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Gemigliptin (rINN), previously identified as LC15-0444, is an oral anti-hyperglycemic agent (anti-diabetic drug) of the new dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor class of drugs. It is well known that glucose lowering effects of DPP-4 inhibitors are mainly mediated by GLP-1 and GIP incretin hormones which are inactivated by DPP-4. Gemigliptin was initially developed solely by LG Life Sciences (LGLS). In 2010, Double-Crane Pharmaceutical Co. (DCPC) joined with LGLS to co-develop the final compound and collaborate on the marketing of the drug in China. LGLS also announced on Nov., 2010 that NOBEL Ilac has been granted rights to develop and commercialize gemigliptin in Turkey. A New Drug Application (NDA) for gemigliptin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes was submitted to The Korea Food & Drug Administration (KFDA) in July 2011. Clinical trials for evaluating the safety and efficacy of gemigliptin in combination with metformin are now being pursued as of Mar., 2012.

Preclinical Studies
Gemigliptin is a competitive, reversible DPP-4 inhibitor (IC50 = 16 nM) with excellent selectivity over other critical human proteases such as DPP-2, DPP-8, DPP-9, elastase, trypsin, urokinase and cathepsin G. Gemigliptin was rapidly absorbed after single oral dosing and the compound was eliminated with a half-life of 3.6 h, 5.2 h, and 5.4 h in the rat, dog, and monkey, respectively.

The bioavailability of gemigliptin in the rat, dog, and monkey was species-dependent with the values of 94%, 73%, and 26%, respectively. Following the oral administration of gemigliptin in the rat, dog and monkey, about 80% inhibition of plasma DPP-4 activity were observed at the plasma levels of 18 nM, 14 nM and 4 nM, respectively.

In the diet-induced obese (DIO) mice, gemigliptin reduced glucose excursion during OGTT in a dose dependent manner with the minimum effective dose of 0.3 mg/kg and enhanced glucose-stimulated plasma GLP-1 increase in a dose dependent manner reaching the maximum effect at the dose of 1 mg/kg.

Following 4 week oral repeat dosing in the DIO mice, gemigliptin reduced significantly HbA1c with the minimum effective dose of 3 mg/kg. In the beagle dog, gemigliptin significantly enhanced active GLP-1, decreased glucagon, and reduced glucose excursion during OGTT following a single dosing.