Addex Scientists Discover Glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) Induced Interaction Between GLP-1 and Gastric Inhibitory Peptide (GIP) Receptors
Mon Nov 28, 2011 1:02am EST
Addex Pharmaceuticals / Addex Scientists Discover Glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) Induced Interaction Between GLP-1 and Gastric Inhibitory Peptide (GIP) Receptors . Processed and transmitted by Thomson Reuters ONE. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Addex Allosteric Modulator Platform Enabled Breakthrough Discovery, Advancing the Understanding of GLP-1 Mediated GPCR Signaling
Geneva, Switzerland, 28 November 2011 - Addex Pharmaceuticals (SIX:ADXN), a leading biopharmaceutical company pioneering allosteric modulation-based drug discovery and development, announced today that its scientists have demonstrated that, in the presence of GLP-1, glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor (GLP1R) can form a heterodimer receptor complex with gastric-inhibitory-peptide-receptor (GIPR). The discovery of this novel interaction between the two G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) has the potential to trigger the discovery of novel therapies for the treatment of diabetes. The findings were published online in the peer-reviewed journal Molecular Pharmacology (Lateral Allosterism in the Glucagon Receptor Family: GLP-1 Induces GPCR Heteromer Formation [Schelshorn et al., Molecular Pharmacology, Published online, doi: 10.1124/mol.111.074757]).
"GIPR and GLP1R are found together in pancreatic and nerve cells, and their roles in Type 2 diabetes make them important targets for drug development. Further research is needed to determine the pharmacological relevance of such heteromers but understanding their role may open the door to more refined therapies, particularly in metabolic disorders," explained Robert Lutjens, head of biology at Addex Pharmaceuticals and co-author of the publication. "This study demonstrates that Addex' allosteric modulation platform is a powerful tool for elucidating fundamental biological processes in addition to being the most sensitive method available for identifying allosteric modulators."
In the present study, the researchers at Addex used Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET) techniques, calcium flux measurements, and microscopy to study receptor interactions within the glucagon receptor family of GPCRs. Through these techniques, a GLP-1-induced heteromer formation was exclusively observed in cells co-expressing GLP-1 with GIP receptors, but not with other receptors of the glucagon receptor subtypes. Furthermore, the pharmacology of this GLP-1-induced heteromeric receptor complex was found to be affected in presence of GIP. In addition, the heteromer's intracellular signaling through beta-arrestin or calcium second messenger was shown to be modified when compared to receptor homodimers, suggesting a form of allosteric regulation between the receptors.
"This research demonstrates how our pioneering allostery platform technology is able to observe specific interactions at the receptor level that have not been seen with conventional state-of-the-art techniques," noted Laurent Galibert, head of metabolic disease programs at Addex Pharmaceuticals. "An orally available small molecule targeting GLP1R would have a significant impact on the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. We now have the opportunity to explore and characterize this receptor further, paving the way for a better understanding of the signaling pathways implicated in diabetes and metabolism, which may offer novel therapeutic targets for allosteric modulation."
GLP-1 is an important metabolic hormone and a proven therapeutic ligand for treatment of diseases, such as Type II diabetes and obesity. Addex is leading the effort towards the development of orally available small molecule GLP1R activators, called positive allosteric modulators or PAM, which have potential to offer multiple advantages over marketed injectable peptide therapeutics targeting GLP1R.
Addex has previously disclosed that it achieved the first in vivo preclinical proof of concept demonstrating that an oral small molecule GLP1R PAM could increase the release of insulin and improve glucose control in preclinical diabetes models. Addex GLP1R PAMs are in lead generation phase for Type 2 diabetes and could become the first-in-class orally available small molecule therapeutic agents against this target.
Addex Pharmaceuticals (www.addexpharma.com) discovers and develops an emerging class of small molecule drugs, called allosteric modulators, which have the potential to be more specific and confer significant therapeutic advantages over conventional "orthosteric" small molecule or biological drugs. The Company uses its proprietary discovery platform to address receptors and other proteins that are recognized as attractive targets for modulation of important diseases with unmet medical needs. The Company's two lead products are being investigated in Phase IIa clinical testing: dipraglurant (ADX48621, an mGluR5 negative allosteric modulator or NAM) is being developed by Addex to treat Parkinson's disease levodopa-induced dyskinesia (PD-LID); and ADX71149 (mGluR2 positive allosteric modulator or PAM) is being developed by our partner Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. to treat schizophrenia. Addex also is advancing several preclinical programs including: GABA-BR PAM for pain, overactive bladder and other disorders; mGluR4 PAM for Parkinson's, anxiety and other diseases; GLP1R PAM for Type 2 diabetes; mGluR2 NAM for treating Alzheimer's disease and depression; and FSHR/LHR NAM for sex hormone dependent tumors & reproductive system disorders. In addition, Addex has discovery programs to identify allosteric modulators of: receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) superfamily, including TrkB PAM for treating neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases); and TNF receptor superfamily, including TNFR1 NAM for inflammation (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis) and other diseases.
Chris Maggos
Business Development & Communication
Addex Pharmaceuticals
+41 22 884 15 11
[email protected]