Taspoglutide

Taspoglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist (GLP-1 agonist) that was under development for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. It was developed by Ipsen and Roche, but its development was discontinued in 2011 due to adverse side effects.

History[edit | edit source]

Taspoglutide was first developed by the French pharmaceutical company Ipsen. In 2006, Ipsen entered into a partnership with the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche to further develop and commercialize the drug. However, in 2011, Roche discontinued the development of Taspoglutide due to adverse side effects observed in phase III clinical trials.

Mechanism of Action[edit | edit source]

As a GLP-1 agonist, Taspoglutide works by mimicking the effects of the natural hormone glucagon-like peptide-1. This hormone is released in response to food intake and works to lower blood glucose levels by stimulating insulin secretion and inhibiting glucagon secretion. By mimicking this hormone, Taspoglutide helps to regulate blood glucose levels in individuals with Type 2 diabetes.

Clinical Trials[edit | edit source]

Taspoglutide underwent several phases of clinical trials. In phase II trials, it was found to be effective in reducing blood glucose levels and promoting weight loss in individuals with Type 2 diabetes. However, in phase III trials, a significant number of participants experienced severe gastrointestinal side effects, leading to the discontinuation of the drug's development.

Side Effects[edit | edit source]

The most common side effects observed in clinical trials of Taspoglutide were gastrointestinal in nature. These included nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In some cases, these side effects were severe enough to lead to discontinuation of the drug.