Source: Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. and reported by http://www.prnewswire.com/
PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has acquired an exclusive license to a targeted therapeutic for treating post-bariatric surgical hypoglycemia. Gastric bypass procedures are widely performed and are increasing for medically complicated obesity, including Type 2 diabetes. The technology was invented by Tracey McLaughlin, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at Stanford University Medical Center in the Division of Endocrinology.
As the use of bariatric surgical procedures increases worldwide, a new post-surgical complication, hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, is increasingly reported. This disorder leads to frequent symptomatic hypoglycemia, often resulting in glucose concentrations low enough to cause seizures, altered mental status, loss of consciousness, cognitive dysfunction, disability and death. Quality of life can be severely diminished, and many patients cannot care for themselves or others, work, drive, or be left alone. There is no approved treatment for this condition, and severe cases have been surgically managed with near-total to total pancreatectomy, which results in insulin-dependent diabetes and is associated with up to a 6% surgical mortality risk.
"Research suggests that elevated glucagon-like-peptide (GLP-1) may play an important role in hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in post-bariatric surgery patients. Surgically-altered nutrient transit causes enhanced secretion of GLP-1 leading to elevated insulin secretion. This effect may play a primary role in the early resolution of Type 2 diabetes after surgery," said Joanne Quan, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Eiger. "An exaggeration of this same effect in some patients results in severe debilitating hypoglycemia. Stanford Researchers have now demonstrated in multiple clinical studies in patients that pharmacologic blockade of the GLP-1 receptor with Exendin (9-39) prevents hypoglycemia and improves symptoms. Exendin (9-39) may represent the first targeted medical treatment for patients with post-bariatric surgical hypoglycemia."
Read more: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eiger-biopharmaceuticals-announces-acquisition-of-exclusive-license-to-program-for-treatment-of-post-bariatric-hypoglycemia-from-stanford-university-300177006.html