ADA Official Weighs in on Hot Topics at Upcoming Meeting
ADA Official Weighs in on Hot Topics at Upcoming Meeting
June 23, 2011 (San Diego, California) — To be clear, David Kendall, MD, chief scientific officer of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), is not eager, or even particularly willing, to pick favorites at the ADA 71st Scientific Sessions, being held June 24 to 28. After all, his office was in charge of selecting presentations for this year's meeting. However, after a few minutes of conversation, the eagerness of the scientist sneaks past his overall objectivity, giving a few signs of where and when you might find him in the audience.
"The entire meeting is really focused on innovations in diabetes science and clinical care," said Dr. Kendall. "That's everything from basic understandings about how stem cells become insulin-producing cells, to the newest therapies, devices, and approaches to treatment."
Of particular note is the simultaneous publication in the Lancet of 5 studies presented at the meeting.
Among them, "probably of greatest interest as relates to current therapy is the Early ACTID [Activity in Diabetes] trial, which examines the role that diet and exercise play in enhancing the efficacy of diabetes medication." Diet and exercise are generally considered the first steps in early type 2 diabetes treatment, but this study suggests greater efficacy for the early combination of lifestyle change and medication," Dr. Kendall told Medscape Medical News.
Also to be published/presented is a follow-up from the multinational ADDITION-Europe (Anglo-Danish-Dutch Study of Intensive Treatment in People With Screen Detected Diabetes in Primary Care) trial. "This one looks at intensive — what we call multifactorial — treatment for glucose, lipids, blood pressure, and the like after early detection of diabetes," he said. It is hoped that this approach will stave off disease progression of type 2 diabetes after early detection through screening.
Though not singled out for mention by Dr. Kendall, the joint ADA/Lancet Symposium will also feature the presentation entitled Management of T2DM — New and Future Developments in Treatment.
In presentations about the mechanisms of the onset and potential control of type 2 diabetes, follow-up data for glucagon-like peptide-1-based therapies are on Dr. Kendall's radar, as are the SGLT-2 inhibitors (the potential first-in-class dapagliflozin) and early investigations of G-protein-coupled receptor agonists, such as PSN821.
Turning the focus to type 1 diabetes and the potential for a cure, "there's a series of reports. . . looking at early immunotherapies for type 1 diabetes," said Dr. Kendall. "The idea is to try to halt the progression of the immune attack on insulin-producing beta cells, while preserving some, if not all, of their native function."
A recurring symposium we have with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation will look at progress being made in the so-called closed-loop insulin delivery, he noted.
Dr. Kendall said that numerous studies will demonstrate that the battle for diabetes prevention is gaining steam. "There are a significant number of symposia featuring obesity, obesity treatment, and diabetes prevention. So, while we're a long way from winning the war on type 2 diabetes and obesity, I think we are clearly much further ahead in understanding what directions we can take and what things are most effective at this time."
Finally, Dr. Kendall himself will chair the late-breaker panel during the final session on the last day of the meeting, which, by saving some of the best for last, will keep ADA 2011 attendees in the meeting halls until the last possible moment.
Medscape Medical News will be providing coverage from the meeting.
Dr. Kendall has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
June 23, 2011 (San Diego, California) — To be clear, David Kendall, MD, chief scientific officer of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), is not eager, or even particularly willing, to pick favorites at the ADA 71st Scientific Sessions, being held June 24 to 28. After all, his office was in charge of selecting presentations for this year's meeting. However, after a few minutes of conversation, the eagerness of the scientist sneaks past his overall objectivity, giving a few signs of where and when you might find him in the audience.
"The entire meeting is really focused on innovations in diabetes science and clinical care," said Dr. Kendall. "That's everything from basic understandings about how stem cells become insulin-producing cells, to the newest therapies, devices, and approaches to treatment."
Of particular note is the simultaneous publication in the Lancet of 5 studies presented at the meeting.
Among them, "probably of greatest interest as relates to current therapy is the Early ACTID [Activity in Diabetes] trial, which examines the role that diet and exercise play in enhancing the efficacy of diabetes medication." Diet and exercise are generally considered the first steps in early type 2 diabetes treatment, but this study suggests greater efficacy for the early combination of lifestyle change and medication," Dr. Kendall told Medscape Medical News.
Also to be published/presented is a follow-up from the multinational ADDITION-Europe (Anglo-Danish-Dutch Study of Intensive Treatment in People With Screen Detected Diabetes in Primary Care) trial. "This one looks at intensive — what we call multifactorial — treatment for glucose, lipids, blood pressure, and the like after early detection of diabetes," he said. It is hoped that this approach will stave off disease progression of type 2 diabetes after early detection through screening.
Though not singled out for mention by Dr. Kendall, the joint ADA/Lancet Symposium will also feature the presentation entitled Management of T2DM — New and Future Developments in Treatment.
In presentations about the mechanisms of the onset and potential control of type 2 diabetes, follow-up data for glucagon-like peptide-1-based therapies are on Dr. Kendall's radar, as are the SGLT-2 inhibitors (the potential first-in-class dapagliflozin) and early investigations of G-protein-coupled receptor agonists, such as PSN821.
Turning the focus to type 1 diabetes and the potential for a cure, "there's a series of reports. . . looking at early immunotherapies for type 1 diabetes," said Dr. Kendall. "The idea is to try to halt the progression of the immune attack on insulin-producing beta cells, while preserving some, if not all, of their native function."
A recurring symposium we have with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation will look at progress being made in the so-called closed-loop insulin delivery, he noted.
Dr. Kendall said that numerous studies will demonstrate that the battle for diabetes prevention is gaining steam. "There are a significant number of symposia featuring obesity, obesity treatment, and diabetes prevention. So, while we're a long way from winning the war on type 2 diabetes and obesity, I think we are clearly much further ahead in understanding what directions we can take and what things are most effective at this time."
Finally, Dr. Kendall himself will chair the late-breaker panel during the final session on the last day of the meeting, which, by saving some of the best for last, will keep ADA 2011 attendees in the meeting halls until the last possible moment.
Medscape Medical News will be providing coverage from the meeting.
Dr. Kendall has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.