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news.Arena has said that Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, a unit of Johnson & Johnson, has exercised its option to extend their joint research term for one additional year to develop compounds to treat type 2 diabetes.
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The partnership will develop compounds that specifically target the Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Receptor, or GDIR. The GDIR is a receptor discovered by Arena that has the potential to stimulate insulin production in response to increases in blood glucose. By extending the research term, Ortho-McNeil is committed to provide research funding to Arena in the amount of $2.4 million.
“We are pleased to continue working closely with Ortho-McNeil and look forward to reporting phase I clinical results from the lead candidate, APD668, in the coming months,” commented Jack Lief, President and CEO of Arena
The GDIR is a receptor expressed in beta cells, which are cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. APD668 is an orally active GDIR agonist intended to more efficiently stimulate insulin release by beta cells in response to elevated blood glucose levels, and to also avoid hypoglycaemia.