AZD1656

AZD1656 is a potent, selective, and orally active small molecule glucokinase activator developed originally by AstraZeneca. It acts by stimulating glucokinase activity in both the pancreas and liver, leading to increased insulin secretion and enhanced glucose uptake, thereby lowering blood glucose levels. The drug was primarily investigated for type 2 diabetes mellitus but has also been studied in other indications such as lymphomatous thyroiditis, preterm labour, renal failure, uveitis (all phase II), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (preclinical), and systemic lupus erythematosus (preclinical). Although it showed initial promise as an antihyperglycaemic agent with good tolerability and predictable pharmacokinetics in clinical trials involving nearly 1,000 subjects over up to six months of exposure[5][8], its long-term efficacy for diabetes was limited due to waning effect over time[5]. Development for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes has been discontinued[3]. The drug is now being developed by Conduit Pharmaceuticals under license from AstraZeneca to St George Street Capital[3].