A Novel Oral Dual Amylin and Calcitonin Receptor Agonist (KBP-042) Exerts Anti-Obesity and Anti-Diabetic Effects in Rats
AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism
Published online on May 06, 2014
Abstract
The present study investigated a novel oral dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist (DACRA), KBP-042, in head-to-head comparison with salmon calcitonin (sCT) in regards to in vitro receptor pharmacology, ex vivo pancreatic islet studies and in vivo proof of concept studies in diet-induced obese (DIO) and Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. In vitro, KBP-042 demonstrated superior binding affinity and activation of amylin and calcitonin receptors, and ex vivo, KBP-042 exerted inhibitory action on stimulated insulin and glucagon release from isolated islets. In vivo, KBP-042 induced a superior and pronounced reduction in food intake in conjunction with a sustained pair-fed corrected weight-loss in DIO rats. Concomitantly, KBP-042 improved glucose homeostasis and reduced hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia in conjunction with enhanced insulin sensitivity. In ZDF rats, KBP-042 induced a superior attenuation of diabetic hyperglycemia and alleviated impaired glucose and insulin tolerance. Concomitantly, KBP-042 preserved insulinotropic and induced glucagonostatic action, ultimately preserving pancreatic insulin and glucagon content. In conclusion, oral KBP-042 is a novel DACRA, which exerts anti-obesity and anti-diabetic efficacy by dual modulation of insulin sensitivity and directly decelerating stress on the pancreatic alpha and beta-cells. These results could provide the basis for oral KBP-042 as a novel therapeutic agent in type 2 diabetes.