About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Diabetes Drug to Prevent Fatal Diseases on the Anvil: Australian Scientists

by Thilaka Ravi on August 18, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Diabetes Drug to Prevent Fatal Diseases on the Anvil: Australian Scientists

Australian scientists said Monday they had developed a drug which holds promise to spell an end to a life-threatening condition caused by diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses.

Scientists from the University of Melbourne and the city's St Vincent's Hospital said the drug had been shown in animal trials to prevent fibrosis, the build-up of irreversible scarring on internal organs.

Advertisement

There are currently no treatments on the market for fibrosis and the new drug, called FT-11, could be as important a discovery as blood pressure drugs if effective, said Professor Darren Kelly of the University of Melbourne.

"It would be an enormous blockbuster drug with an initial market of around 2.0 billion dollars," he said.

Kelly said while the drug would not prevent diabetes -- a chronic illness in which the body fails to produce enough of the hormone insulin to process sugar -- it could prevent complications such as kidney or heart disease.
Advertisement

"We are hoping to delay or prevent those complications which would basically keep those patients off dialysis -- which would have a huge benefit for their lifestyle," Kelly told AFP.

The drug, expected to be tested in clinical trials within 12 months, could be used to prevent diabetic kidney disease, heart disease and potentially other health problems such as liver and lung fibrosis, he said.

Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Kelly said about 45 percent of diseases in the developed world could be associated with some sort of pathological fibrosis.

"We know at the moment in rat studies that our compound inhibited the development of fibrosis, and the interesting thing in the future would be to see whether we can actually reverse fibrosis," he said.

Source: AFP
THK/L
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Diabetes News

Time Your Physical Activity Well to Stay Out of Diabetes
Physical activity or exercise in the morning and afternoon reduces type 2 diabetes risk, whereas evening exercise has no such association.
Staying Late at Night? Late Morning Wake-up? Your Chance of Diabetes may be High
Late sleepers and late risers may both have a higher risk of developing diabetes.
New Hope for Type 1 Diabetes: Semaglutide Reduces Insulin Dependency
Semaglutide, the anti-diabetic drug operating by stimulating insulin secretion, might have the potential to supplant the need for mealtime insulin injections.
Bacteria Treatment Shows Potential Against Insulin Resistance & Diabetes
The gut bacteria known as Lachnospiraceae might have the ability to boost insulin sensitivity, potentially providing a protective barrier against diabetes.
New Recommendations for Lowering Cardiovascular Risk In Diabetic Patients
Type 2 diabetes-led cardiovascular risk needs mandatory interdisciplinary, patient-centered care to reduce morbidity and mortality.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
MediBotMediBot
Greetings! How can I assist you?MediBot
×

Diabetes Drug to Prevent Fatal Diseases on the Anvil: Australian Scientists Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests