[Shalyndria]

Transition Therapeutics Inc. is on the verge of vaulting to the forefront of a breakthrough treatment for diabetes that's as close to a cure as anything on the lab bench.

The race is on and INGAP, P&G’s (INT) peptide, has a slight lead in they are already doing human trials. In the next few months, leading insulin maker Novo Nordisk AS of Denmark is expected to conclude a year-long evaluation to license Transition's islet neogenesis therapy (INT), which is designed to stimulate the body to regenerate insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas, mimicking fetal development.

The accord would pay Toronto-based Transition up to $51.5-million (U.S.) in milestones over the next three or four years for its INT technology, which will be tested on diabetics this summer.

"We're confident the deal will go through," said Tony Cruz, chairman and chief executive officer of Transition. So far, 14-day INT treatments have been able to reverse diabetes in a variety of animals for up to four months, he said, adding that "islet cells regrow and the animal is now able to regulate its own glucose levels."

But success in animal experiments is no guarantee of a similar outcome in humans. "We're at the stage of finding out if INT is sufficiently robust enough to overcome the disease in humans," he said.

So what is INT?

Transition's flagship technology consists of a gastrointestinal hormone called gastrin combined with epidermal growth factor (EGF), which stimulates growth of cells that line internal organs.

But Mr. Cruz admits that Transition's newest INT combination of gastrin plus a glucose-regulating protein called GLP-1 is "getting a lot of attention these days," especially from Novo Nordisk, which is developing its own GLP-1 drug to treat diabetes.

"Our GLP-1-INT probably offers the least clinical risk because it pushes regeneration to the next level," he said. "It has replaced EGF as Novo's main focus."

So far, Transition has spent about $30-million (Canadian) to acquire INT and refine it to the point for an investment from a big drug company such as Novo, which licensed insulin from the Canadian discovery team of Frederick Banting and Charles Best in the 1920s, and has a corporate mission statement that includes finding a cure for diabetes.

Mr. Cruz, a co-founder of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc., said it's impossible to value INT, which could be on the market before the end of the decade.
DIC:06/23/2004

FYI!
Shy

[HeatherP]

Thanks Shy, that's all very interesting.

I have to wonder though if here is the States, our ins companies wouldn't consider it "experimental" and refuse to cover this treatment. I have to imagine it would be extremely expensive.

[Lorna]

Hate to be negative, but they have been five years away from a cure for all the time I have had diabetes. Again I'll beleive it when I see it!!!!

[Deager]

It does sound promising tho, and a reason to hope. If it works and actually makes it to the market, I'd do just about anything to to make sure Jack gets the treatment(s), even if our insurance doesn't pay a dime of it.

<----Diane with her fingers crossed....and toes too!

[palefacegirl03]

Originally posted by Lorna
Hate to be negative, but they have been five years away from a cure for all the time I have had diabetes. Again I'll beleive it when I see it!!!!

Yes the same here, the Cure has always been around the corner, but has not made it to finish line yet. I will believe ,when I see it ,too.

[Shalyndria]

Lorna and Charlotte, I absolutely cannot disagree with you Seems like the new 'miracle cure' is always coming soon to a theatre near you and we have yet to see it. I like to try to stay positive about it though; little steps must be taken before the end goal can be reached. And who knows, one day one of these research experiments will prove itself useful and we'll be on our way to a needle-free life

Heather, should this or another experimental procedure come to fruition and your insurance doesn't pan out, you can come move in with me :p My doors are open to all!

Shy

[mark-TN]

HeatherP-

In my opinion if it works insurance companies will jump all over it. It is a drug they are talking about here, not a transplant. It will save them billions in the long run to pay for a cure for each and every diabetic patient. The government will pay for it for those that do not have insurance (again because it will save medicaid and midicare billions over the long hual). Insurance paying for something like this is the least of our worries. Getting a cure that actually works will be the tough part.

Mark

[HeatherP]

Thanks, Shy! Can my kitty come w/ me?

I agree w/ Lorna and Palefacegirl03, I've been hearing "the cure in coming in 5 years" my whole life.

As far as the insurance goes, the last time I read thru my health insurance rider, bone marrow transplants were considered "experimental" and so therefore were not covered under their policy. I'd be surprised to see the gov pay for anything. I have a friend that can't even get enough test strips to test properly throughout the day.

[Lorna]

Sounds similar to the nonesnce we have in the UK! On the positive though, although the promised cure is never comming, research has gone a long way to aiding control and making life a bit easier.

[lgvincent]

I've been hearing a cure is five years away since 1968. I guess they aren't talking about the time it takes Earth to orbit the sun five times, they are talking about the time it takes Pluto to orbit the sun five times. That will be quite a few Earth years, but still five years for Pluto.

[KimmyKat]

Diabetes, Cancer, AIDS etc. There will never be cures "found" for these diseases as there is too much money to be made! Actually, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that there are already cures but the lid is being kept on. Cynical, cynical me *tsk tsk*. I became so after seeing my mother go through chemotherapy and seeing the bills for the bottles of "rat poison" that simply hastened her death (although it was a good thing in a way?). IMHO. And now that I have diabetes... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Jayd]

I Can see your point with the whole "more money in the treatment than the cure" arguement, **** I definitly agree sometimes. it like having that relative you cant stand come over to visit and staying for good. I got it when type 1 when I was 15 and that was 5 years ago, bottom line IT SUCKS!
A cure would be nice, but probably wont happen. I also kinda agree with the fact it would save more money. must be a complicated disease.