Copenhagen, 2015-12-09 09:20 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
- Acting Senior Vice President of Research Keld Fosgerau presented key examples of Zealand’s novel GLP-1 based dual acting peptides to address unmet medical needs in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and obesity
Copenhagen, 9 December 2015 – Zealand informs that its acting Senior Vice President of Research, Keld Fosgerau presented at the New York Academy of Sciences’ (NYAS) GLP-1 Treatment for Diabetes and Beyond meeting yesterday in New York.
The New York Academy of Sciences is one of the oldest and most prestigious scientific membership organizations in the US, with over 20,000 members from around the world. The GLP-1 Treatment for Diabetes and Beyond meeting highlighted innovative scientific approaches to GLP-1 based new therapies in the preclinical and clinical arena with a focus on human genetics, novel cellular and molecular mechanisms for insulin secretion and weight loss, new indications and new opportunities for drug development.
In his presentation, Keld Fosgerau discussed various approaches applied by Zealand in the creation of second generation GLP-1 based therapies, and how these can help address unmet medical needs in the field of Type 2 diabetes and obesity. He showcased the company’s leading expertise in the synthesis of novel dual acting peptides and in developing those peptides to create compelling new medicines. The Zealand peptides that were presented include ZP2929, a glucagon/GLP-1 dual agonist in clinical Phase I development for improved weight management in diabetes, a preclinical GIP/GLP-1 dual agonist for greater therapeutic index with reduced risk of hypoglycemia, and a preclinical gastrin/GLP-1 dual agonist for the prevention of beta cell decline.
Britt Meelby Jensen, President and Chief Executive Officer at Zealand, commented: “Based on our leading peptide expertise, we have invented a portfolio of novel GLP-1 based dual acting therapies that target unmet patient needs in the management of Type 2 diabetes and obesity. We are pleased to have been able to present some of our scientific achievements and key pipeline products at the NYAS event, confirming Zealand’s prominent position in turning peptides into new and better medicines.”
Keld Fosgerau, Acting Senior Vice President of Research, said: “GLP-1 receptor agonists have radically improved treatment options for patients with Type 2 diabetes. At Zealand, we have leveraged on the effects of GLP-1, applying our core competences in optimizing peptide structures to invent novel medicines with broader functionalities for a more effective treatment, not only of diabetes, but also potentially for obesity and beyond. The field is growing, and I am excited about the potential for our dual acting compounds as presented at NYAS.”
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For further information, please contact:
Britt Meelby Jensen, President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: +45 51 67 61 28, email: bmj@zealandpharma.com
Hanne Leth Hillman, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications Tel: +45 50 60 36 89, email: hlh@zealandpharma.com
About Zealand Pharma
Zealand Pharma A/S (Nasdaq Copenhagen: ZEAL) (“Zealand”) is a biotech company with leading-edge scientific expertise in turning peptides into medicines. Zealand has a growing proprietary pipeline of novel specialty drug candidates and a mature portfolio of products and projects under license collaborations with Sanofi, Helsinn Healthcare and Boehringer Ingelheim.
Zealand’s first invented medicine, lixisenatide, a once-daily prandial GLP-1 analogue for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, is marketed globally (ex-US) as Lyxumia® by Sanofi and under regulatory review in the US. The license agreement with Sanofi covers also a single-product combination of lixisenatide and insulin glargine (Lantus®) which is on track for regulatory submission in the US in December 2015 and in the European Union in Q1 2016.
The proprietary pipeline includes; danegaptide for ischemic reperfusion Injuries in Phase II development; ZP1848 for Short Bowel Syndrome in Phase II development; and the stable glucagon analogue, ZP4207, in Phase II preparation both as a single-dose rescue pen for severe hypoglycemia and for multiple-dose use to treat and control mild to moderate hypoglycemia; ZP2929 for diabetes/obesity in Phase I; as well as several preclinical peptide therapeutics.
The company is based in Copenhagen (Glostrup), Denmark. For further information about Zealand’s business and activities, please visit: www.zealandpharma.com or follow us on Twitter @ZealandPharma
