acarbose (Precose™)

Now available: See separate page

acetyl-l-carnitine

• Class: not stated
• For: diabetic neuropathy
• Route of Administration: not stated
• Action: acts as a precursor of a neurotransmitter, acetylcholine
• Manufacturer: Sigma-Tau, together with Hoffmann-La Roche
• Status: Phase II testing for diabetic neuropathy in US; currently marketed in Italy (as of April 1994)
• Source of Information: British J Clinical Pharmacology, Mar/Apr, 1994, Vol. 48 #2, page 94

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CS-011/CI-1037

• Brand name in US: unstated
• Class: thiazolidinedione
• For: Type 2 diabetes
• Route of Administration: unstated
• Action: insulin sensitizer.
• Manufacturer: Sankyo Co Ltd and Abbott Laboratories
• Status: phase I trials in the US, and phase I trials are planned in Japan.
• Source of Information: Sankyo; Current Drugs

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dexfenfluramine (Redux™)

Previously available: Now withdrawn. See separate page

DiaPep 277

• For: treatment of type 1 diabetes and Latent Auto-immune Diabetes of the Adult (LADA)
• Route of Administration: not stated
• Manufacturer: Aventis, together with Peptor
• Status: Phase I/II
• Source of Information: Aventis Press Release (2002)

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encapsulated porcine islets

• Brand name in US: BetaRx-P
• Class: pig islet cells
• For: Type 1 diabetic patients with kidney transplants; perhaps for Type 1 patients with no immunosuppression.
• Route of Administration: transplant
• Action: same as human insulin
• manufacturer: VivoRx, Inc.
• Status: Has FDA approval for Phase I/II clinical trials
• Source of Information: Press Release, July 22, 1996, VivoRx,Inc (310) 264-7768

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englitazone

• Brand name in US: unstated
• Class: unstated (thiazolidinedione?)
• For: Type 2 diabetes
• Route of Administration: unstated
• Action: insulin sensitizer.
• Manufacturer: Pfizer
• Status: unstated
• Source of Information: New Drugs for 1997

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glucagon, recombinant origin

• Brand name in US: unstated
• Class: hyperglycemic hormone
• For: diabetes
• Route of Administration: unstated; presumably injected
• Action: presumably the same as glucagon
• Manufacturer: Eli Lilly
• Status: Phase III trials
• Source of Information: Products in Development (at Eli Lilly's website, as of Mar 20, 1998)

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glimeprimide (Amaryl™)

Now available: See separate page

glucagon-like peptide I (GLP-I)

• Class: endogenous incretin
• For: Type 2 diabetes
• Route of Administration: buccal tablet (transmucosal absorption)
• Action: lowers blood sugar by suppressing glucagon secretion, prolonging stomach emptying after meals, and stimulating insulin release; might also decrease insulin resistance.
• Manufacturer:TheraTech
• Status: Human feasibility trial reported in Diabetes Care.
• Sources of Information: Diabetes Care, Vol 19, #8, August 1996; Diabetes Wellness Letter, Vol 2, #9, 1996.

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iamin

• Class: copper-based agent
• For: diabetic foot ulcers
• Route of Administration: unstated
• Action: unstated
• Manufacturer: unstated
• Status: Phase III
• Source of Information: All About Health, Dec 19, 1996; Diabetes Management: Current Diagnostic Criteria, Drug Therapies, and State Legislation. Lyons, T, II, et al Amer J Managed Care, pp.1599-1608 10/97

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IDDM-AnergiX™

• Brand name in US: IDDM-AnergiX
• Class: T cell inactivator
• For: Type 1 diabetes
• Route of Administration: unstated
• Action: inactivates the disease-related T cells in the immune system that are responsible for the disease.
• Manufacturer: Anergen
• Status: preliminary data presented in an animal model of IDDM at the International Immunology and Diabetes Workshop, Rome Italy, November, 1995
• Source of Information: First! For the WEB, April 2, 1996

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Islet NeoGenesis Associated Protein (INGAP)

• A hamster protein which has been shown to increase islet cell mass in both normal animals and young animals with diabetes.
• Proctor and Gamble
• Phase I/II clinical trials are under way (2003)

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Insulin aspart (NovoLog, NovoRapid)

Now approved, and available in Europe and in the USA: See separate page

Insulin detemir (Levemir)

Now available in some countries: See separate page

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Insulin glulisine (Apidra)

Now approved, and soon available in Europe and in the USA: See separate page

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Insulin glargine (Lantus)

Now approved, and soon available: See separate page

insulin: inhaled

See separate page

insulin: oral

• Brand name in US: unstated
• Class: synthetic "mini-protein" analogue of insulin
• For: insulin-treated diabetes
• Route of Administration: oral
• Action: same as insulin
• manufacturer: Johnson & Johnson
• Status: speculation based on success of other protein analogues
• Source of Information: Jerry Bishop, Staff Reporter, Wall Street Journal, July 1996

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insulin-like growth factor (IGF)

• Brand name in US: unstated
• Class: peptide hormone
• For: diabetic neuropathy.
• Route of Administration: subcutaneous
• Action: Acute lowering of blood glucose and long-term improvement in insulin sensitivity. Also, "subcutaneous administration of IGFs can increase the rate of nerve regeneration, whereas regeneration is retarded by an antiserum that blocks the IGFs produced in nerves. IGF treatment can prevent the death of 80% of brain neurons which otherwise die following hypoxic-ischemic injury, a model of stroke. It also prevents memory loss which occurs in aging rats. IGFs are particularly high in the brain, spinal cord, nerves and circulation. " (per Aurogen information).
• Manufacturers: Genentech, Aurogen
• Status: Genentech's Phase III diabetes trials to lower blood glucose levels were suspended in 1997: Genentech Discontinues IGF-I Drug Development Effort In Type I and Type II Diabetes; they intend to continue exploring other applications.
  Randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase I and phase II clinical trials for IGF-II treatment of diabetic neuropathy has been drafted (Aurogen).
• Sources of Information: Drug Topics, June 12, 1995; Aurogen website; Genentech website; personal communication.

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LGD1069

• Brand name in US: Targretin
• Class: RXR (retinoid X receptor) stimulator; insulin sensitizer
• For: Type 2 diabetes
• Route of Administration: unstated
• Manufacturers: Ligand Pharmaceuticals
• Status: Phase II clinical trials in diabetic patients in Belgium and Netherlands.
• Source: Press release, March 26, 1997, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc
• See also: RXR-selective retinoids

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lispro insulin (Humalog®)

Now available: See separate page

lispro mixtures (Humalog Mix25®)

Now available in many countries: See separate page

metformin/glyburide combination (Glucovance®)

Now available; See separate page

miglitol (Glyset)

Now available

MK-767

• Class: dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonist (targets both gamma and alpha receptors)
• For: Type 2 Diabetes hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia
• Route of Administration: not stated
• Action: decreases blood sugar and triglyceride and increases HDL
• Manufacturer: Merck, together with Kyorin
• Status: Phase III development stopped in 2003, citing cases of a rare form of malignant tumor in long-term safety trials in mice.
• Source of Information: Merck, others, 2003; BioCentury Report (2004)

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muraglitazar

• Brand name in US: Paragluva
• Class: dual peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) agonist
• For: Type 2 Diabetes
• Route of Administration: oral (2.5 mg and 5 mg tablets)
• Action: not stated
• Manufacturer: Bristol-Myers Squibb, together with Merck & Co., Inc
• Status: NDA submitted Dec2004; development discontinued May 2006.
• Sources of Information: FDA website; Press release: Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Discontinuation of Development of Muraglitazar, an Investigational Oral Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes.

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nateglinide (Starlix)

Now available: See separate page.

orlistat (Xenical)

Now available: See www.xenical.com

pimagedine

• Brand name in US: unstated
• Class: aminoguanidine
• For: Prevention of complications in Type 1 and Type 2 patients
• Route of Administration: unstated
• Action: in diabetic rats, and in in vitro studies, pimagedine inhibits the formation of advanced glycosylation end-products (AGE's) which occur when glucose attaches itself to proteins without the aid of enzymes. The resulting cross-links between proteins may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, nerve damage, kidney failure, and blindness.
• manufacturer: Alteon, Inc.
• Status: Phase III
• Sources of Information: Clinical Diabetes, July/August, 1995; Drug Topics, June 12, 1995; Clinical Diabetes, March/April, 1996; New Drugs for 1997

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pioglitazone (Actos®)

Now available: See separate page

pramlintide

Now available: See separate page

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rosiglitazone/glimepiride combination

• Brand name in US: Avandaryl
• Class: combination pill with rosiglitazone (Avandia) and glimepiride (Amaryl)
• For: Type 2 diabetes
• Route of Administration: oral
• Action: lowers blood sugar through two different mechanisms
• manufacturer: GlaxoSmithKline and Aventis
• Status: Application submitted to FDA
• Sources of Information: Presentation at GlaxoSmithKline website; PhPRMA website

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repaglinide (Prandin™)

Now available: See separate page

RXR-selective retinoids

• Brand name in US: Unstated
• Class: RXR (retinoid X receptor) stimulator
• For: Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistant syndromes and dyslipidemias
• Route of Administration: unstated
• Action: lowers blood sugar
• Manufacturer: Allergan and Parke-Davis
• Status: uncertain
• Source: Press release, July 22, 1998
• See also: LGD1069

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rosiglitazone maleate (Avandia®)

Now available: See separate page

exenatide (Byetta)

Now approved in USA: See separate page

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tolrestat

• Brand name in US: Alredase
• Class: aldose reductase inhibitor
• For: prevention/controlling diabetic complications
• Route of Administration: unstated
• Action: enzyme inhibition
• Manufacturer: Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories
• Status: Withdrawn by manufacturer in October, 1996 as being ineffective
• Other drugs in same class: zenarestat, zopolrestat
• Source of Information: Drug Topics, June 12, 1995; local researcher, October, 1996

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troglitazone (Rezulin™)

Previously available: Now withdrawn. See separate page

vildagliptin

• Brand name in US: Galvus®
• Class: DPP-4 inhibitor
• For: Type 2 diabetes
• Route of Administration: oral
• Action: affects both pancreatic alpha and beta cells, leading to a reduction in sugar production from the liver together with an increase in production of insulin needed to keep blood sugar under control.
• Manufacturer: Novartis
• Status: FDA asked for additional safety data, November 2006
• Source: Press release from Novartis March 2006; MarketWatch November 2006.
• See also: Januvia
• Information last updated: 16May2007

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voglibose

• Brand name in US: unstated
• Class: alpha glucosidase inhibitor
• For: Type 2 diabetes
• Route of Administration: unstated
• Action: unstated
• Other drugs in same class: acarbose, miglitol
• Manufacturer: Takeda
• Status: Available in some countries
• Source of Information: New Drugs for 1997

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zenarestat

• Brand name in US: unstated
• Class: aldose reductase inhibitor
• For: prevention/controlling diabetic complications
• Route of Administration: unstated
• Action: enzyme inhibition
• Manufacturer: Pfizer
• Status: Withdrawn from development for the treatment of peripheral diabetic neuropathy, 2000
• Other drugs in same class: tolrestat, zopolrestat
• Source of Information: Pfizer press release: "Pfizer suspends development of compound for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy."

zopolrestat

• Brand name in US: Alond
• Class: aldose reductase inhibitor
• For: prevention/controlling diabetic complications
• Route of Administration: unstated
• Action: enzyme inhibition
• Manufacturer: Pfizer
• Status: Withdrawn from development for the treatment of peripheral diabetic neuropathy, 1999
• Other drugs in same class: tolrestat, zenarestat
• Source of Information: Doctor's Guide to the Internet: "Pfizer Halts Development Of Alond For Diabetic Neuropathy"

ZP10

• Class: GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist of the exendin class
• For: type 2 diabetes.
• Route of Administration: not stated
• Action:
• Manufacturer: Aventis, together with Zealand Pharma A/S
• Status: phase I/II clinical trials
• Source of Information: Aventis Press Release, 2003

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Also see

Research: What's Coming? for information about other concepts that are under development for the treatment of diabetes, and
Diabetes Medications Web Sites and Insulin Web Sites by David Mendosa.