Treatment of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes With an Interleukin-1 Antagonist

Summary

Aim: To investigate the therapeutic potential of IL-1Ra in type 2 diabetes. Rationale: Since the major defect leading to a decrease in b-cell mass in type 2 diabetes is increased apoptosis, therapeutic approaches designed to arrest apoptosis could be a significant new development in its management. This approach might actually reverse the disease to a degree rather than just palliate glycemia. Based on current thinking, treatment with IL-1Ra appears as a promising approach. The prospected effect is blocking of the IL-1b-mediated glucotoxicity and thereby to prevent the decline in b-cell mass, together with a rapid restoration of b-cell function. FDA approval for IL-1Ra in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis occurred based on a favourable tolerability profile.

Timeline

Start

2004-04

Primary completion

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Completion

2006-03

Outcome

Met primary endpoint

paper At 13 weeks, in the anakinra group, the glycated hemoglobin level was 0.46 percentage point lower than in the placebo group (P=0.03); PMID 17429083 ↗

Publications

• de Baat A, Trinh B, Ellingsgaard H, Donath MY. Physiological role of cytokines in the regulation of mammalian metabolism. Trends Immunol. 2023 Aug;44(8):613-627. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2023.06.002. Epub 2023 Jul 7.
• Larsen CM, Faulenbach M, Vaag A, Volund A, Ehses JA, Seifert B, Mandrup-Poulsen T, Donath MY. Interleukin-1-receptor antagonist in type 2 diabetes mellitus. N Engl J Med. 2007 Apr 12;356(15):1517-26. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa065213.

Drugs

Indications