Metabolic diseases drug discovery world summit. July 28-29, 2003, San Diego, CA, USA.

In Type 2 diabetes, glucose homeostasis is impaired due to either a decrease in insulin secretion or insulin action. In this symposium, molecular targets that could have an impact on either or both of these defects were discussed and data related to specific compounds were presented. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors that relieve the negative control on insulin action and are active in cell assays, dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors that raise postprandial glucagon-like peptide 1 levels in animals and humans, and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase inhibitors that increase the levels of pyruvate dehydrogenase, which in turn improve insulin sensitivity, were all discussed.