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 -

OM Pharma : New article published in Diabetes presents insights on the mode of action calcium dobesilate in diabetic retinopathy

23rd July 2010 - A paper titled “Calcium dobesilate inhibits the alterations in tight junction proteins and leukocyte adhesion to retinal endothelial cells induced by diabetes” will be published in the August issue of Diabetes.

Diabetes is the reference journal for the physiology and pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus. The latest impact factor for Diabetes is 8.261, it is ranked 3rd of 92 publications in the field of endocrinology/metabolism and 2nd among journals publishing original research in that field.

The paper presents results of preclinical research conducted with calcium dobesilate - the active principle of Doxium® by a research team of the AIBILI centre in Coimbra, Portugal in collaboration with OM Pharma... OM Pharma's Press Release -

Prodigy : syringe-filling system for blind and low-vision diabetics

March 16, 2010 – Prodigy Diabetes Care, LLC, is launching its new Prodigy® Count-a dose™ April 1, a precise and safe syringe-filling device for the blind and visually impaired.
The Prodigy® Count-a-dose™ offers diabetics a device which can easily measure and mix two insulins at one time. The device had been pulled from the market a year ago by another company, prompting an outcry from blind and low-vision diabetics. Prodigy® is coming to their rescue as of April 1.
The initial version uses touch and sound to allow diabetics to measure out dosages. Prodigy® plans to release a fully audible version in the future, which mirrors the company’s commitment to providing audible medical devices.
“We’ve perfected the device to make it simple for the blind or low-vision patient to easily and, above all, safely fill their own insulin syringes,”... [PDF] Prodigy Diabetes Care's Press Release -

Forest Laboratories and Gedeon Richter : Results from a Phase II Study of Radiprodil for the Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain

June, 29, 2010-- Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) and Gedeon Richter Plc. announced top-line results from a Phase II placebo and positive comparator-controlled, parallel-arm, double-blind, dose-response clinical trial of the novel, investigational NR2B-selective NMDA (N-methyl D-aspartate) receptor antagonist, radiprodil (RGH-896), for the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPNP). Treatment with radiprodil did not show statistically significant or clinically meaningful reductions in mean daily pain scores, the primary endpoint, compared to placebo for any of the dosages studied.

The companies will review the complete study database over the coming weeks to determine the appropriate next steps regarding the development of radiprodil.

About the Study

This was a randomized placebo and active-controlled parallel-arm, double-blind, dose-response study in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) who were clinically diagnosed with painful polyneuropathy (greater-than or equal to 6 months) due to type I or type II diabetes mellitus. Patients had a minimum daily pain rating of at least four at screening, and an average daily pain rating of at least four (on an eleven-point scale) during the one week before baseline.



Following a five-week screening/washout period during which all analgesic medications used for DPNP were discontinued, a total of 458 male or female outpatients between 18 and 75 years of age were randomized to one of three radiprodil doses (15mg, 30mg, 45mg), an active comparator (100mg pregabalin), or placebo given three times a day (TID) for 14 weeks... Forest Laboratories' Press Release -

Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development : Phase 2b Clinical Trial Results Evaluating Canagliflozin to Treat Type 2 Diabetes

June 26, 2010 – Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. (J&JPRD) announced that canagliflozin, an investigational, oral, selective sodium-glucose transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, improved glycemic control, and was also associated with a decrease in body weight, in a Phase 2b dose-ranging trial in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who were concurrently treated with metformin. The data were presented at the 70th American Diabetes Association (ADA) Annual Scientific Sessions.

Canagliflozin is a member of a new class of antihyperglycemic therapies under development to treat type 2 diabetes. Blood glucose filtered in the kidney is mainly reabsorbed into the blood stream by SGLT2. Inhibiting SGLT2 is believed to reduce blood glucose levels by increasing the amount of glucose excreted in the urine, which may also lead to a loss of calories... Johnson & Johnson's Press Release -

Novo Nordisk : Victoza® to be launched in Japan

2 June 2010 - Novo Nordisk announced that it has received approval of the price of Victoza®, a once-daily human GLP-1 analogue for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, from Japan’s Central Social Insurance Medical Council (Chuikyo), the advisory committee to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

The price approval allows Novo Nordisk to commercially launch in Japan shortly after Victoza® is officially posted on Japan’s National Health Insurance price list 11 June.

Victoza® is the first GLP-1 to achieve regulatory approval and commercial availability in Japan. It is indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes when used as monotherapy or as an add-on to sulphonylurea (SU)... Novo Nordisk's Press Release -

Vitae Pharmaceuticals Receives $14 Million Milestone Payment as Boehringer Ingelheim Advances Lead Compound into Phase I Clinical Trials

June 28, 2010 - Program Targets 11beta-HSD-1 for the Treatment of Diabetes and Other Metabolic Syndrome Disorders - Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an integrated discovery and development company, announced that it has earned a $14 million clinical milestone payment from Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Vitae’s 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD)-1 is targeted for the treatment of diabetes and metabolic syndrome-related diseases in a strategic alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim. The payment recognizes Boehringer Ingelheim’s recent advancement of a small molecule inhibitor of 11beta-HSD-1 into Phase I clinical trials.

“Inhibition of 11beta-HSD-1 represents an important new mechanism of action for treating diabetic patients,”... [PDF] Vitae Pharmaceuticals' Press Release -