Metabolic Solutions Development Company to Present Research Findings at Annual American Diabetes Association Conference

KALAMAZOO, Mich., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Metabolic Solutions Development Company (MSDC) will present its research providing insights into the mechanisms and novel activities of its drug portfolio at the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) 70th annual Scientific Sessions conference in Orlando, Fla., which is being held on June 25-29, 2010.  The ADA conference is widely considered to be the world's leading scientific and medical meeting focused on diabetes.

MSDC Chief Scientific Officer Jerry Colca, Ph.D., will present "Evaluation of a PPAR-sparing Thiazolidinedione for Treatment of Insulin Resistance in Diet-Induced Obese Mice" on June 26 at 2:15 p.m. ET in room 314.  The presentation is based on MSDC's collaborative research with Dr. Brian Finck of Washington University in St. Louis.  The research findings showcase the compelling pre-clinical activity of MSDC's second drug candidate (MSDC-0602) in reversing non-alcoholic fatty liver and normalizing other metabolic parameters, including blood glucose and insulin response.

MSDC, www.msdrx.com, is developing pharmaceuticals designed to treat type 2 diabetes more effectively and without the side effects of current therapies.  Phase 2a clinical data from the company's lead candidate, MSDC-0160, demonstrate that it improves insulin sensitivity and lowers blood glucose levels in humans without the side effects of the current market leading diabetes medicines.  The compound also demonstrated significant improvements in other important metabolic disease parameters, including blood pressure and lipids.  

"The discussion around Avandia has proven that the marketplace wants diabetes drugs that do more than simply lower blood glucose," said Colca.  "We've built MSDC around answering that need.  The data that we are presenting, combined with MSDC clinical data, support that our drug candidates can treat the whole diabetic condition, including reducing heart attacks and strokes."

Colca's presentation, along with two others by MSDC at this year's ADA conference, will explain aspects of MSDC's novel target and the pathways through which the company's clinical candidates are acting.  The presentations also will provide some insights into insulin re-sensitization and other metabolic benefits with the company's candidates.  These insights may pave the way for a change in how diabetes is treated.

The other MSDC presentations are:

• "Activating AMPK and Decreasing mTOR Activation by TZD Treatment Prevents Insulin Resistance in Human Islet" on June 26 at 11:30 a.m. ET.  This presentation features information describing the activity of MSDC's initial drug candidate (MSDC-0160) in improving human pancreatic islet cell function. The information is based on collaborative research with Dr. Michael McDaniel of Washington University in St. Louis.
• "Induction of Brown Adipose Cell Differentiation by PPAR-sparing Thiazolidinedoines" on June 27 at noon ET.  This presentation features information describing the mechanism through which MSDC's candidates promote proliferation of brown fat, which is a rapidly emerging area of research in metabolic disease. Research shows that the presence of brown fat in the body may help control body weight.  An increase in brown fat may make PPAR-sparing insulin sensitizers especially useful in the treatment of diabetes as current treatments often result in weight gain.

About Metabolic Solutions Development Company:

Metabolic Solutions Development Company (www.msdrx.com), based in Kalamazoo, Mich., is developing innovative therapeutics using a different pharmacological path to treat type 2 diabetes and related metabolic diseases. This new approach seeks to improve the efficacy of treatment and free patients from the adverse side effects of current treatments, including edema and weight gain.

The company's program and candidates are built on its leaders' extensive experience with insulin sensitizers and a unique insight into the mechanism of insulin-sensitizing pharmacology. The company has identified a novel (non-PPAR) target that delivers the superior efficacy of insulin sensitizers without the side effects of current sensitizers, and believes that the result will be a new generation of superior, safer drug therapies.

SOURCE Metabolic Solutions Development Company