It's common sense that Circadian rhythms manifest at the molecular level, given the obviously different metabolic functions while awake versus when asleep. Now, a group has shown that one of the body's "clock genes" helps regulate the production of new glucose in the liver. The findings could be applied to the discovery of novel treatments for type 2 diabetes and because the mechanism may also regulate signaling activities in other cell types, potentially alter the course of other diseases.

Because glucagon raises blood glucose in the liver, it's counter-intuitive to think of it as the basis for a strategy to treat obesity and its associated consequences, including adult onset diabetes. But a research team has shown that a single-molecule "co-agonist" of glucagon and GLP-1 normalizes glucose tolerance and reduces body fat and weight in preclinical models. This molecular-level polypharmacy is particularly appealing in metabolic disease, where single mechanisms tend to offer only modest therapeutic effects.

Rotterdam-based Therosteon is developing therapeutics for bone diseases including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and bone metastasis using its OsteoBLAST drug discovery platform, developed by company founder and chief scientific officer, Hans van Leeuwen.