Hasan Alsaid1, Weike Bao2, Thimmaiah Chendrimada2, Matthew Szapacs3, David R. Citerone3, Mark R. Harpel2, Robert N. Willette2, John J. Lepore2, Beat M. Jucker1
1Preclinical & Translational Imaging, GlaxoSmithKline, King of Prussia, PA, United States; 2Heart Failure DPU, GlaxoSmithKline, King of Prussia, PA, United States; 3Platform Technology and Science, GlaxoSmithKline, King of Prussia, PA, United States
Albiglutide is a novel GLP-1 analog in clinical development for Type 2 diabetes. In the present study, albiglutide was shown to reduce myocardial infarct size and improved post-ischemic cardiac function and energetics by combined in vivo MRI/MRS following myocardial I/R injury. The observed benefits were associated with enhanced myocardial glucose uptake and shift toward a more energetically favorable substrate metabolism profile by increasing both glucose and lactate oxidation as assessed by ex vivo MRS. These findings suggest that in addition to providing peripheral glycemic control, albiglutide may have direct therapeutic potential for improving cardiac energetic and function in the setting of myocardial ischemic injury.