Released on = March 1, 2007, 8:34 am

Press Release Author = La Merie Business Intelligence

Industry = Biotech

Press Release Summary = Merck & Co clearly leads the field of DPP-IV inhibitors
which has many followers in clinical development. The first companies already
abandoned the field.

Press Release Body = BARCELONA, Spain | Mar 01, 2007 | Merck & Co posted Q4/2006
sales of US$ 42 mln with its first-in-class dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV)
inhibitor Januvia. FDA's recent request for more clinical data to meet conditions
set forth in the approvable letter of Novartis' NDA of the DPP-IV inhibitor Galvus
will aid Merck to maintain and extend its competitive edge in the field. At least 13
further DPP-IV inhibitors are in clinical development with eight in advanced phase
II or III stages. However, the first Big Pharma companies have abandoned the field,
partly due to undisclosed safety issues, unsatisfactory clinical results or better
alternatives. Available data show differences in duration of action and anticipated
dosing frequency. These results were found in a search conducted by La Merie
Business Intelligence and can be acquired at the Online Store PipelineReview.com.

The high interest of the pharmaceutical industry in DPP-IV inhibitors reflects the
market attractivity. The WHO estimates that globally over 170 mln people have
diabetes, with type 2 diabetes accounting for 90 % to 95 %. By 2030, the prevalence
of diabetes is predicted to double, driven by adverse lifestyle changes. Dipeptidyl
peptidase IV is an enzyme that rapidly inactivates the insulinotropic hormone
glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV by DPP-IV
inhibitors enhances the hormone activity of GLP-1 and other bioactive peptides (GIP,
PACAP38 and GRP), thereby stimulating the release of insulin and reducing the
secretion of glucagon. Both effects contribute to regulation of the elevated blood
glucose levels in type 2 diabetic patients as measured by hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).

Available clinical data suggest that long term treatment with DPP-IV inhibitors was
well tolerated with very low rates of hypoglycaemia and was not associated with
weight gain or gastrointestinal disturbances. The DPP-IV inhibitors are being
evaluated as both monotherapy and in combination with other standard antidiabetic
drugs, e.g. metformin. The major advantages of DPP-IV inhibitors are the ability to
achieve sustainable reductions in HbA1c with an orally administered, well tolerated
agent. Other classes of new antidiabetic medications include GLP-1 agonists and dual
PPAR agonists. However, GLP-1 agonists require administration by injection and dual
PPAR agonists are associated with safety concerns.

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SOURCE: La Merie Business Intelligence


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