Transition Therapeutics Inc announced that the first patient has been dosed in a phase-2 clinical study of gastrin analogue, TT-223, in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of daily TT-223 treatments for 12 weeks with a 6-month follow-up. Approximately 80 patients with type 2 diabetes are expected to be enrolled in the study and will receive a daily treatment of TT-223 in addition to their current regimen of oral glucose lowering agents (metformin and/or thiazolidinediones).

Transition and Eli Lilly and Company have entered into a licensing and collaboration agreement granting Lilly exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize gastrin based therapies, including the lead compound TT-223. Gastrin based therapies are an emerging class of potential disease-modifying therapies for patients with diabetes, and have been shown to provide sustained improvement in glycemic control in preclinical models and early clinical studies. Sustained improvement in glycemic control is a key goal for patients with diabetes in order to alleviate the symptoms of hyperglycaemia and to prevent diabetic complications, and improving their overall quality of life.

Transition is a biopharmaceutical company, developing novel therapeutics for disease indications with large markets. Transition's lead products include ELND005 (AZD-103) for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and TT-223 for the treatment of diabetes.