Zealand Pharma advances a new generation of Type 2 Diabetes treatment
(Thomson Reuters ONE) - Danish biotech company Zealand Pharma is developing a new treatment,ZP2929, for Type 2 Diabetes. ZP2929 has the potential tosignificantly decrease body weight and reduce the risk ofDiabetes-related complications.ZP2929 is a dual Glucagon-GLP-1 agonist, a peptide drug whichinteracts with two receptor systems that play a role in metabolismand Type 2 Diabetes. Zealand Pharma's new drug has the promise ofsignificantly lowering the weight of people with diabetes who areoverweight or obese, thereby preventing related illnesses such ascardiovascular disease. The drug is now moving into pre-clinicaldevelopment."We have been through a long and exciting research period. The resultis a new dual Glucagon-GLP-1 agonist that both controls the bloodglucose levels and reduces weight in obese diabetic models," says Dr.David H Solomon, CEO of Zealand Pharma.Epidemic growthType 2 Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the United Statesand more recently worldwide. It is estimated that 246 million peoplesuffer from diabetes globally and the number is predicted to increaseto 380 million by 2025. Type 2 Diabetes accounts for 90-95 per centof all diabetes cases. Up to 90 per cent of people with Type 2Diabetes are either overweight or obese."Having diabetes is hard to manage because you have to control andregulate your blood glucose levels. In addition many people with Type2 Diabetes find weight control a struggle and these are the people wehope to help," Solomon says.Significant weight lossThe Type 2 Diabetes market is characterized by strong competition.ZP2929 potentially has to compete with another class of compounds,the GLP-1 agonists, having an effect on weight loss. ZP2929 has beencompared to a marketed GLP-1 agonist in pharmacological studies andthe results show that ZP2929 induces superior and sustained weightloss."We feel confident that our new dual Glucagon-GLP-1 agonist ZP2929,with its unique properties, will lead to a greater weight loss thanits competitors," states Solomon. # # #Further informationDavid Solomon, President and Chief Executive OfficerMogens Vang Rasmussen, Executive Vice President, Chief OperatingOfficer and Chief Financial Officer, IT & CommunicationsZealand Pharma A/S, Smedeland 36, DK-2600 Glostrup, DenmarkT +45 4328 1200 F +45 4328 1212 E info(at)zp.dk www.zealandpharma.comAbout Zealand PharmaZealand Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to thediscovery and development of innovative peptide-based drugs. Zealandis one of the leaders within the peptide area, a growing market withsignificant drug development activities including treatment ofmetabolic and cardiovascular diseases. All of Zealand's productstarget diseases and symptoms of significant unmet clinical need andcommercial potential.Since 1999, Zealand's scientists have built a pipeline that includesfive compounds in clinical development, three of which have been outlicensed to major pharmaceutical companies (Sanofi-Aventis, Wyeth andHelsinn Healthcare). All Zealand's compounds emerge from Zealand'sown drug discovery. * Lixisenatide (AVE0010/ZP10), a pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes, has been out-licensed to Sanofi-Aventis, which is the world's third largest pharmaceutical corporation with a strong Diabetes franchise. Phase III clinical trials were initiated in May 2008. * GAP-134/ZP1609; a gap junction modifier that prevents both ventricular and atrial arrhythmias in animal models. With its oral formulation, the molecule represents a novel paradigm for the potential chronic prevention of atrial arrhythmias. US based pharmaceutical giant Wyeth Pharmaceutical has finalized a Phase I trial in the US. * ZP1846 is an innovative treatment for prevention of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea, which may prevent discontinuation and dose modification during cancer chemotherapy. A Phase I clinical trial has been conducted in the US. The compound has been partnered with Helsinn Healthcare SA. * ZP1848 is a novel paradigm for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (e.g. Crohn's Disease). The compound is in Phase I clinical development in the US. * AP214/ZP1480 for Post-surgical Organ Failure, partnered with Action Pharma, currently in clinical Phase II development.In addition, Zealand has a rich and broad portfolio of pre-clinicalprojects targeting a variety of disease areas, including osteoporosisand obesity-related Diabetes.Zealand Pharma A/S is based in Copenhagen and has approximately 65employees.The Company's investors include BankInvest Biomedical Venture, LDPensions, Dansk Erhvervsinvestering and Sunstone Capital as well asthe leading international biotech investors CDC Innovation and AGFPrivate Equity (both in Paris) and LSP (Amsterdam).http://hugin.info/136974/R/1338410/319306.pdfThis announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Datum: 01.09.2009 - 10:00 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 5319
Anzahl Zeichen: 0
contact information:
Town:
London
Kategorie:
Business News
Diese Pressemitteilung wurde bisher 373 mal aufgerufen.
Die Pressemitteilung mit dem Titel:
"Zealand Pharma advances a new generation of Type 2 Diabetes treatment"
steht unter der journalistisch-redaktionellen Verantwortung von
Zealand Pharma (Nachricht senden)
Beachten Sie bitte die weiteren Informationen zum Haftungsauschluß (gemäß TMG - TeleMedianGesetz) und dem Datenschutz (gemäß der DSGVO).
