Taste Receptors in the Gut Identified as New Target for Satiety and Glucose Regulation

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- NaZura BioHealth today announced clinical study results indicating that activation of taste receptors in the lower gut can amplify the release of hormones involved in satiety and glucose regulation.  In an oral presentation to be made today at the Obesity Society's Annual Scientific Meeting, principal investigator Steven R. Smith, MD will describe how NaZura's proprietary Gut Sensory Modulation (GSM) technology can be used to intensify the body's natural, food-driven signals.

Delivering formulations of GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) dietary ingredients and FDA-approved food additives to the lower gut activates chemosensory sweet, umami and bitter receptors on enteroendocrine cells. These cells release a number of peptides including peptide YY (PYY), which signals satiety to the brain, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which plays an important role in glucose regulation. The activation of taste receptors with non-nutritive agonists in effect stimulates the enteroendocrine cells to react as though a greater caloric load had been consumed. In short-term studies, NaZura has shown that formulations of sweet, umami and bitter agonists increased the body's food-driven production of PYY and GLP-1 twofold compared to placebo under various meal conditions.

"NaZura BioHealth has broken new ground with this concept of localized delivery of active compounds to the enteroendocrine cells with the goal of improving weight management and glucose control  " said Alain D. Baron, MD, president and chief executive officer of NaZura BioHealth. "As we're hearing at this week's Obesity Society meeting there remains a significant need for safe solutions to help people manage their weight."

NaZura BioHealth Poster at Obesity Society Annual Scientific Meeting

Activation of Intestinal Taste Receptors Augmented Oral Glucose Stimulated GLP-1 and PYY in Healthy Humans

• Date and Time: Friday, November 15, 2013, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET
• Presenter: Steven R. Smith, MD, Director, Florida Hospital–Sanford-Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes; Professor, Diabetes and Obesity Research Center, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute; and Chief Scientific Officer, Florida Hospital Research Services.
• Abstract ID, Category:  T-60-OR, Oral Abstracts Track 3 – Appetite

Based on the GSM findings to date, NaZura is currently conducting a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind weight loss study in 240 overweight and moderately obese subjects.

About NaZura BioHealth  
NaZura BioHealth is developing consumer healthcare products based on its proprietary Gut Sensory Modulation (GSM) technology. GSMs are delivered to the lower gut where they intensify the body's natural food-driven signals that trigger a sense of fullness and facilitate glucose regulation. NaZura's lead product is Lovidia™, a dietary supplement for weight management targeted to the consumer health market.   For more information, visit www.NaZuraBio.com.

Media Contacts:
Martin Brown, NaZura BioHealth
Senior Vice President, Finance and Operations
(858) 876-1814 ext. 103
[email protected]

Pam Lord
Canale Communications
619-849-6003
[email protected]

SOURCE NaZura BioHealth