A new drug being tested in mice might help stop the damage caused by diabetes. The drug, called RAGE406R, was created by researchers at NYU Langone Health.
It works by stopping two proteins—RAGE and DIAPH1—from sticking together.
These two proteins play a big role in the problems that diabetes causes in the heart, kidneys, and even in wound healing. By blocking their interaction, RAGE406R helped reduce inflammation, protect organs, and speed up healing in diabetic mice.
In people with diabetes, high blood sugar can lead to the buildup of harmful molecules called AGEs (advanced glycation end products). These molecules can stick to a receptor protein in the body called RAGE.
When this happens, it triggers inflammation and damage. RAGE also connects to another protein called DIAPH1, which helps build parts of the cell’s structure. When RAGE and DIAPH1 connect, they make the damage worse. That’s where the new compound, RAGE406R, comes in—it stops DIAPH1 from attaching to RAGE.
This research was published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology. The study showed that the drug worked in both lab-grown human cells and mice with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Instead of lowering blood sugar like many diabetes medications, RAGE406R worked inside the cell to block the harmful effects caused by RAGE.
The research team had previously tested a similar drug, called RAGE229, but it didn’t pass safety tests because it could potentially damage DNA. RAGE406R was redesigned to remove the risky part of the structure.
It passed safety checks and was tested in mice that had delayed wound healing, a common issue in people with diabetes. When the drug was applied to the skin, wounds healed faster in both male and female mice.
One reason this drug works so well is that it helps control the immune system. In diabetes, the immune system often becomes too active in the wrong places, leading to long-term inflammation. This inflammation can block healing and cause further harm.
RAGE406R helped calm this overactive immune response by lowering the amount of a molecule called CCL2, which causes inflammation. This allowed important immune cells, like macrophages, to support healing instead of causing more swelling.
These findings offer new hope for treating diabetes. Current treatments mainly focus on controlling blood sugar, especially in Type 2 diabetes.
But RAGE406R could work for both major types of diabetes by addressing one of the root causes of complications—inflammation and cell damage. It may also help researchers create better tools to measure how well treatments work in living organisms.
The next step will be more studies and eventually human trials. If the results continue to be positive, this drug could become an important part of future diabetes care.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about bananas and diabetes, and honey could help control blood sugar.
For more health information, please see recent studies about Vitamin D that may reduce dangerous complications in diabetes and results showing plant-based protein foods may help reverse type 2 diabetes.
The study is published in Cell Chemical Biology.
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