Principal Investigators

    Professor Christian Holscher

    Institution

    Lancaster University

    Contact information of lead PI

    Country

    United Kingdom

    Title of project or programme

    Novel GLP-1 and GIP dual receptor agonist peptides show neuroprotective effects

    Source of funding information

    Alzheimer's Society

    Total sum awarded (Euro)

    € 106,593

    Start date of award

    12/01/2015

    Total duration of award in years

    2.2

    Keywords

    Research Abstract

    Neurotrophins such as NGF and BDNF have shown neuroprotective effects in several animal models of
    neurodegenerative disorders. However, these growth factors do not cross the blood- brain barrier (BBB),
    which limits their practical application. Fortunately, growth factors exist that can cross the BBB, such as
    insulin and the incretin hormones. Recent investigations of the neuroprotective properties of the incretins
    glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotrophic polypeptide (GIP) have shown good
    results in preventing neurodegenerative processes in several mouse models of Alzheimer disease (AD) and
    also in animal models of Parkinson’s disease. The GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide has shown impressive
    effects in a transgenic mouse model of AD, and has shown protective effects in the brains of AD patients in
    an ex vivo study. Based on these findings, a clinical trial of liraglutide in AD patients is under way. A recent
    clinical trial of the older GLP-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 in Parkinson’s patients has shown impressive
    results. This demonstrates the great neuroprotective potential that incretin analogues have. We also have
    shown that analogues of the sister incretin hormone GIP are neuroprotective in animal models of AD.
    Such protease resistant analogues of incretins have been developed as treatments for diabetes, and some
    are available on the market. New drug development programs have produced novel dual-agonist GLP-1/GIP
    analogues that have superior properties to single receptor agonists. Some are already in clinical trials for
    diabetes and have shown good effects with few side effects in humans. We want to test much improved GLP-
    1/GIP dual analogues in a mouse model of AD at medium and at old age. In addition, we want to test
    analogues of the incretin hormone oxymodulin, which has shown great potential in pilot studies and may be
    superior to the GLP-1 and GIP analogues. All of these novel drugs do not directly affect blood glucose levels
    and can be given to people that do not have diabetes.

    Further information available at:

Types: Investments < €500k
Member States: United Kingdom
Diseases: N/A
Years: 2016
Database Categories: N/A
Database Tags: N/A

Export as PDF