Diabetes medicine that targets LRRC8 to prevent artery clots
Official title: Targeting LRRC8 signaling to prevent & treat arterial thrombosis in type 2 diabetes
Funded at Senseion Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11195122 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new diabetes medicine meant to lower blood sugar and reduce the risk of dangerous artery clots in people with type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Senseion Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,015,058 |
| NIH project number | 5R44HL169181-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11195122 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with type 2 diabetes who are at increased risk for cardiovascular events, such as those with prior heart attack, stroke, or significant atherosclerosis.
✕Less likely to help
People without type 2 diabetes, those with active bleeding or a high bleeding risk, or those already well controlled on existing therapies may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project is developing drug candidates that target a protein called LRRC8 with the goal of both improving blood sugar control and making platelets less likely to form dangerous clots. The team found human genetic signals linking LRRC8 to platelet function and has tested compounds derived from SN-401 in laboratory and mouse studies. The work is being done by a biotech company to select compounds that block clot formation without causing major bleeding. If successful, the program would move toward early human trials to check safety and clot-reduction in people with type 2 diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reduce heart attacks and strokes in people with type 2 diabetes while causing less bleeding than current antiplatelet drugs.
How similar studies have gone: Related diabetes drugs like SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists lower cardiovascular risk, but targeting LRRC8 for antiplatelet effects is novel and so far supported mainly by animal studies and human genetic links rather than completed patient trials.
Where this research is happening
-
Senseion Therapeutics, INC.
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lerner, Daniel J — Senseion Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Lerner, Daniel J
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.