GPR119 agonists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Hyperglycemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body's systems, especially nerves and blood vessels. Diabetes causes about 5% of all deaths globally each year and is likely to increase by > 50% in the next 10 years without urgent action. In light of these alarming statistics, the pharmaceutical industry has been on a quest to characterize more promising molecular targets to satisfy stringent new criteria for anti-hyperglycemic agents introduced by the American Diabetes Association. On to this stage, G-protein-coupled receptor 119 (GPR119) has emerged as arguably one of the most exciting targets for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the new millennium.


OBJECTIVE
In this review, we outline the current clinical trial landscape and paint a detailed illustration of the key structural information realized from GPR119 agonist campaigns that have recently emerged in the Patent Cooperation Treaty literature.


CONCLUSIONS
GPR119 agonists mediate a unique nutrient-dependent dual elevation of both insulin and glucagon like peptide 1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide levels in vivo. As a stand-alone therapy or in tandem with approved DPP-IV inhibitors, they could herald a brand new treatment paradigm for type 2 diabetes mellitus. With the passage of the first GPR119 agonist clinical candidates into Phase I trials (Arena/Ortho McNeil APD597; Metabolex MBX-2982; Prosidion/OSI PSN821) and confirmatory reports of clinical proof of concept with respect to glycemic control and incretin release, the spotlight has been set for this new class of therapeutic.
Departments of Medicinal Chemistry & Metabolic Disorders, Arena Pharmaceuticals, 6166 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, CA 92121, USA. rjones@arenapharm.com
Robert M
RM
Jones
James N
JN
Leonard
Daniel J
DJ
Buzard
Juerg
J
Lehmann
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015195:Drug Design; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054795:Incretins / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010330:Patents as Topic; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001786:Blood Glucose; C519854:GPR119 protein, human; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D054795:Incretins; D007328:Insulin; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled