LifeWithoutInsulin | Compositions for use in the treatment of insulin deficiency conditions

Summary
Tens of millions suffer from insulin deficiency (ID); a condition caused by pancreatic β-cell loss. If untreated, ID is a lethal catabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia. Thus, the focus of ID research and drug development has been mainly on improving strategies to lower hyperglycemia without causing life-threatening hypoglycemia. However, in addition to increased circulating glucose level β-cell loss leads to several “other defects”, some of which (e.g. severe hyperketonemia and ketoacidosis) are life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies that in addition to improve hyperglycemia can also rescue the “other defects” (e.g. increased ketogenesis) caused by ID. For example, we have recently published results underscoring the importance of ameliorating hyperglycemia and the “other defects”. Indeed, our data indicate that despite the presence of slightly improved hyperglycemia a normalization of hyperketonemia and hypertriglyceridemia is associated with a significant extension in lifespan of mice with β-cell loss (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11498-x). Untreated ID rapidly leads to death. However, since insulin was discovered in the early 1920s, ID has been treated with insulin therapy; an approach that converted this lethal disease into one a person can live with. Yet, insulin therapy is unsatisfactory. Indeed, ID subjects have higher risks for developing kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, heart attack, stroke, and hypoglycemia. Some of these defects are favored by insulin therapy itself. Our goal is to diminishing the amount of insulin dosage and hence reducing the risks associated with insulin therapy (e.g. life-threatening hypoglycemia). The present application aims at providing a composition for improving the treatment of ID. If successful, we will be able to commercialize our composition and improve therapy in millions suffering from ID.
Unfold all
/
Fold all
More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/899766
Start date: 01-06-2020
End date: 30-11-2021
Total budget - Public funding: - 150 000,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

Tens of millions suffer from insulin deficiency (ID); a condition caused by pancreatic β-cell loss. If untreated, ID is a lethal catabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia. Thus, the focus of ID research and drug development has been mainly on improving strategies to lower hyperglycemia without causing life-threatening hypoglycemia. However, in addition to increased circulating glucose level β-cell loss leads to several “other defects”, some of which (e.g. severe hyperketonemia and ketoacidosis) are life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies that in addition to improve hyperglycemia can also rescue the “other defects” (e.g. increased ketogenesis) caused by ID. For example, we have recently published results underscoring the importance of ameliorating hyperglycemia and the “other defects”. Indeed, our data indicate that despite the presence of slightly improved hyperglycemia a normalization of hyperketonemia and hypertriglyceridemia is associated with a significant extension in lifespan of mice with β-cell loss (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11498-x). Untreated ID rapidly leads to death. However, since insulin was discovered in the early 1920s, ID has been treated with insulin therapy; an approach that converted this lethal disease into one a person can live with. Yet, insulin therapy is unsatisfactory. Indeed, ID subjects have higher risks for developing kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, heart attack, stroke, and hypoglycemia. Some of these defects are favored by insulin therapy itself. Our goal is to diminishing the amount of insulin dosage and hence reducing the risks associated with insulin therapy (e.g. life-threatening hypoglycemia). The present application aims at providing a composition for improving the treatment of ID. If successful, we will be able to commercialize our composition and improve therapy in millions suffering from ID.

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

ERC-2019-POC

Update Date

27-04-2024
Images
No images available.
Geographical location(s)
Structured mapping
Unfold all
/
Fold all
Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
ERC-2019
ERC-2019-PoC