Biotech company Rhythm announced results that demonstrated RM-131 were effective in restoring normal gastric function in animal models of delayed gastric emptying owing to a direct prokinetic effect.
“This study suggests RM-131’s significant inherent potential for the treatment of common GI functional disorders such as diabetic gastroparesis,” said Elizabeth Stoner, PhD, chief development officer of Rhythm. “Diabetic patients with gastroparesis experience high rates of hospitalization due to vomiting and nausea, and their ability to maintain glucose is significantly challenged by their inability to eat normally. We are developing RM-131 to improve outcomes for these types of GI disorders.”
In the in vivo study, RM-131 fully restored gastric emptying in a progressive, dose-dependent manner and demonstrated 100 times greater potency compared with natural human ghrelin. In addition, RM-131 was shown to be more effective in restoring GI function compared with GHSR agonists such as ipamorelin.
“The results from this head-to-head testing are compelling and demonstrate RM-131’s potential to restore impaired GI function,” said Bart Henderson, president of Rhythm. “The diabetes epidemic is driving a significant increase in patients with gastroparesis, but patients today have very limited treatment options. RM-131 is now in Phase 1 human clinical trials to assess its potential for treating gastroparesis and other important functional GI disorders.”
RM-131 is a small-peptide analog of ghrelin, a hormone produced in the stomach that stimulates gastrointestinal activity, mitigates proinflammatory cytokine production, and is the only hormone known to stimulate appetite, according to Rhythm. Derived from the natural ghrelin sequence, RM-131 has been optimized to stimulate gastrointestinal motility and anti-inflammatory activity, with enhanced stability and pharmacokinetics.
Release Date: May 9, 2011
Source: Rhythm
Filed Under: Drug Discovery
