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Research in the field of anti-obesity therapy has intensified significantly in response to a rapid increase in the overweight and obese population coupled with a greater understanding of the health risks posed by these conditions. But many pharmacologic approaches involving stimulant and appetite suppressants have proven unsuccessful in helping patients achieve sustainable reduction or control of their weight. Other drug classes working through the central nervous system have produced dangerous or unwanted side effects leading to product withdrawal in some cases. More recently, research has centered around understanding the role of natural human hormones in controlling appetite, food consumption and weight gain and the therapeutic potential of such hormones. Several natural human peptides produced in the digestive tract have been identified and tested as potential targets for development as therapeutic agents, in some cases producing favorable effects on weight loss in human studies. Developing natural human peptides or synthetic analogs as therapeutic agents is particularly challenging because such substances are often very short acting and require injection administration. These factors produce a treatment that would require patients to receive continuous infusion from an insulin-type pump or to self administer multiple injections every few hours throughout the day.
Intarcia is evaluating a series of human peptides for delivery with the DUROS technology as potential treatments for obesity. Based on the success Intarcia has achieved with human interferon and exenatide, we believe we can maintain stability and continuously deliver consistent levels of such peptides with the DUROS technology addressing some of the primary obstacles to developing safe and effective therapies in this class.
The World Health Organization reports more than 1.6 billion people are classified as overweight and at least 400 million clinically obese. These conditions represent a major global health burden and pose significant additional chronic health risks including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms of cancer.
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