title: Small molecule glucagon receptor antagonists: a patent review (2011 - 2014).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glucagon receptor antagonists (GCGRAs) have been an area of ongoing research in the pharmaceutical industry for more than two decades. Blocking the action of the glucagon peptide leads to repression of hepatic glucose production and reduced blood glucose. Small molecule GCGRAs continue to be pursued as a potential new treatment for diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current review summarizes small molecule GCGRA patents and patent applications that first appeared during 2011 - 2014. The search term 'glucagon receptor' was used to find patents of the desired type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several companies have brought forward GCGRAs into human clinical trials with the most advanced to date being in Phase II. This field is mature and the number of patents has been decreasing in the last few years.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular, Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases Chemistry, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development , 610 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02139 , USA +1 617 551 3267 ; kevin.filipski@pfizer.com.
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Filipski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D010330:Patents as Topic; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon
keywords: diabetes; glucagon; glucagon receptor; glucagon receptor antagonist