JDRF, Amylin collaborate to support metreleptin study for type 1 diabetes

Clinical proof-of-concept study will also evaluate whether metreleptin can reduce the amount of insulin needed by patients with type 1 diabetes

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMLN) announced today that they entered into a research collaboration agreement to provide financial support for a clinical proof-of-concept study to investigate the effects of metreleptin, an analog of the human hormone leptin, in patients with type 1 diabetes. Researchers at The University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center will conduct the study.

Prior studies at UT Southwestern conducted in animal models with type 1 diabetes showed an improvement in blood glucose, blood fats, and cholesterol following administration of the hormone. The clinical study will help to determine if similar improvements in glucose, and reduction of the amount of insulin required, can be achieved in people with type 1 diabetes. Leptin is a hormone secreted by fat cells that plays a fundamental role in the regulation of glucose metabolism.

"Better blood glucose control means healthier living for people with type 1 diabetes," said Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President of Treatment Therapies at JDRF. "If effective in humans, metreleptin, when used with insulin, could change the way people manage their disease. Less insulin usage and fewer low blood sugar episodes would represent a significant improvement in quality of life for certain people living with type 1 diabetes today."

"Building on our development experience with type 1 diabetes, we continually look for ways to unleash the potential of peptide and protein science to help the millions of patients with diabetes better manage their disease," said David Maggs, MD, MRCP, Vice President for R&D Strategic Relations at Amylin. "We are pleased to partner on this important research program with an organization that shares our passion for investigating the potential promise of new and innovative therapies."

The research collaboration agreement between JDRF and Amylin is part of JDRF's Industry Discovery and Development Partnership (IDDP) program through which JDRF partners with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies focused on the discovery, development, and delivery of therapeutics and devices for type 1 diabetes and its complications. Since the IDDP program was established in 2004, JDRF has funded 35 partnerships with 29 companies and committed approximately $71 million to accelerate research that will lead to better treatments and a cure for type 1 diabetes.