First proof of pharmacology in humans of a novel glucagon receptor antisense drug

Fasting and postprandial hyperglucagonemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients cause excessive hepatic glucose production (HGP), suggesting that attenuation of hepatic glucagon action could be a therapeutic strategy for T2DM. In this study we evaluated the safety, tolerability, PK, and pharmacodynamics in healthy human volunteers of single and multiple doses (50-400 mg) ISIS 325568, a 2'-O-MOE antisense (ASO) developed to reduce hepatic glucagon receptor (GCGR) mRNA expression. In the multiple dose cohorts, treatment consisted of eight doses of ISIS 325568 or placebo over 6-weeks. Drug effects were assessed using serial fasting glucagon measurements and the glycemic response to a glucagon challenge at baseline and at the end of 6-week treatment. ISIS 325568 was not associated with clinically relevant changes. Dose-dependent predominantly mild injection site reactions were the most common side-effect. Active treatment caused a gradual increase in fasting glucagon levels and, compared to placebo, a significantly blunted glucagon-induced increase in plasma glucose AUC (24%, P  < 0.0001) and HGP (13%, P = 0.007) at the 400 mg/week dose. Six weeks treatment with ISIS 325568 in healthy volunteers attenuated glucagon-stimulated HGP and glucose excursions, supporting further evaluation of the GCGR antisense approach in patients with T2DM