Piramal Enterprises Ltd has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its Investigational New Drug (IND) P7435. This is a novel, potent and highly selective, oral diacylglycerolacyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) inhibitor.
P7435 has been developed by the NCE Research Division of PEL for the management of metabolic disorders such as lipid abnormalities and diabetes. It is well-established that increased lipid levels’ (including triglycerides) is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). It has been reported by the World Health Organisation, that CVD, is the number one cause of deaths globally, representing approximately 30 per cent of all deaths. Currently, there is a significant medical need for effective and safe drugs for the management of lipid abnormalities and metabolic disorders.
P7435 has demonstrated its lipid lowering potential in various preclinical studies by showing significant reduction in triglyceride levels, glucose and insulin levels,and decrease in food intake and body weight gain -factors which are associated with lipid abnormalities and metabolic disorders.
PEL has established the safety and tolerability of P7435 in a phase I trial recently completed in India. This extension trial in the US will further evaluate the safety and efficacy of P7435 in a larger population.
Dr Swati Piramal, vice chairperson, Piramal Enterprises, said, “The NCE Research division of PEL continues its ambitious diabetes/metabolic disorders programme to discover and develop NCEs to fight against diseases like diabetes and lipid disorders. With P7435 we are looking at addressing a serious need for effective and well-tolerated drugs that treat lipid disorders, which are commonly associated with diabetes and CVDs. Expansion of this trial will allow testing this NCE in a wider population,which is critical to the development of this drug and will provide therapeutic solutions not just to India but also to the rest of the world.”
The NCE Research division of Piramal Enterprises focuses on the discovery and development of innovative small molecule medicines to improve the lives of patients suffering from cancer, metabolic disorders and inflammatory conditions. The key elements of its strategy include capitalizing on Piramal’s strengths, in particular the India advantage, and leveraging external partnerships to achieve high levels of R&D productivity. Piramal’s state-of-the-art Research Centre in Mumbai has comprehensive capabilities spanning target identification all the way through clinical development. Its robust pipeline, including 8 compounds in clinical development, bears testimony to its innovative and rigorous drug discovery process.