AZ hopes diabetes drug could be as effective as gastric band

AstraZeneca is preparing an assault on the growing market for GLP-1-class diabetes drugs with a dual action molecule that the firm hopes could be as effective as a gastric band – and may even have potential in the lucrative market to treat “fatty liver” disease nicknamed NASH. In an interview with pharmaphorum, Ludovic Helfgott, AstraZeneca’s vice-president for cardiovascular, renal and metabolism, highlighted encouraging mid-stage data from MEDI0382, a potential first-in-class dual action drug that activates both GLP-1 and glucagon receptors critical for metabolic function.