dia- b announcement

Good ann. after market close yesterday. Strange that a market sensitive ann. would be ut out after close. Very significant results. Pathway of action emulates exercising. This could have huge applications.


cheers.




CARDIA TECHNOLOGIES LTD
MELBOURNE OFFICE
Level 1, 89 High Street, Kew. VIC. 3101. Australia
Telephone (03) 9853 3566 Facsimile (03) 9853 3611 Email [email protected]
TO: COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OFFICE
AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGE LIMITED
DATE: 12 December 2003
FURTHER PROGRESS IN ISF-402 TYPE 2 DIABETES PROJECT
The Board of Cardia are pleased to announce that the latest Quarterly Research Update
received from the International Diabetes Institute ("IDI") team of scientists at Monash
University shows further positive progress in the testing of the ISF-402 peptide drug for
Type 2 diabetes.
The IDI Report provides the results of experiments conducted over a twelve-week
period, which further demonstrated that regular injections of ISF-402 into insulinresistant
Zucker rats improved insulin sensitivity. There were no apparent adverse side
effects from the treatment as assessed by normal weight gain by the rats over the 12
weeks of treatment. This finding augurs well for ISF-402 as a potential new Type 2
diabetes drug with an enhanced safety profile.
Results from experiments on muscle cells also showed that ISF-402 made low doses of
insulin more effective. Exposure of muscle cells to ISF-402 activated an enzyme called
AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) over a twenty-four hour period. AMPK is
normally activated by exercise and its actions in total result in increased sensitivity to
insulin and improved glucose disposal, suggesting that ISF402 may mimic the beneficial
effects of exercise. Notably ISF-402 was more potent than the currently used diabetic
drug metformin, since several times more metformin was required to achieve similar
levels of AMPK activation.
Oral efficacy experiments are currently underway to test the susceptibility of ISF-402 to
digestion by gastric enzymes and to whether insulin sensitivity is improved similarly to
that seen when it is administered by injection. Results on the stability of ISF-402 and its
susceptibility to degradation by digestive enzymes are expected by the end of December
2003.
In summary, the research objectives of the past quarter have all been achieved with
ISF-402 continuing to show positive results as a potential drug for the treatment of Type
2 diabetes.
A copy of a Press Release is attached.
Pat Volpe
CHAIRMAN
ACN 064 755 237
CARDIA TECHNOLOGIES LTD
MELBOURNE OFFICE
Level 1, 89 High Streets, Kew. VIC. 3101. Australia
Telephone (03) 9853 3566 Facsimile (03) 9853 3611 Email [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 12 December, 2003
CARDIA ANNOUNCES A NEW COMPOUND WHICH IMPROVES THE
EFFICACY OF INSULIN – POTENTIAL FOR TABLET TREATMENT
FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES
A potential new drug developed for Australian Listed Biotech Company, Cardia
Technologies Limited, by Melbourne scientists at the International Diabetes
Institute and Monash University has shown in animal trials to improve the
efficacy of insulin - apparently by mimicking the effect of exercise. In people with
diabetes, exercise has long been known to make insulin more effective - allowing
diabetics to better manage the disease.
The new drug - called ISF-402 - will enter human trials potentially in 2005
following the success of animal trials.
Cardia’s subsidiary, Dia-B Tech Limited, will manage the project. Former Federal
Health Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge is Chairman of Dia-B along with board member,
Sir George Alberti (former Director of the International Diabetes Federation). The
subsidiary is expected to float in 2004.
The test on ISF-402 showed that, when injected into obese Zucker rats the drug:
• lowers blood glucose levels
• increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin - allowing the hormone to ensure the blood
glucose levels remain low.
• promotes conversion of blood sugar to glycogen – the form in which sugar is stored
in the liver and muscles as the body’s energy stores (similar to what happens after
exercise)
Zucker rats have an insulin resistance similar to that seen in humans with Type 2
Diabetes.
The latest study revealed that regular injections of ISF-402 into insulin-resistant Zucker
rats improved insulin sensitivity. There were no apparent adverse side effects from the
treatment as assessed by normal weight gain by the rats over the 12 weeks of treatment.
Professor Paul Zimmet, leader of the research team and Director of the International
Diabetes Institute, said that the "finding augurs well for ISF-402 as a potential new Type
2 diabetes drug with an enhanced safety profile". He added that results from experiments
on muscle cells also showed that ISF-402 made low doses of insulin more effective.
Exposure of muscle cells to the drug activated an enzyme called AMP activated protein
kinase (AMPK) over a twenty-four hour period. AMPK is normally activated by exercise
and its actions in total result in increased sensitivity to insulin and improved glucose
disposal, suggesting that ISF402 may mimic the beneficial effects of exercise.
Notably in these trials ISF-402 was several times more effective than the currently
used diabetic drug metformin in achieving similar levels of AMPK activation.
The scientists are now testing whether oral administration of the drug reduces its efficacy
(because of the effects of gastric enzymes etc). Initial results are expected by the end of
2003.
For further information contact Cardia Chairman Pat Volpe on 0412 088 858
Professor Paul Zimmet on 0418 359 151