BioCentury
ARTICLE | Distillery Therapeutics

Therapeutics: Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) receptor

November 19, 2015 8:00 AM UTC

In vitro and mouse studies suggest GHRH receptor agonists could improve engraftment of islet cell transplant to treat diabetes. In a rat pancreatic β cell line, the GHRH receptor agonist MR-409 increased cell proliferation and glucose-stimulated insulin release compared with vehicle. In diabetic mice receiving rat islet transplants, pretreatment of islets with MR-409 and post-transplant subcutaneous administration of MR-409 increased cell engraftment, insulin sensitivity and survival compared with no pretreatment or post-transplant treatment with the agonist. Next steps by Biscayne Pharmaceuticals Inc. include IND-enabling studies.

Biscayne Pharmaceuticals has MR-409 in preclinical testing for myocardial infarction (MI). ...