JTT-251

JTT-251 is an orally administered small molecule drug that acts as a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDHK) inhibitor. By inhibiting PDHK, it activates the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, which plays a key role in carbohydrate metabolism and glucose homeostasis. This mechanism is intended to decrease blood glucose levels, making it potentially useful for treating metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and heart failure. The drug was initially developed by Japan Tobacco (Hong Kong) Ltd., with Akros Pharma involved in its development and clinical trials. Clinical development reached phase II for heart failure and pulmonary arterial hypertension, but all programs have since been discontinued[2][3][5].