The scientific journal Frontiers in Endocrinology just published a peer-reviewed perspective article by UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC) Director Anath Shalev, M.D., entitled “A novel class of oral, non-immunosuppressive, beta cell-targeting, TXNIP-inhibiting T1D drugs is emerging”. Other authors from the Shalev Lab include Gu Jing, Ph.D., and SeongHo Jo, Ph.D.

In their article, authors note that researchers have often focused solely on immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory approaches for Type 1 diabetes (T1D), and that this approach in itself, might not be sufficient. Thus, they present their view and supporting commentary, including work by independent experts, that T1D therapies need to also address beta cell health.

Particularly, the article focuses on beta cell-targeting through a novel class of oral T1D drugs targeting thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP). It thereby discusses the repurposed blood pressure drug, verapamil found to non-specifically inhibit TXNIP and the new small molecule, TIX100, specifically developed as an oral anti-diabetic drug to inhibit TXNIP.

The provided comparison of the key features of these drugs further shows that TIX100 was found to be more potent and effective than verapamil and to protect against excessive glucagon secretion (hyperglucagonemia) and excessive glucose production by the liver in the face of high blood sugar. Intriguingly, TIX100 was recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to proceed to clinical trials as an Investigational New Drug for the treatment of T1D.