BioCentury
ARTICLE | Distillery Therapeutics

Gastrointestinal

August 29, 2017 6:08 PM UTC

Patient sample and mouse studies suggest inhibiting DPP-4 could help treat colitis. In a mouse model of colitis, intracolonic administration of a peptide inhibitor of DPP-4 decreased macroscopic colon damage and ulcer scores, colonic wall thickness, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity -- a marker of colitis -- compared with no treatment. In another mouse model of colitis, intracolonic administration of the DPP-4 inhibitor decreased macroscopic colon damage and MPO activity and increased colon weight, colon length and body weight. Next steps could include testing marketed DPP-4 inhibitors in the models.

Merck & Co. Inc. and Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. market Januvia sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, to treat Type II diabetes...