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news.Ortho-McNeil, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has initiated a phase I clinical trial of APD668, an orally administered drug candidate for the treatment of type 2 diabetes which was discovered by Arena Pharmaceuticals.
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The phase I clinical trial triggers a $5 million milestone payment to Arena under its collaboration with Ortho-McNeil to develop compounds targeting the glucose-dependent insulinotropic receptor, or GDIR. The GDIR is a novel receptor discovered by Arena that has the potential to stimulate insulin production in response to increases in blood glucose.
Ortho-McNeil’s phase I clinical trial will enroll healthy volunteers in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of single escalating doses of APD668.
The phase I trial will also include measuring responses to a glucose challenge to examine early evidence of potential efficacy in treating type 2 diabetes.
“We look forward to working with Ortho-McNeil to continue the progress of this program in 2006,” stated Jack Lief, Arena’s president and CEO.