Hua Medicine's Dorzagliatin Shows Promise in Restoring β-Cell Glucose Sensitivity in Asian Populations
Key Insights
Hua Medicine (search) announced positive results from its SENSITIZE study, demonstrating dorzagliatin's ability to improve β-cell glucose sensitivity.
The SENSITIZE 2 study showed a single dose of dorzagliatin restores glucokinase (search) enzyme activity in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (search).
Prior SENSITIZE 1 study indicated dorzagliatin enhances insulin secretion in GCK-MODY (search) patients and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (search) patients.
Hua Medicine (search) announced the successful completion of its SENSITIZE study, revealing insights into how dorzagliatin enhances β-cell glucose sensitivity. The announcement was made at the 9th China BioMed Innovation and Investment Conference (CBIIC). The study, led by Professor Juliana Chan at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, marks the first clinical evaluation in Asian populations assessing the impact of glucokinase (search) activators (GKAs) on β-cell function using hyperglycemic clamp technology.
The SENSITIZE study aimed to elucidate the role of impaired glucokinase (search) (GK) function in various glucose dysregulation types, offering new evidence on the pathophysiology of Asian Type 2 diabetes (search) and GK's central role in glucose regulation. The SENSITIZE 2 study results, presented at CBIIC, showed that a single dose of dorzagliatin effectively restores GK enzyme activity. This restoration significantly improved second-phase insulin secretion and β-cell glucose sensitivity in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (search) (IGT) during a hyperglycemic clamp study.
Prior SENSITIZE 1 Study Findings
Previously reported at the 2022 ADA annual meeting, the SENSITIZE 1 study demonstrated that dorzagliatin directly restores the activity of GK mutants. This led to significant improvements in second-phase insulin secretion and β-cell glucose sensitivity in patients with glucokinase (search) monogenic diabetes (GCK-MODY (search) or MODY-2). The study also showed enhanced basal insulin secretion in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (search) patients.
Future Research Directions
Hua Medicine (search) intends to continue investigating the effects of repeated dorzagliatin doses on β-cell glucose sensitivity and incretin response in individuals with intermediate hyperglycemia (search) (IH) and Type 2 diabetes (search). The goal is to establish personalized intervention and treatment management plans for prediabetic and Type 2 diabetes patients.
About Dorzagliatin
Dorzagliatin, marketed as HuaTangNing in China, is an innovative oral drug that targets glucokinase (search), a key glucose sensor. It is designed to restore glucose sensitivity in T2D patients and stabilize blood glucose levels. Approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China on September 30th, 2022, dorzagliatin can be used as a monotherapy or in combination with metformin for adult T2D patients, including those with chronic kidney disease (search) (CKD) without requiring dose adjustment.