Point Therapeutics' Diabetes Program Presented at Keystone Symposium; PT-630 Demonstrates Improvement of Glucose Regulation and
March 06 2006 - 6:30AM
Business Wire
Point Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:POTP) announced on Saturday, March
4, 2006 at the Keystone Symposium in Santa Fe, New Mexico, that the
Company's investigational DPP-4 inhibitor for the treatment of type
2 diabetes, PT-630, improved glucose handling, insulin secretion
and active GLP-1 levels in several rodent models of diabetes. The
study treatment effects of PT-630 were greater than that of
metformin, a commonly used drug to treat type 2 diabetes and a
cyanopyrrolidine (CP), a DPP-4 inhibitor currently in clinical
development to treat type 2 diabetes. All three agents were
compared by chronic administration (44 days) in Zucker Diabetic
Fatty rats. In the preclinical chronic administration study, the
data revealed that PT-630 was more effective than the other two
study compounds in improving parameters associated with the
progression of type 2 diabetes. Specifically, there were
improvements in whole body sensitivity to insulin, a 50% reduction
in fasting plasma triglycerides and glucose levels and a 1.7%
reduction (a 26.4% reduction compared to the controlled treated
group) in HbA1c. There were no such reductions in triglycerides and
glucose levels with metformin and the CP DPP-4 inhibitor, and HbA1c
was only reduced by 0.9% and 0.5%, respectively, with metformin and
the CP DPP-4 inhibitor. All of the above suggests the ability of
PT-630 to achieve glucose control in type 2 diabetes over the
long-term. "These preclinical studies are promising because PT-630
not only improved insulin and glucose responses, which are common
markers of diabetes, but also demonstrated an improved effect when
metabolic parameters associated with long-term progression of the
disease were measured," said Nazneen Aziz, Vice President of
External Research at Point Therapeutics. "The findings suggest that
compared with the other compounds evaluated PT-630 may have a more
comprehensive antidiabetic activity." PT-630, Point Therapeutics'
lead diabetes compound, is an inhibitor of DPP-4, which is a widely
recognized target in the treatment of diabetes. DPP-4 degrades the
active form of GLP-1, an intestinal peptide hormone responsible for
regulating blood glucose levels. When DPP-4 is inhibited, it leads
to an elevation in the circulating pool of active GLP-1, thereby
greatly improving the control of blood glucose levels in type 2
diabetes. Active GLP-1 is also thought to have beneficial effects
on pancreatic beta cell mass. "We have spent the past decade
developing and refining technology around a portfolio of DPP
inhibitors to treat serious diseases. As our phase 3 talabostat
trials for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and multiple phase 2
trials for other oncology indications advance in the clinic, we are
allocating appropriate resources to our earlier-staged research
programs. PT-630 represents a product opportunity that we believe
is clearly differentiated from other DPP-4 inhibitors currently
being developed to treat type 2 diabetes. We are encouraged by the
results demonstrated to date and mindful of the value a new
treatment for diabetes can bring to millions of patients
worldwide," said Don Kiepert, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Point Therapeutics. About Point Therapeutics, Inc.: Point is a
Boston-based biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of
dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) inhibitors for use in cancer, type 2
diabetes and as vaccine adjuvants. Point is currently studying its
lead product candidate, talabostat, in two Phase 3 trials in NSCLC.
Point is also studying talabostat in several Phase 2 trials,
including as a single-agent in metastatic melanoma, in combination
with cisplatin in metastatic melanoma, in combination with
rituximab in advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and in
combination with gemcitabine in metastatic pancreatic cancer. In
addition, Point's portfolio includes two other DPP inhibitors in
preclinical development -- PT-630 for type 2 diabetes, and PT-510
as a vaccine adjuvant. Certain statements contained herein are not
strictly historical and are "forward-looking" statements as defined
in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This
information includes statements with respect to the company's
clinical development programs and the timing of initiation and
completion of its clinical trials. Forward-looking statements are
statements that are not historical facts, and can be identified by,
among other things, the use of forward-looking language, such as
"believes," "feels," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "seeks,"
"plans," "schedule to," "anticipates" or "intends" or the negative
of those terms, or other variations of those terms of comparable
language, or by discussions of strategy or intentions. A number of
important factors could cause actual results to differ materially
from those projected or suggested in the forward looking statement,
including the risk factors described in Point's quarterly report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 and from time to
time in Point's periodic and other reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Point Therapeutics (MM) (NASDAQ:POTP)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Point Therapeutics (MM) (NASDAQ:POTP)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024