Metabolic Solutions Development Company Presents Case Study: A New Approach to Insulin Sensitizers During Phacilitate-Metabolic Leaders Forum 2012

SAN FRANCISCO, March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Metabolic Solutions Development Company, LLC (MSDC) is developing novel insulin sensitizers that exert their pharmacological effects through an as yet undisclosed mitochondrial molecular target.  This breakthrough understanding has significant implications for the discovery of new drugs to treat type 2 diabetes and will be previewed during the Phacilitate meeting Metabolic Leaders Forum 2012 in San Francisco, March 12 – 14, 2012.

MSDC compounds MSDC-0160 and MSDC-0602 are insulin sensitizers that are selective for a mitochondrial molecular target (mTOT™) identified by MSDC researchers. mTOT occupies a key position at the "crossroads of metabolism," connecting mitochondrial metabolism to important cell functions perturbed in type 2 diabetes and other conditions associated with age-related mitochondrial dysfunction. 

MSDC-0160 is one of two oral mTOT Modulators™ the company is developing to treat type 2 diabetes.  MSDC recently completed a 90-day Phase 2b study of this compound and will present these data at the American Diabetes Association 72nd Scientific Sessions in June. Results from a recently completed Phase 2a study of the company's second oral insulin sensitizer, MSDC-0602, showed its potential to achieve significant glucose control, reduce HbA1c, and increase insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes patients. The company plans to initiate a 90-day Phase 2b study of MSDC-0602 in 2012. 

Oral Presentation
Monday, March 12, 12:30 p.m.
Section:  Small molecules: Early state updates on new classes of drug that are showing greatest promise in changing the progression of the disease
The Westin San Francisco, Market Street

President, chief scientific officer and co-founder Jerry Colca will present the thinking and science behind Metabolic Solutions' new approach to developing two new effective oral insulin sensitizers to treat type 2 diabetes without the side effects associated with the currently marketed agents.

Key points:

• Safe and effective anti-diabetic medicines are needed more than ever – especially insulin sensitizers, which treat the root cause of type 2 diabetes – insulin resistance. According to the American Diabetes Association and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 25.8 million children and adults in the United States—8.3% of the population—have diabetes and of these, seven million are undiagnosed. There are an additional 79 million people in the U.S. with prediabetes. In adults, type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.
• Over the last decade hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent trying to selectively activate a particular transcription factor called PPARg, through which insulin sensitizers have been proposed to exert their pharmacology. 
• MSDC scientists questioned the conventional wisdom that these compounds exert their insulin sensitizing activity through PPARg, and have subsequently shown that such activity is achieved through a novel a mitochondrial molecular target called mTOT. 
• MSDC's mTOT Modulators have been shown to be safe and effective at lowering glucose and reducing HbA1c without the side effects associated with currently marketed agents.
• Interaction with mTOT favors lipid oxidation, increased insulin sensitivity, generation of brown fat, and preservation of beta cells.

For more information about the meeting, please visit the Phacilitate Metabolic Leaders Forum 2012 website at http://www.phacilitate.co.uk/event.php?eid=9&pid=484&opstatus=confrence.

A copy of the abstract of Dr. Colca's case study presentation can be obtained from Molly Watson (contact information below).

About Metabolic Solutions Development Company
Metabolic Solutions Development Company (www.msdrx.com) is a drug discovery and development company investigating novel molecular targets and developing new therapeutics to treat metabolic diseases associated with age-related mitochondrial dysfunction, especially type 2 diabetes. The company was founded in 2006 by former researchers of The Upjohn Company, Jerry Colca, PhD, and Rolf Kletzien, PhD, and it has raised more than $55 million to support development of its lead compounds, MSDC-0160 and MSDC-0602, which are novel insulin sensitizers in Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Contacts:        
Molly Watson
Ritz Communications                                                  
413-568-5794 (office)                                                            
413-454-3926 (mobile)
[email protected]

SOURCE Metabolic Solutions Development Company, LLC