Sunday, August 16, 2009

August 18, 2009

Prof. Kloog's student Adi Mor of TAU's Department of Neuro-biochemistry and Sackler School of Medicine has modified Prof. Kloog's anti-Ras FTS compound to develop what could be the first tablet-based treatment for children and adults with Type 1 diabetes. Early results show that FTS is effective in restoring insulin production in animal models — which could spell an end to the daily needle injections endured by diabetics.

"Our anti-Ras compound has shown very positive results in inhibiting diabetes," says Mor. And given the drug's history — FTS has already passed toxicity studies for other diseases and disorders — it has the potential to fast-track through FDA regulatory hurdles, skipping straight to Phase II clinical trials. A new drug for diabetes could be ready in as little as five years' time.
Helping the immune system do its job

Previous studies by Prof. Kloog's lab found that the FTS compound is effective against autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and lupus, "but the mechanism of its effects on immune cells was not well understood," says Mor. "I wanted to see if there was a connection between Ras and the regulation of the immune system, and if so if FTS could help regulate it to prevent or slow diabetes."

Through treating cells with the Tel Aviv University FTS compound, Mor was able to find and isolate an important immune system regulator protein called Foxp3. This protein keeps T cells in the immune system in check. T cells are the immune system's "soldiers" that fight off infection and disease. In her studies in the lab, when Mor blocked Ras using the FTS drug, she was able to increase the Foxp3 protein which gave a boost to the all-important T cells.
Slowing diabetes to a crawl

Mor then theorized that if the amount of regulatory T cells in the body was increased, the progression of diabetes would diminish. "My aim was to slow down diabetes, which brings a suitcase of side-effects like circulatory problems that lead to blindness and amputations," she says.

In her recent study, Mor treated pre-diabetic mice for six months. One group was given FTS, another was given no drug at all. The outcome was dramatic. Only 16% of the treated group developed diabetes, while 82% of the untreated group became diabetic. Also, insulin production from beta cells in the treated group of mice increased in comparison to insulin production in the non-treated group, she reports.

"Diabetes is my main concern," Mor concludes. "So many children and adults continue to suffer from the disorder. Since the FTS molecule is very easily absorbed into the blood, it could be the first diabetes treatment in pill form to moderate insulin production in juvenile diabetes, slowing down the progression of the disease. It could help a lot of people."

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

August 13, 2009

New diet drug attacks craving center
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 10:06 AM

July 21, 2009 (WLS) -- Could a cure for obesity be just a pill away?
Some doctors are hopeful about a new drug which could be on the market as soon as early next year.

The drug, called Contrave, shows promise for the 26 percent of Americans who are obese and the 23 million Americans who have type-2 diabetes.
The manufacturers of the drug say the average patient who takes the drug for 12 months can expect to lose between 18 and 25 pounds.

In the recent trials, after 56 weeks, more than half reported weight loss of at least 5 percent, an average of over 17 pounds.

"This is not a drug for weight loss. This is a drug for the treatment of a serious condition, obesity," said Mike Narachi, president and CEO of Orexigen.
Contrave is actually a combination of two drugs: naltrexone, which is currently used to treat alcohol and drug addiction, and bupropion, an antidepressant. It's a heavy-duty drug cocktail and some weight loss experts have strong concerns about it.
The FDA just recently asked for a black box warning on bupropion because of an increase in suicidal thinking in patients taking it for depression.