Scientists from the University at Albany and NYU Grossman School of Medicine have found a new way to block a harmful process inside the body that leads to chronic inflammation and slow healing in people with diabetes.
This discovery could lead to a new type of treatment that helps stop some of the worst effects of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
The team developed a small drug molecule called RAGE406R that can interfere with a process inside cells that causes long-term inflammation.
This type of inflammation is a major reason why people with diabetes often suffer from serious health problems like heart disease and poor wound healing.
Their findings were published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology and appeared on the journal’s cover—a sign of how important this research could be.
Currently, diabetes treatments mainly focus on lowering blood sugar levels. While this helps, these treatments don’t fix the root cause of inflammation that harms many parts of the body. The new molecule, RAGE406R, offers a different approach by targeting the inflammation itself.
Here’s how it works: In people with diabetes, harmful molecules known as “advanced glycation end products” build up in the body. These molecules trigger a cell surface sensor called RAGE (Receptor for Advanced Glycation End products). When RAGE is activated, it sends signals inside the cell that activate another protein called DIAPH1.
Under normal conditions, DIAPH1 helps cells work properly. But when it is overactivated—as it is in diabetes—it causes harmful inflammation. This inflammation leads to common diabetes complications, including poor healing and cardiovascular problems.
Using special tools to study the structure of molecules, the research team found out exactly how RAGE activates DIAPH1. With that knowledge, they searched through over 100 different compounds and eventually created RAGE406R.
This small molecule works by blocking the spot where DIAPH1 usually connects to the RAGE receptor. That means the harmful inflammation signal is stopped before it can even begin.
In tests, the new drug worked well. In human cells taken from the blood of people with type 1 diabetes, RAGE406R greatly lowered the levels of a molecule involved in inflammation. In mice with type 2 diabetes, it helped wounds heal faster and reduced signs of inflammation.
The scientists say this could be a big breakthrough. Right now, no diabetes treatments directly target the source of inflammation. RAGE406R could fill that gap—not by changing blood sugar levels, but by stopping the internal cell reaction that causes harm.
The research team, including Professor Alexander Shekhtman from the University at Albany and Dr. Ann Marie Schmidt from NYU, plans to continue studying how this new molecule works. They also hope to begin working with clinical teams to bring RAGE406R into future human trials.
In conclusion, this small but powerful molecule could change the way we treat diabetes. Instead of just controlling symptoms, it may help stop the damage caused by inflammation—improving the lives of millions of people living with diabetes today.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about This drug combo can treat type 2 diabetes in the long run effectively and findings of Eating fewer than 3 meals a day may help reduce risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about How to choosing the right fruits for type 2 diabetes and findings of New higher dose diabetes drug promises better blood sugar control and weight loss.
The study is published in Cell Chemical Biology.
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