NEX-22 preclinical data shows controlled release of liraglutide for one month
Nanexa AB (publ) today announced positive outcome in the first preclinical study with NEX-22. In a one-month study in rats, single doses of two different PharmaShell® formulations were studied in different doses. The results show a controlled release of liraglutide, with plasma exposure over 28 days for NEX-22, compared to around 2 days for a formulation with liraglutide without the PharmaShell coating.
“We are very pleased with these data, showing that PharmaShell can provide the controlled release of liraglutide that we aimed for in the study. It is important, not only for the development of NEX-22, but also for other peptide drug substances for which PharmaShell can enable long-acting formulations”, said David Westberg, CEO of Nanexa.
The results will be confirmed in additional preclinical studies, in parallel with optimization of the formulation for a coming clinical phase 1 study of NEX-22.
NEX-22 FOR TREATMENT OF TYPE 2 DIABETES
One of the most common drug classes for the treatment of type 2 diabetes is GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) analogs, which are given subcutaneously once daily or once per week. Liraglutide is a GLP-1 analogue that is currently given by daily injections. NEX-22 is a depot formulation of liraglutide with a monthly release that can replace today’s treatment with daily or weekly injections of liraglutide and other GLP-1 analogues, which would give significant benefits with increased convenience and better compliance to treatment.
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disease in which the body has difficult to regulate the sugar level in the blood, which leads to high blood sugar. The disease occurs mainly in upper middle age (>45 years), but the incidence increases in younger years because of an increasingly sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet. Common symptoms include fatigue, increased thirst and frequent urination, while a non-compliant treatment can lead to serious sequelae. The treatment goal of type 2 diabetes is a lower blood sugar level, which is easy to measure.
