Loading...
Free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1) is found primarily on pancreatic beta cells. When activated, it promotes insulin secretion, but only in the context of rising glucose concentrations. A drug that stimulates FFAR1 might be expected to augment insulin secretion in diabetes patients, as sulfonylureas do, but with less risk for hypoglycemia.
TAK-875 is a selective, oral FFAR1 agonist that is being tested in a phase III clinical trial. For now, we have data from a manufacturer-funded phase II trial of the drug. Investigators randomized 426 patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (on either metformin alone or no pharmacotherapy) to receive one of five doses of TAK-875 (6.25 mg to 200 mg daily), the sulfonylurea glimepiride (4 mg daily), or pla…