ADA meeting hears news of XOMA's new classes of insulin receptor-regulating Ab and Vivus' Qnexa

US therapeutic antibody discovery firm XOMA (Nasdaq: XOMA) presented results from its discovery of two new classes of fully human monoclonal antibodies that activate or sensitize the insulin receptor in vivo, each representing a distinct new therapeutic approach to the treatment of patients with diabetes, at the American Diabetes Association 71st Scientific Sessions in San Diego.

Alterations in insulin signaling occur in type 2 diabetes and its precursor, metabolic syndrome, the company said, noting that highly specific human antibodies that activate or sensitize the insulin receptor offer new direct mechanisms for treating different aspects of the diabetes disease spectrum.

Insulin receptor-activating antibodies such as XOMA's XMetA antibody are designed to provide long-acting insulin-like activity to diabetic patients who cannot make sufficient insulin, potentially reducing the number of insulin injections needed to control their blood glucose levels. In contrast, insulin receptor-sensitizing antibodies such as XOMA's XMetS are designed to reduce insulin resistance and could enable diabetic patients to more effectively use their own insulin to control blood glucose levels.