93-LB: Discovery of ID110521156, a Small Molecule GLP-1 Receptor Agonist, for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity

Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonists are widely used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity by enhancing insulin release and suppressing appetite. Even semaglutide administrated orally has been developed, it still has limitation as a drug peptide, including high cost, less stability, and low bioavailability. This is the reason we aimed to discover a small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist can be orally bioavailable. ID110521156 showed direct binding to GLP-1 receptor in a surface plasmon resonance assay. Treatment of ID110521156 induced a dose-dependent increase of intracellular cAMP levels in the human GLP-1 receptor expressed CHO cells with similar maximal efficacy with GLP-1 (7-36) amide. Partial agonism on the recruitment of β-arrestin was observed, whereas there are no effects on intracellular calcium levels, mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation, and GLP-1 receptor internalization. Oral administration of ID110521156 demonstrated plasma glucose lowering and insulin secretion on intravenous glucose tolerance test using diabetic monkeys. In addition, we assured food intake reduction and body weight loss in a dose dependent manner by once daily dosing. Following oral administration, ID110521156 showed half-lives of 3.69-4.93 hours and bioavailability ranging 18-32% in normal cynomolgus monkeys. The no observed adverse effect level on the 28 days repeated dose toxicity study conducted in nonhuman primates was 100-fold margin with in vivo efficacy dose. ID110521156 demonstrated no liabilities when tested on a battery of safety pharmacology studies, including cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurobehavioral function assessment. No genotoxicity was observed on Ames, in vitro chromosomal aberration, and in vivo micronucleus test. From these nonclinical study results, ID110521156 might be considered as a potent candidate of small molecule selective GLP-1 receptor agonist to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.