NEW YORK: Researchers at New York-based NYU Langone Health have identified a new drug compound that could help prevent some of the most serious complications linked to diabetes, according to findings published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology.
The compound, known as RAGE406R, reduced inflammation, limited cell damage and improved organ recovery in laboratory and animal studies, the researchers said.
Tests in mice also showed faster wound healing, a major concern for people living with diabetes.
Unlike most existing diabetes medicines, which focus on lowering blood sugar, RAGE406R targets damage inside the body’s cells, the researchers explained.
The drug works by blocking the interaction between two proteins, RAGE and DIAPH1. These proteins play a key role in driving inflammation and tissue damage associated with diabetes.
The study was featured on the cover of Cell Chemical Biology.
How diabetes causes long-term damage
Diabetes can lead to complications such as kidney failure, heart disease and chronic wounds that heal slowly.
Scientists say many of these problems are linked to molecules known as advanced glycation end products, or AGEs.
AGEs form when sugars bind to proteins or fats in the body, a process that occurs more frequently in people with diabetes.
When AGEs accumulate, they attach to the RAGE protein, triggering inflammation and tissue injury.
DIAPH1 connects to the internal portion of RAGE and helps strengthen this harmful signalling process, worsening cellular damage.
Laboratory studies
In laboratory experiments and tests on mice, RAGE406R successfully reduced inflammation and limited damage linked to diabetes, the researchers said.
When applied to the skin of mice with Type 2 diabetes, the compound significantly improved wound healing.
Chronic, non-healing wounds are a common and dangerous complication for diabetes patients and can lead to severe infections or amputations.
The researchers cautioned that the work remains at an early stage and that further studies, including trials in humans, are required.
If future testing is successful, RAGE406R could offer a new treatment option for people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes by protecting organs and tissues rather than only controlling blood sugar.
