In a joint research carried out by Peptimmune Inc., US, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune and D & O Pharmachem of the US, potential of polymer therapy in the treatment of obesity has been realized. GT389-255 is a new dual-acting drug for the treatment of obesity.

Its primary mechanism of action is the inhibition of pancreatic lipase, thereby stopping the digestion of triglycerides and causing their loss via the fecal route with concomitant caloric reduction. The accumulation of triglycerides in the feces leads to an unpleasant condition 'oily stool'.

Dr Mukund S Chorghade, D & O Pharmachem (US) told Pharmabiz that the lipase inhibitor is conjugated to the polymer to create a new single chemical entity that is rapidly dissociated into its component parts in the stomach in the proximal duodenum. One part of the dual-acting drug is the lipase inhibitor and other part is the polymer. The polymer binds triglycerides preventing it from pooling in the colon and causing the oily stool.

The research was carried out at NCL and D & O Laboratories at Gowandi in Maharashtra. Human trials were carried out. The final API is a novel approach to the treatment of obesity and would lead to lowered risk of cardiovascular problems and diabetes. The team is still trying to improve the polymer for better results, Dr Chorghade said.

Obesity has been declared as a medical ailment in the US. NCL has been outsourcing the processes to meet the cause. Pharmaceutical and Bio-pharmaceutical companies in the US are keenly looking towards India for research outsourcing support. India with its strong base of organic chemists is capable of entering into several research partnerships, he added.

He explained, polymer therapeutics gained attention during early 1990s. For many years the potential of utilizing polymers as APIs was unearthed. Some drugs have already been successfully developed and marketed, based on polymers. 'Renegal' is today a half-billion dollar drug in the US, meant for kidney disorders and 'Welchol' for lowering cholesterol. Welchol has the distinction of hitting the market within four years, as the average time taken for launching a drug has been close to 10 years.