Sirona Biochem Says New Results From Big Pharma Shows Why SGLT2 Sugar Blockers Are A Major Opportunity In Fighting Diabetes

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 18 Nov 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Sirona Biochem Corp. (TSX-V: SBM), an emerging biotech company focused on diabetes and obesity drug development, says the latest results from a clinical trial with a competitor's SGLT Inhibitor demonstrates the major opportunity for the company with its unique molecules.

Sirona Biochem CEO, Dr. Howard Verrico, said, "New data on dapagliflozin reported at the recent 20th World Diabetes Congress in Montreal shows SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin lowered levels of HbA1c blood sugar significantly more than the placebo and that it was safe and well tolerated with no treatment-related serious adverse events (1). That is why SGLT inhibitors are deservedly attracting worldwide attention from major pharmaceutical companies around the world."

"Furthermore, dapagliflozin was effective in patients regardless of disease stage and was associated with continuous weight loss and lowered glycemia without significant hypoglycemia (2)," stated Dr. Verrico.

"The opportunity for Sirona Biochem is its unique SGLT2 chemistry we anticipate will prove even more robust and efficacious. What we have recently done is show that our molecules, with their unique GlycoMim® technology, can inhibit the glucose transporter SGLT2, which is the protein that allows the body to re-absorb almost 100 percent of sugars that would otherwise have been excreted -- an ability that was most useful in the days when diets were generally sugar free," commented Dr. Verrico.

The double-blind, multicenter, phase III study involved 274 patients with HbA1c of 7.0-10.0%, dapagliflozin 2.5, 5 or 10 mg or placebo was administered each morning for 24 weeks. The mean reductions of HbA1c in these treatment groups were -0.58, -0.77, -0.89 and -0.23%, respectively, while the mean reductions of fasting plasma glucose were -15, -24, -29 and -4 mg/dL, respectively.

According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, more than two million people in Canada, representing over 6% of the population, suffer from diabetes. There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have the disease.

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugars and other nutrients into glucose, which is the body's 'fuel' for functioning, but modern diets expose many people to chronically excessive amounts of sugars which are almost totally re-absorbed.

Sirona Biochem owns the worldwide exclusive product rights to a library of unique SGLT inhibitors to treat diabetes and obesity through its strategic partnership with TFChem, a drug discovery company based in Rouen, France.

References:

1. Ferrannini, E. et al. 20th World Diabet Congr (Oct 18-22, Montreal) 2009, Abst O-0536).
2. Bastien, A. et al. 20th World Diabet Congr (Oct 18-22, Montreal) 2009, Abst D-0765).

Source
Sirona Biochem Corp.

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