Janssen and European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes will jointly fund research into the kidney’s role in diabetes

September 24, 2010 - Janssen and the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD) will jointly contribute up to a €500,000 pool to fund a three-year research program into the role of the kidney in type 2 diabetes mellitus. EFSD is the research arm of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
The research initiative - which will begin in 2011 and run until 2013 - was officially announced on 24 September 2010 during the 46th EASD Meeting in Stockholm.
“EFSD is proud to join forces with Janssen to thoroughly explore type-2 diabetes which, despite being one of the defining health problems of the 21st century, remains insufficiently understood... Janssen's Press Release -

Sanofi-aventis : innovative blood glucose monitoring self-management of diabetes devices to enhance

September 21, 2010 - Patient-centric approach and new mobile health technology – Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced the upcoming launch of the blood glucose monitoring (BGM) devices BGStar® and iBGStarTM, developed by sanofi-aventis and its partner AgaMatrix. Due to their convenience, accuracy and ease-of-use, BGStar® and iBGStar[TM] will help the decision-making process for people with diabetes and their healthcare professionals, with the aim of improving patient self-management. iBGStarTM connects to the iPhone® or iPod touch®. This is an important step towards sanofi-aventis’ vision of becoming the leader in global diabetes care by integrating innovative monitoring technology, therapeutic innovations, personalized services and support solutions.

BGStar® and iBGStar™ are planned to be made commercially available in the first markets in early 2011.
“Our patient-centric approach means we truly understand the challenges faced by people with diabetes,”... [PDF] Sanofi-aventis' Press Release -

Advinus Therapeutics : novel molecule for treatment of diabetes, completes Phase 1 Single Ascending Dose study

September 7 2010 - Advinus Therapeutics, the research-based pharmaceutical company promoted by the TATA Group has discovered a novel molecule for the treatment of type II diabetes - GKM -001. The molecule is an activator of glucokinase; an enzyme that regulates glucose balance and insulin secretion in the body.

GKM-001 is the completely indigenously developed molecule and the initial clinical trials have shown excellent results for both safety and efficacy.

"Considering past failures of other companies on this target, our discovery program primarily focused on identifying a molecule that would be efficacious without causing hypoglycemia. The Phase I data indicate that GKM - 001 is a liver selective molecule that has overcome the biggest clinical challenge of hypoglycemia. GKM-001 is differentiated from most other GK molecules in development due to this novel mechanism of action... Advinus Therapeutics' Press Release -

Cellonis Biotechnologies : Novel stem cell therapy can help children with diabetes get back their normal lives

August 23, 2010 - Cellonis Biotechnologies, a Beijing and HK-based medical research and application company, has recorded some remarkable results in the treatment of a twelve-year-old boy with diabetes using their stem cell therapy in a Beijing partner hospital. He has completely regained his normal life, enjoying sports and school activities just like every other person his age, and has been free from injections and drugs for more than half a year.

"Our whole family is delighted with this outcome," his mother commented in a Cellonis interview. "He is now no different from any other child at his school. There is no sign of diabetes anymore. He previously coughed a lot in spring and winter, but after the therapy we haven't seen him coughing at all. We are very pleased."... Cellonis Biotechnologies' Press Release -

ZenBio : Awarded Phase I SBIR Grant to Develop Adipose Stem Cells into Insulin Producing Cells

July 1, 2010 - ZenBio, Inc. announced that it has been awarded a Phase I SBIR grant to identify and characterize an adult stem cell population from human fat stroma that has the therapeutic potential to differentiate into insulin-secreting “beta-like” cells.
Human adult stem cells derived from adipose tissue are a practical source of stem cells from which to launch work on deriving beta-like cells for autologous transplantation. The medical need for new therapies to manage type 1 and type 2 diabetes is well known and appreciated by physicians and patients alike. A plentiful and convenient source of cells that release appropriate amounts of insulin in response to changes in glucose would be a major advancement for diabetes therapy, particularly if the cells were provided by the patient (i.e. autologous transplantation). “In type 1 and long-term type 2 diabetes, the failure of the beta cells in the pancreas to produce sufficient insulin results in eventual insulin dependence for survival.”... [PDF] ZenBio's Press Release -