Endocrine/Metabolic

Mouse studies suggest inhibiting IDO could help treat obesity. In a mouse model of high-fat diet-induced obesity, systemic IDO knockout decreased white adipose tissue (WAT), liver and body weights, lipid levels in the liver and plasma leptin levels and increased insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance compared with normal IDO expression. In the diet-induced model of obesity and a genetic mouse model of obesity, a tool compound IDO inhibitor increased insulin sensitivity compared with no treatment. Next steps include testing additional IDO inhibitors in animal models of metabolic diseases.

NewLink Genetics Corp. has the IDO inhibitor indoximod in Phase II testing to treat melanoma, pancreatic cancer and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), and Phase I testing to treat acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and brain cancer. NewLink also has NLG802, a prodrug of indoximod, in Phase I testing for solid tumors...