The Latvian Academy of Sciences has named the most significant achievements in Latvian science over the past year. One of them was the discovery of a new drug molecule by a team of researchers at the Institute of Organic Synthesis — an important basis for creating drugs against diabetes and obesity. Successful clinical trials have already been conducted, reports the program "900 Seconds" (TV3).
A team of scientists led by Dr. Ilga Mutule has been working in the laboratories of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis for about ten years. During this time, thousands of molecules have been synthesized, and it is the molecule ATR-258 that has proven to be the most promising for the development of a new drug.
"If we have synthesized about 1500 compounds in total, this substance is the 258th. The letters in the name are an abbreviation of the partner company we are collaborating with," explains the lead researcher of the institute, Ilga Mutule.
Latvian scientists are collaborating with a pharmaceutical company founded by researchers from Stockholm University. The goal is to create a new drug that will significantly improve the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
"That is, sugar from the blood is directed to the muscles. This is the special discovery that allows us to develop this compound as a drug," notes Ilga.
The new drug fights diabetes in a new and unique way. The first phase of clinical trials has already been successfully completed.
"They showed that the drug is safe for patients, and its effectiveness has been proven in preclinical studies on animal models. The use of this medication allows for a reduction in blood sugar levels."
However, the current successes are only about half of the journey. Several more years of research in chemical laboratories and trials involving not only animals but also human participants are ahead. Nevertheless, the main point is that Latvian scientists from the Institute of Organic Synthesis have already proven that the methods they are using are effective and suitable for further research.
