependent insulin secretion.

Imeglimin has been through five Phase I trials and two Phase IIa trials to date. Recently, a study to measure the impact imeglimin has on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was done using the hyperglycemic clamp technique. This technique infuses glucose in order to raise the concentration of glucose levels to 125 mg/dL above the optimal glucose level. The high levels are maintained by glucose infusion adjustments based on levels that are checked frequently. This monitoring allows for the measurement of the amount of glucose needed to compensate for the increased insulin levels.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study investigated insulin secretion of 30 patients after chronic imeglimin or placebo treatment. The results showed that the primary and secondary endpoints were met by increasing the incremental area under the curve of insulin response to glucose and increasing the incremental area under the curve of C-peptide and proinsulin response, respectively, when compared to placebo. These results confirm previous preclinical and clinical results that imeglimin increases insulin secretion in response to glucose.

As trials continue and approval is sought, and possibly gained, treatment of type 2 diabetes may be done more effectively by the use of this new class of drugs. By effectively targeting the three organs that are affected by type 2 diabetes, patients may be able to successfully control their disease with imeglimin as monotherapy or add-on therapy.

• Imeglimin provides a new mechanism of action to treat type 2 diabetes.
• Imeglimin acts directly on the pancreas, liver and muscles.
• Trials show imeglimin to be an effective therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes.