Aston academic advances new treatment for type 2 diabetes

Aston academic advances new treatment for type 2 diabetes treating over 2 million patients

Why is this research needed?

Diabetes is a group of diseases in which blood glucose is too high for a prolonged period of time. Type 2 diabetes, sometimes referred to as ‘adult-onset diabetes’, is characterised by high levels of blood glucose, insulin resistance and insufficient insulin, and is often associated with being overweight. The condition affects over 450 million people globally and can cause major complications in the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels. In consequence, diabetes accounts for up to 10% of healthcare costs in western society.

Current treatments for diabetes have limitations of effectiveness and some have side effects such as weight gain or nausea. New treatments are therefore necessary to tackle this lifelong condition.

Dapagliflozin is a new therapy for diabetes that reduces renal glucose re-uptake by the kidneys. This results in excretion of excess glucose in the urine, lowering the blood glucose concentration, facilitating weight loss and reducing blood pressure. Prior to launch, new therapies (including dapagliflozin) must undergo clinical trials to assess their effectiveness and any potential side effects.

The research team

Clifford Bailey (Professor Emeritus and former Professor of Clinical Science) was Director of Biomedical Research and Head of Diabetes Research within the School of Life and Health Sciences at Aston University. The research focused on interventional approaches against insulin resistance as well as the development of new agents to treat diabetes and obesity. The group also has particular expertise with trials involving glucose-lowering medicines.

Based on his specialist experience, Professor Bailey was selected as principal investigator for the design of trials to assess the efficiency, safety profile and pharmacodynamic properties of dapagliflozin. During this project, he collaborated with a range of institutions in Brazil, the USA and Canada. 

The research process

Clinical trials

Development of new drugs requires critical evaluation in patients in so-called ‘Phase III Trials’. These trials need to establish drug safety, determine the therapeutic profile and demonstrate that the drug complies with rigorous standards of medicines regulation.

Professor Bailey’s role was fundamental to the design, conduct, analysis and communication of these pivotal clinical trials. These trials were randomised, double blinded and collectively involved over 1,000 patients.

Subsequent clinical studies exploring the mode of action and clinical opportunities for use of dapagliflozin as a glucose-lowering therapy for type 2 diabetes have also been undertaken.

Research findings

The varied and progressive nature of type 2 diabetes requires use of different medicines in different individuals at different disease stages. As a result, dapagliflozin was synthesised by pharmaceutical company BristolMyersSquibb (BMS) to achieve selective inhibition of sodium/glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2). By inhibiting SGLT-2, dapagliflozin reduces excess glucose in the blood through decreased reabsorption of glucose filtered by the kidneys. This increases the elimination of glucose in the urine. 

The clinical research provided sufficient primary evidence required to show the efficiency and safety profile of dapagliflozin to be used as a suitable medicine for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, both as a monotherapy and in combination with metformin.

Impact

The impact of research led by Professor Bailey is demonstrated through the regulatory approval of dapagliflozin and the successful introduction of the medicine to treat more than 5 million patients with type 2 diabetes.

Improved treatment for diabetes

Dapagliflozin was formally launched within the European Union (EU) in 2012 and has since then been approved for routine clinical use in Europe, North America and most other regions of the world.

Assessment of the clinical trials by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) determined that dapagliflozin offered improved management of type 2 diabetes. This leads to enhanced patient quality of life by reducing complications that arise as a result of the condition. This in turn has impacted hospital admissions, providing anticipated cost-benefits to the NHS and other healthcare systems.

Combination treatment for diabetes

Based on work from Aston, dapagliflozin can also be used as an additional therapy for patients on other glucose-lowering drugs. This takes advantage of studies showing that dapagliflozin can be combined successfully with other drugs such as metformin, as well as insulins.

For patients already on insulin, the addition of dapagliflozin can improve glucose control without weight gain.

New treatment for type 2 diabetes helps millions of patients

Dapagliflozin is a new therapy for type 2 diabetes that reduces renal glucose re-uptake

Health benefits beyond glucose control

Whilst some other treatments for diabetes lead to weight gain, the clinical trials showed that dapagliflozin is able to improve body weight control and blood pressure control in type 2 diabetes patients. This was seen in a two year follow up of 5,800 patients receiving dapagliflozin during the first year of availability in the UK.

Why is this research relevant today?

Based on studies designed with expertise from Aston University, dapagliflozin has become established as a ‘first in class’ agent to improve glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes, thereby advancing treatment options, helping to reduce the risk of complications and improving the quality of life.

Recent research has found that dapagliflozin offers benefits beyond type 2 diabetes by reducing the onset and severity of heart failure and protecting against the progression of kidney disease in people with and without diabetes.