Patent focus on antidiabetic agents: September 1999 - February 2000

Abstract

This focus highlights the most relevant patent disclosures in the field of oral antidiabetic therapy for the period of September 1999 to February 2000. As diabetes is a multi-faceted disease of decreased insulin secretion, increased peripheral (muscle, fat and liver) insulin resistance and dysregulated hepatic glucose production, recent drug development activities have centred around insulin secretagogues, insulin sensitisers and inhibitors of hepatic glucose output. Of particular note recently, are agents which increase insulin sensitivity (PPARγ and RXR agonists), modulate the insulin signalling pathway (PTP-1B and GSK-3 inhibitors), decrease hepatic gluconeogenesis and/or glycogenolysis (G6Pase, F1,6BPase and GP inhibitors), modulate glucose metabolism (PDHK inhibitors) and increase insulin secretion (DPP IV inhibitors).

• antidiabetic agents
• diabetes
• hepatic glucose output inhibitors
• insulin secretagogues
• insulin sensitisers