Exendin-4, an agonist of the GLP-1 receptor, is being developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. It is insulinotropic, and its biological actions are more long-lived than that of GLP-1 itself. In our first study of non-diabetic and diabetic subjects we showed that it was also more potent than GLP-1. We have now given exendin-4 daily subcutaneously to type 2 diabetic subjects for one month, in two divided doses. We showed that during the course of the month it lowered glycated hemoglobin by 0.8%, while maintaining insulinotropic activity for the duration of the study. Presently this compound is being fast-tracked by FDA as a candidate agent for type 2 diabetes. The goal is to have a transdermal preparation of exendin-4 available for treating type 2 diabetes so as to eliminate the necessity of subcutaneous injections. We are involved in these ongoing studies.
| Egan, Josephine M; Meneilly, Graydon S; Elahi, Dariush (2003) Effects of 1-mo bolus subcutaneous administration of exendin-4 in type 2 diabetes. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 284:E1072-9 |
| Egan, Josephine M; Clocquet, Astrid R; Elahi, Dariush (2002) The insulinotropic effect of acute exendin-4 administered to humans: comparison of nondiabetic state to type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87:1282-90 |
