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Scientists at NYU Langone Health have discovered a new experimental drug that could significantly reduce the serious complications caused by diabetes.
According to research conducted on mice, the drug named RAGE406R was found to reduce inflammation, limit cellular damage, and improve recovery in vital organs such as the heart and kidneys.
The study also showed that the drug accelerates wound healing, a major challenge faced by people with diabetes.
Researchers explained that RAGE406R works differently from existing diabetes medications.
Instead of lowering blood sugar levels, the drug focuses on preventing damage inside cells. It does this by blocking the interaction between two harmful proteins, RAGE and DIAPH1, which are known to worsen inflammation and tissue damage.
These proteins play a key role in the harmful effects of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs are formed when sugar binds with proteins or fats in the body, a process that increases in diabetes. When AGEs attach to the RAGE protein, they trigger inflammation and cellular injury, with DIAPH1 acting as a critical contributor to this process.
The study found that applying the drug directly to the skin of diabetic mice led to faster wound healing. This result suggests that the drug could be particularly useful in treating slow-healing wounds in diabetic patients.
The research has been published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology. Although the findings are still at an early stage and based on animal studies, experts describe the discovery as a significant step forward in diabetes treatment.
If future human trials are successful, RAGE406R could benefit both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients by reducing long-term complications rather than only controlling blood sugar levels.
