Targeted therapy for
metabolic disease
We are developing a novel, precision medicine for patients with treatment-resistant diabetes.
Leveraging underappreciated insights into the cellular biology of steroids, Sparrow is investigating the ability of our proprietary HSD-1 inhibitor, clofutriben (SPI-62), to treat diabetes caused or exacerbated by elevated cortisol.
Utilizing a completely novel approach, we believe SPI-47, a combination of clofutriben and prednisolone, can revolutionize the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory disease by delivering the life-changing therapeutic efficacy of glucocorticoid (steroid) medicines without the severe side effects on glycemic control and other metabolic processes.
New appreciation for the source of intracellular steroids…
…And how they’re regulated.
While most physicians focus on the level of steroids circulating in the bloodstream, we recognize active intracellular steroids as the main cause of metabolic toxicities.
The level of active intracellular steroids in key tissues is predominantly regulated by HSD-1. Recent studies have shown that inhibiting HSD-1 can significantly lower active intracellular steroids and mitigate their metabolic toxicities.
Introducing clofutriben and SPI-47: Both utilize a highly potent and selective HSD-1 inhibitor.
Clofutriben is an oral, small molecule therapeutic treatment for metabolic disease that reduces excess intracellular cortisol and thereby mitigates adverse effects in patients with elevated cortisol.
In development to treat the following conditions:
Treatment-resistant type 2 diabetes mellitus with elevated cortisol. Millions of patients with diabetes struggle to adequately control their blood sugar levels, leaving them exposed to dangerous health risks. New research suggests that many have undiagnosed elevated cortisol that is causing or exacerbating their disease, rendering it difficult to control with available antidiabetic medications, including injected insulin. The targeted agent clofutriben may be perfectly suited to improve glycemic control in these patients.
Endogenous Cushing’s syndrome (Cushing’s) is a rare endocrine disorder of severe cortisol excess, currently treated by therapies with serious side effects that limit their utility. Designed to target a major source of intracellular cortisol, clofutriben may be effective at treating Cushing’s with a stronger safety and tolerability profile.
Endogenous Cushing’s Syndrome (CS) →
Autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) is a prevalent, yet serious disorder resulting from moderate cortisol excess. Today, the only recommended treatment is surgery, which carries its own inherent risks. Clofutriben has the potential to become the first approved medical therapy for patients with ACS, providing a safer, more accessible option.
SPI-47 combines clofutriben with an efficacious steroid medicine to potentially relieve debilitating inflammation with fewer side effects.
In development to treat the following condition:
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is the most common autoimmune disease of the elderly, primarily treated by steroid medicines known to cause severe side effects. SPI-47 aims to achieve the same efficacy of steroid while mitigating their glycemic and other metabolic toxicities.
