Diapin Therapeutics (Website) announces publication of groundbreaking results from the latest study their compound DT-109, a novel oral tripeptide, that inhibits NASH progression in non-human primates.
Diapin Therapeutics (Website) announces publication of groundbreaking results from the latest study their compound DT-109, a novel oral tripeptide, that inhibits NASH progression in non-human primates. The study was conducted by Dr. Eugene Chen and his research team and will be published online today in Cell Metabolism (Qu et al 2023). DT-109 has remarkable therapeutic potential in treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The study showed that DT-109 treatment led to a reduction in liver fat, attenuation of fibrosis, and improvement in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Activity Score (NAS), a critical clinical endpoint in NASH clinical trials. These promising results pave the way for DT-109 to enter the clinic in 2024 and could become a leading treatment option for NASH. This exciting development highlights Diapin Therapeutics’ dedication to advancing novel therapies for human diseases.
DT-109 is believed to act on several pathways to reduce NASH pathology. These include increasing fatty acid oxidation, decreasing free radicals and reducing inflammation. These effects may be effectuated by modulation of the intestinal microbiome, regulating bacterially produced molecules. DT-109 has shown effective regulation of post-prandial glycemia (Rom et al 2020) and inhibition of atherosclerosis plaque burden in preclinical models (Rom et al 2022). These findings further reinforce the potential of DT-109 as a multi-faceted treatment option for various lipid mediated medical conditions.
“Diapin believes this study demonstrates that DT-109 can be a breakthrough therapy in the NASH disease space” said Dr. Bruce Markham, Diapin’s CEO. “As a three amino acid peptide, DT-109 is expected to be safe and have a large therapeutic index”. Diapin Board member, Dr. Charles Bisgaier stated “These results are highly impressive. We believe this is the first time a therapeutic candidate has been shown to be effective in a non-human primate for the treatment of NASH. This study may be translational to treatment of NASH in human clinical studies, which the company plans to conduct in the near future”. Diapin Therapeutics and its strategic partner, Beijing SL Pharma LTD., are committed to bringing this product candidate to worldwide markets.
About NAFLD/NASH
NAFLD, is a common and serious chronic liver disease, affects approximately one-third of the population worldwide. NAFLD encompasses a spectrum of progressive liver pathologies ranging from hepatic fat accumulation to NASH. The earlier stages of this disease are reversible. NAFLD, an early stage of the disease, is characterized by liver fat accumulation. The disease can progress to NASH, characterized by cell damage and lobular inflammation. Further progression results in fibrosis, then cirrhosis and can lead to liver failure or hepatocellular cancer. NAFLD is common in metabolic disease patients including those with obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease. NASH already costs the US healthcare system $32 billion annually and the disease is expected to increase by over 60% by 2030. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in NAFLD patients, particularly those with NASH. Despite the global burden of NAFLD and substantial efforts in drug development, no therapy has yet been approved for the indication of NASH.
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Diapin Contact:
Bruce Markham, PhD, CEO