Drug trials and approvals form front line . . .
November 6, 2008
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Here are five areas under investigation by researchers in their search for a cure for Type 2 diabetes:
BETA CELLS
Insulin produced by beta cells keeps blood-glucose levels stable. As Type 2 diabetes progresses, beta-cell function decreases. Dr. Patrick MacDonald at the University of Alberta is investigating the role of a protein called P13K-gamma in the control of insulin release from beta cells. Understanding how insulin is controlled will help identify the processes that fail in Type 2 diabetes and may lead to new treatments.
BYETTA Is Near
Approval of Byetta (generic name exenatide), an effective drug in treating Type 2 diabetes, is imminent in Canada, although federal authorities won't reveal the release date. It has been available in the U.S. for three years, but an even better version is on the horizon.
Injected twice daily in people with non-insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes, Byetta improves insulin production in the pancreas and increases beta cell mass, critical to insulin production. A side benefit is weight loss. A once-a-week-injection version may be approved in the U.S. next year.
GENES AND FAT
Type 2 diabetes is caused by an imbalance between the growth of new insulin-producing beta cells and the death of old ones. Dr. James Johnson at the University of British Columbia is studying how beta cell death is controlled by diet and genes. This year, his group found that high levels of fats in the blood can kill beta cells. His research now aims at understanding how this occurs, with the goal of preventing, managing and even curing diabetes.
GLP-1
A hormone in the intestines called GLP-1 stimulates insulin production. Dr. Patricia Brubaker at the University of Toronto is exploring how GLP-1 is released in the intestine and how it is affected by nutrients and hormones such as insulin . Her studies may lead to a better understanding of GLP-1 works and lead to new treatments.
PHARMACOGENOMICS
The latest studies suggest that some people who possess common genetic variations in one or more genes may be at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Many genes containing these variations encode proteins that are involved with regulating sugar and fat metabolism. Several proteins are targets for commonly used anti-diabetic drugs.
The link between genetics and these drugs has paved the way for "pharmacogenomics," a science that would reveal how each person responds to common drugs and allow therapies to be individualizedto provide the most effective treatments for Type 2 diabetes.
SOURCES: Canadian Diabetes Association, Dr. Peter Light, Dr. Daniel Drucker, Dr. Patrick MacDonald, Dr. James Johnson.
– Compiled by Mike Funston
Toronto Star
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