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| |  EASD: Nateglinide Restores Early Insulin Secretion BRUSSELS, BELGIUM -- September 28, 1999 -- New research presented today at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting showed that the investigational drug, nateglinide, corrects a pivotal metabolic defect in people with type 2 diabetes. "Nateglinide restored the natural pattern of first phase insulin secretion at mealtimes, when blood glucose levels tend to rise to a hazardous spike in people with diabetes," stated Priscilla A. Hollander, MD, PhD, Medical Director of the Ruth Collins Diabetes Center at the Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas (USA). "Because its action quickly ends when normal blood glucose levels have been restored, nateglinide lowers overall insulin exposure, thus reducing both the risk of hypoglycemia and stress on the beta cell." Dr. Hollander cited an eight-week study of 150 patients who received either nateglinide, placebo, or glyburide/glibenclamide, a sulfonylurea-type of anti-diabetes drug that promotes increased insulin secretion throughout the day. "Nateglinide reduced glucose spikes at mealtimes significantly more than glyburide/glibenclamide," she explained. "In contrast to the sulfonylureas, which can exhaust the pancreatic beta cells, nateglinide significantly improved beta cell responsiveness." Further, she noted that fewer patients on nateglinide had symptoms of hypoglycemia, low blood glucose levels due to over-control of their diabetes. Dr. Hollander also cited a 24-week study comparing the benefits of nateglinide to metformin, a biguanide drug that has no direct impact on insulin secretion but, rather, decreases the production and uptake of glucose. "A greater reduction in the mealtime glucose spikes was seen with nateglinide compared to metformin, although both can be used together with additive benefits," she explained. "The combination of nateglinide and metformin controlled overall glycemia and promises to be an excellent choice for patients with more advanced disease." Globally, diabetes affects 135 million people, 85 percent of whom have type 2 diabetes. That number is expected to rise to more than 300 million by 2025. This surge in disease prevalence is due in large measure to increased obesity, decreased physical activity and greater longevity. Nateglinide is an investigational agent under development by Novartis Pharma AG of Basel, Switzerland.
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