Over the years, we’ve seen a number of treatments to help fight back against diabetes. However, a new drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could have some interesting effects for the future.
Per this report from CNN Health, the newly approved Tirzepatide, sold under the brand name Mounjaro, went through various testing phases for people without diabetes, including doses from 5 to 15 milligrams. Dr. Ania Jastreboff, co-director for the Yale Center for Weight Management, reported some startling results from it.
“Almost 40 percent of individuals lost a quarter of their body weight,” going as far as 52 pounds with some subjects, according to Jastreboff.
Granted, by comparison, studies with people who did have diabetes lost slightly less, around 15 percent of their starting body weight. However, it appears that Tirzepatide could have some long-term effects for those trying to fend off diabetes. The only real question is how they’ll hold up beyond the starting stage.
Joining us now is Rodney Varner, who serves as chairman, president, and CEO for Genprex, a company that specializes in developing life-changing gene therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes through innovative science.
Q&A:
- As a co-founder of Genprex, you obviously have an extensive amount of knowledge surrounding medical science. What would your first impressions of Tirzepatide’s effects be?
- Do you think it can serve as something to help those with diabetes? Or do you want to see what secondary effects come from this drug first?
- There’s been some talk about how some “wonder drugs” don’t live up to the hype, especially when it comes to fighting against greater diseases. What’s your take on these in general?
- What kind of innovative science does Genprex deal with when it comes to patients with diabetes and cancer?
- Where would you like to see medical research go in the years ahead with diabetes and cancer? Are Jastreboff and her team on the right track, or is there somewhere further they can go?
- For those interested, where can we learn more about Genprex?
- You can visit the official website at http://www.genprex.com.
About Rodney Varner:
Rodney Varner is a co-founder of Genprex and has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer, and Secretary, and as Chairman of our board of directors since August 2012. Mr. Varner served as a partner of the law firm Wilson & Varner, LLP, since 1991. Mr. Varner has more than thirty-five years of legal experience with large and small law firms and as outside general counsel of a Nasdaq-listed company. Mr. Varner has represented for-profit and non-profit companies at the board of directors or senior management levels in a wide variety of contractual, business, tax, and securities matters, including technology transfers, licensing, collaboration and research agreements, clinical trial contracts, pharmaceutical and biologics manufacturing and process development contracts, state and federal grants, including NIH and SBA grants, corporate governance and fiduciary issues, and real estate matters. Mr. Varner served as counsel in company formation, mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, other business transactions, protection of trade secrets and other intellectual property, real estate, and business litigation. Mr. Varner is a member of the State Bar of Texas and has been admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States Tax Court. He has been a registered securities representative and founder of a company that is a licensed securities broker-dealer. Mr. Varner received his BBA, with high honors, from Texas A&M University and his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law.
CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin 919-437-0001 jerry@specialguests.com
