Artificial hormone improves insulin secretion

Artificial hormone helps diabetics

10/31/2013

German researchers have made a small breakthrough in the production of an active ingredient against diabetes. Using an artificially developed molecule, the blood sugar level is lowered. The newly developed peptide increases the insulin secretion of the body and should enable a more effective treatment in diabetes. It copies the effect of two intestinal hormones.

The hormone was developed by a team of scientists from the Institute for Diabetes and Obesity at the Helmholtz Zentrum under the direction of Matthias Tschöp. The results have now been published in the journal "Science Translational Medicine".

Active ingredient could help you lose weight
In addition to the treatment of diabetics, the new active ingredient could also help with weight loss. In the experimental studies, although some participants had become sick, overall, however, the side effects are weaker than with previous active ingredients. Previous drugs had been targeted primarily for the hormone GLP-1. The new drug also exploits the potential of the hormone GIP. These two hormones have long been the target of researchers in diabetes treatment, as they stimulate the release of insulin after meals. Due to the almost identical structure, the artificial hormone causes similar effects.

After successfully testing the preparation on rats and monkeys, the researchers initiated a study with a group of 53 obese type-2 diabetics. Subjects were given increasing amounts of the drug within the six-week study period. Compared to a control group that did not receive the drug, insulin secretion and blood glucose levels improved. "But we believe that there will not be a single drug that works best for all diabetics, so we're working on a range of tailored combinations for personalized diabetes prevention and treatment," Tschöp said.

German experts have hopes
For the German Diabetes Society the results of the study show new interesting possibilities. "In the future, as with any new drug, to be checked whether the new superior to the established and ideally also has fewer side effects," said DDG spokesman Andreas Fritsche. Ultimately, however, further studies have to follow to assess the full effect of the drug. (Fr)

Image: Henrik Gerold Vogel