Project MD 960
The Development of Novel Treatments for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus and Insulin Resistance.
This project aims to develop new compounds which will have a novel mode of action to manage the hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar levels) associated with the development of uncontrolled or inadequately treated diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic life long disease which is characterized by high blood glucose levels which in turn causes end organ damage, particularly to the kidneys, heart, eyes and lower limbs. WHO has estimated that there are more than 150 million diabetics world wide with that number expected to increase to more than 250 million in the next 20 years. Seven percent of the American population (more than 20 million people) are said to have diabetes and more than 1 million new cases are diagnosed each year.
More than 80% of people suffering from diabetes have Type II or adult onset diabetes where the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin or when the insulin produced is not effective in reducing blood glucose levels. Whereas Type I diabetes is seen in patients who have a disordered immune system whereby subsequent immune mediated damage destroys the pancreas’ insulin producing cells.
As the market size is very large and increasing, significant R & D spending (many millions of dollars) occurs each year on the continuing search and subsequent discovery and development of new and better treatments.
Aus Bio has previously demonstrated, in a series of experiments performed in a modified diabetic animal model, that the Company’s MD 960 compounds may reduce exogenous insulin requirements by as much as 50% whilst at the same time normalizing blood glucose levels. An extensive safety data profile has been accumulated along with intellectual property protection.
During the year a European Academic Diabetes Unit performed a series of experiments for Aus Bio under a Contract Research Agreement. Results to date suggest that MD 960 may have a novel Mode of Action and is therefore commercially attractive to international pharmaceutical companies both big and small. In vitro (test tube) results have indicated that MD 960 compounds may inhibit an enzyme system which, in the past, has been a somewhat elusive target for pharmaceutical drug development.
As a result of these initial in vitro experiments and at the request of Aus Bio our European contractors have expanded their Mode of Action (MOA) study programme. The results of these studies to date have attracted renewed international pharmaceutical interest and a number of Confidentiality Agreements have been signed to facilitate exchange of appropriate scientific information.