vTv Therapeutics Announces Completion of Phase 1b Study Evaluating TTP399 for the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes
vTv Therapeutics Inc. announced the completion of Phase 1b of Simplici-T1, an adaptive Phase 1b/2 study assessing the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety and tolerability of TTP399 in adult patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The study, being conducted with support from JDRF, the leading global organization funding T1D research, is designed to evaluate TTP399 as an add-on to insulin therapy for people living with T1D.
The Phase 1b assessment was an open label dose-escalation study in five patients with T1D, designed to determine the tolerability of TTP399 when added to insulin and the appropriate dosing range to be used in Phase 2 of the study. Results showed that TTP399 was found to be well-tolerated and improved or maintained glycemic control while reducing or simplifying an insulin regimen. In a six-month Phase 2b clinical trial of TTP399 in patients with type 2 diabetes, TTP399 demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in HbA1c levels in all TTP399 dose groups compared with placebo. TTP399 was also found to be well-tolerated without increased incidences of hypoglycemia and hyperlipidemia compared to placebo.
“There is a tremendous need for new, safe and effective treatment options for the millions of people living with T1D,” said Dr. John Buse, director of the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute and of the Diabetes Center at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and principal investigator for this study. “Maintaining glucose control is imperative for those with T1D and we are optimistic that treatment with TTP399 could potentially offer an improved therapy.”
The glucokinase enzyme (GK) is a key regulator of glucose metabolism, and its activation has been shown to increase glucose utilization, which in turn lowers blood glucose. TTP399 is an orally available GK activator that is designed for superior glucose control by targeting GK activation only in the liver. TTP399 exhibits an insulin-independent mechanism of action which may be suitable as an adjunctive treatment for T1D.
“We are pleased that TTP399 continues to show favorable tolerability and hope that further exploration of the therapy in T1D will produce the same positive effects that were evident in previous type 2 diabetes clinical studies,” said Carmen Valcarce, Ph.D., executive vice president, chief scientific officer, vTv Therapeutics. “With support from JDRF and the UNC team, we are excited to initiate the Phase 2 portion of the Simplici-T1 study in April of this year and to further assess the potential of TTP399 as an insulin-adjunctive therapy for T1D to provide superior glucose control than insulin monotherapy.”