Dr. Daniel J. Drucker

INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Daniel Drucker’s lab is internationally renowned not only for his research, but as an environment where the clinical relevance of scientific breakthroughs is pursued. Discoveries in his lab have contributed to development of two new treatments for type 2 diabetes, and a treatment for Crohn’s disease is in late stage clinical testing. His research also shows tremendous promise for the treatment of obesity.

Dr. Drucker studies a family of hormones produced in the pancreas, gastrointestinal tract and brain. Controlling blood glucose and insulin secretion, these hormones regulate our appetite, the absorption of nutrients from the food we eat, and the conversion of those nutrients to energy. In his lab, Dr. Drucker develops and/or characterizes analogues – pharmaceutical compositions that mimic and enhance the ability of these naturally occurring hormones to regulate these functions. Since enhanced gut hormone action may be beneficial in diabetes, obesity and inflammatory bowel disorders, these analogues have real potential to lead to new and better treatments for diseases that afflict millions of people worldwide.

One discovery for example, has led to the development of two new drugs for the treatment of diabetes. These drugs control blood glucose and insulin secretion without weight gain or hypoglycemia – common side effects of previous treatments for diabetes. Another drug based on Dr. Drucker’s research is being clinically tested for the treatment of short bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease, and is simultaneously being tested as a therapy for other intestinal disorders. There is also considerable evidence that other gut hormones could be developed into a drug that would induce a satiety signal and thus a treatment for obesity.