SanaCurrents on Structure Thera's (GPCR) new oral drug for Type II diabetes | $GPCR
SUMMARY
Pharmaceutical researchers have relied on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as a cellular target for decades, using GPCRs as entry point for an estimated 700 new drugs to treat conditions from high blood pressure to asthma to acid reflux. By the early 2000s, some scientists believed the utility of GPCRs was exhausted as all the feasible binding sites were identified. New research into the nature and function of GPCRs, however, revealed more novel GPCR cellular binding sites. Moreover, researchers revised their thinking that GPCRs acted only as “on/off switches.” Delivering the appropriate amount of drug to a GPCR, in the correct structure, potentially could elicit a more potent, less toxic response by the patient.
Structure Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:GPCR) stepped into the revised GPCR arena around six years ago. The company expects its lead drug, the small molecule GSBR-1290, can bind to and activate glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors (GLP-1R), a class B GPCR. Two blockbuster peptide drugs, Eli Lilly and Company’s (NYSE:LLY) Trulicity (dulaglutide) and Novo Nordisk A/S’ (NYSE:NVO) Ozempic (semaglutide) likewise target GLP-1R. But as peptides, both need to be injected. Structure Thera expects it can match the efficacy of the two peptides with its oral GSBR-1290. The first tests for GSBR-1290 will be this fall when the company plans to release topline data from a phase Ib dose-escalation trial and a follow-on phase IIa trial.
Next Key catalysts
Phase Ib dose-escalation trial of GSBR-1290
Phase IIa trial of GSBR-1290
Key catalyst dates
2H 2023