New Potential Diabetes Treatments On The Horizon?
Telik, Inc. (Nasdaq: TELK) has announced that the publication of research in “Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters” describes a novel class of small molecule compounds that could potentially lead to a new treatment for diabetes. The company noted that these unique compounds are the result of an extensive medicinal chemistry effort at Telik to optimize the original lead structure identified through the application of Telik’s TRAP technology.
Telik noted that the compounds developed activate the insulin receptor and may have the potential to be an orally administered treatment for diabetes. It also notes that such small molecules have been actively sought and could represent a completely different approach to the treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Telik’s publication “5-Substituted isophthalamides as insulin receptor sensitizers” describes a series of compounds capable of activating the insulin receptor and were also shown to increase glucose transport into adipocytes.
Telik shares are indicated slightly higher, although no trades have been seen as of 9:10 AM EST. This closed at $0.95 yesterday and its 52-week trading range is $0.93 to $4.96. Its market cap based on the close was only $50.5 million.
Jon Ogg
July 8, 2008