In a study from Helmholtz Munich and elsewhere, scientists have developed a new hormone combination for the future treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Scientists have combined the blood sugar-reducing effects of the drugs tesaglitazar and GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1) in a new and highly effective drug.
This new drug reduces the adverse effects of tesaglitazar while increasing the effects on sugar metabolism. The new drug has already been successfully tested in animal studies.
The drug tesaglitazar improves glucose and fat metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes. It acts on two receptors within the cell nucleus to increase insulin sensitivity.
However, tesaglitazar also caused unwanted effects, such as signs of kidney damage.
In the study, the researchers used a trick: They biochemically combined tesaglitazar with the gastrointestinal hormone GLP-1, which for several years successfully used to treat type 2 diabetes.
This allows the combined drug to only act on cells and tissue that contain GLP-1 receptors.
This trick enabled the team to combine the blood sugar-reducing effects of GLP-1 and tesaglitazar into a single highly effective molecule while keeping tesaglitazar away from tissues that it could damage.
The new drug has already been successfully tested in animal studies.
The substance was particularly effective in increasing glucose tolerance levels. Only minimal doses of the new drug were required to achieve sustainable improvement of glucose metabolism.
The team says this drug has great potential for the acute treatment of elevated blood sugar levels associated with type 2 diabetes.
The researchers now want to test whether this drug also has the potential to treat humans with type 2 diabetes and whether the efficacy of this new combination therapy can be optimized further using biochemical modifications.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about food that could help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, and these diabetes drugs can help prevent vision loss.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about a new COVID-19 drug for people with diabetes, and results showing scientists find a cure for type 2 diabetes.
The study was conducted by Dr. Timo Müller et al and published in Nature Metabolism.
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