POXEL SAÂ (Euronext: POXEL - FR0012432516), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative treatments for metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), today announced the initiation of DESTINY 1 (Deuterium-stabilized R-pioglitazone (PXL065) Efficacy and Safety Trial In NASH), the single dose-ranging Phase 2 trial evaluating PXL065 for the treatment of NASH. PXL065 is a novel, proprietary deuterium-stabilized R-stereoisomer of pioglitazone.
Science ignored the presence of the heavy hydrogen, deuterium (D) in living organisms for 60 years since its discovery by Harold C. Urey in the early 30’s, despite the fact, that the concentration of deuterium is 6-time higher than that of the normal blood calcium level. Recently, the pharma industry recognized the potential in the strategic replacement of hydrogen atoms in therapeutics with deuterium, which can positively influence efficacy and side effect profiles of drugs. Replacement of hydrogen with deuterium in drug molecules can lead to significant alterations in their metabolism and thereby causes beneficial changes in the biological effects of drugs, such as their pharmacokinetics by decreasing their rate of metabolism allowing less frequent dosing.