Dr. Reddy's anti-diabetic drug to be tested in Netherlands

By siliconindia   |   Wednesday, 27 December 2006, 18:30 IST
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Hyderabad: An anti-diabetic drug developed by Dr. Reddy's labs is making waves in Netherlands. The drug is to undergo Phase I clinical trials. The testing is to check the safety and tolerability of the drug (DRL-1536) on healthy volunteers. The drug claims to be one that works by activating the biological pathways, responsible for providing the beneficial effects of exercise. In the pre-clinical disease models, targeting exercise pathways using the potential drug has shown lower levels of glucose and lipid. Also Dr. Reddy, in a press release, claimed that it had potential for weight loss. The current treatment options for type 2 diabetes, the most common in India, work through other mechanisms and may not provide the overall beneficial clinical effects needed, the release further stated. Dr. K. Anji Reddy, Chairman, Perlecan Pharma and founder Chairman of Dr Reddy's Laboratories said, "DRL 1536 is the fourth asset from Perlecan and the third `first-in-class' compounds from Dr Reddy's discovery research to go into clinical development. We are confident of discovering drugs for prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome." Perlecan Pharma provides Dr Reddy's drug discovery program, a model to rapidly advance its existing as well as future New Chemical Entities (NCE) assets through Phase II trials and seek out-licensing, co-development or joint commercialization opportunities. It has received four NCEs, including all titles and rights of development and commercialization so far. Perlecan Pharma Private Ltd, India's first integrated drug development company, promoted jointly by Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd with equity from ICICI Venture Funds Management Company Ltd and Citigroup Venture Capital International Mauritius Ltd, is conducting the trials.