Glenmark Wraps Up Diabetic Drug Trials

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has completed its pre-clinical trials for a new anti-diabetic and anti-obesity drug titled GRC 1087, in animals. The company has already filed for patents which would be viable globally.

Glenmark also plans to take the drug into phase-I clinical trials in Europe late this year or in early 2003 for which it will raise $1 million through internal accruals.

The company will announce its European chosen contract research organisation for the phase-I and early phase-II trials in four to five months.

It is likely to file an investigational new drug application (INDA) towards the mid of this year. The company is looking to license this molecule for its early trials.

In genetically modified db/db mice, this drug has reduced plasma glucose by over 40 per cent within eighty days of treatment and the same levels have been maintained over the next seven days, said an company release.

The initial pharmacokinetics of this molecule has suggested that compound well absorbs with sufficient blood levels observed even after 24 hours. No acute toxicity was also observed in doses up to 2 gms per kg. This drug, believed to be from a new class, also being developed by various other companies.

Glenmark , also has another anti diabetic drug in development. It is scouting for a partner to license out trial development of the molecule. "It continues to progress well in its pre-clinical trials and is likely to go in for phase-I trials during the middle of next year," said the release.

"It is still too early to talk about the anti obesity factor as the testing takes much longer than anti-diabetic models. But if hypothesis is proved, there is tremendous potential for the drug, said Glenn Saldanha, joint managing director.

The company has 100 scientists research outfit for discovering new chemical entities which is focused on asthma, obesity and diabetes. It spends an average Rs 20-30 lakh on research.