| ▲ A study has been published showing that a drug developed as a treatment for mental illness showed a blood sugar lowering effect. (Photo = DB) |
[메디컬투데이=한지혁 기자] A study has been published showing that a drug developed as a treatment for mental illness showed a blood sugar lowering effect.
A study published in the journal Diabetes suggests that a type of antipsychotic drug may be effective in treating type 2 diabetes.
Many patients with type 2 diabetes are taking the first-line drug ‘metformin’ or other diabetes medications to lower blood sugar. However, about one-third of all type 2 diabetic patients may not get sufficient effects from metformin due to various factors.
In addition to metformin, these patients show low responsiveness to a variety of drugs that improve glycemic control by increasing insulin secretion.
Experts say, “Developing new treatments to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes, along with lifestyle and diet changes, could have a key impact on improving health outcomes for people with diabetes.” has been paraphrasing
However, the development of new drugs requires a long time and astronomical costs. In comparison, using an existing drug that has already gone through the approval process for a new purpose is much quicker and simpler.
In 2020, the results of a mouse study dealing with the association between an enzyme called ‘SCOT (succinyl CoA: 3-ketoacid CoA transferase)’ and high blood sugar were announced. The research team who conducted the study later proved that ‘pimozide’, a drug corresponding to ‘diphenylbutylpiperidine (DPBP)’, lowers the expression of SCOT and helps normalize blood sugar levels. did.
Subsequent analysis using computer modeling further found that all types of DPBP drugs could inhibit the expression of SCOT.
Unlike conventional diabetes drugs, which generally lower blood sugar by increasing insulin levels, drugs with this mechanism could lead to new treatment options for type 2 diabetes.
In the normal human body, the SCOT enzyme helps the body use ‘ketones’ as an alternative fuel in situations where glucose is scarce. Suppressing the expression of SCOT may cause various side effects by interfering with the use of this reserve energy source.
The researchers acknowledge the risk of these side effects, and note that more research is needed to understand the long-term consequences of inhibiting the SCOT enzyme. They also added that blood ketone levels in patients taking DPBP drugs should be monitored closely.
DPBP drugs are antipsychotic drugs that target dopamine receptors located in the brain. Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, and fatigue.
The researchers said they plan to investigate whether the structure of the drug can be altered so that DPBP does not work in the brain and inhibits the SCOT enzyme everywhere in the body except in the brain. If these attempts are successful, not only can various neurological side effects be prevented, but also safer and more effective treatment can be achieved because the brain can use ketones as needed.
Medical Today Reporter Han Ji-hyeok ([email protected])
[저작권자ⓒ 메디컬투데이. 무단전재-재배포 금지]
