Glucokinase activators — a promising class of antidiabetic drugs

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is an urgent problem of the modern healthcare. Despite a wide choice of oral hypoglycemic drugs, today there is a great need to create and introduce into clinical practice new, effective, and safe drugs for the treatment of diabetes. One of the promising targets for the creation of new antidiabetics is a glucokinase. It has an exceptionally high influence on glucose homeostasis, serving as a glucose “sensor” in pancreatic β-cells and controlling the rate of glycogen synthesis in the liver. In the present work, the molecular-genetic structure of the enzyme, as well as its interrelation with the organs and tissues of the organism, is presented. The modern ideas about activators of glucokinase as a promising class of antidiabetic drugs are outlined, their hypoglycemic and general antidiabetic effects proved in preclinical and clinical studies are considered. The most advanced activators of glucokinase, undergoing clinical trials, are indicated.