Preclinical Studies of the Mechanism for defective cholesterol transport in Diabetes patients

Great news here re: cholesterol control for patients with diabetes. Good on you guys at Synvista Therapeutics Inc. for some great research.

Article source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/87758.php

"Synvista Collaboration Demonstrates In Preclinical Studies The Mechanism For Defective Cholesterol Transport In ...

Synvista Therapeutics, Inc. (Amex: SYI) announced results of a series of preclinical studies designed to explain the mechanism underlying dysfunctional high density lipoprotein (HDL), that creates a defect in reverse cholesterol transport in patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The studies reveal that a common blood protein, Haptoglobin, binds to the core of HDL and that a defective Haptoglobin variant (Hp2-2), found in 40% of the population, may induce dysfunctionality in HDL. Further, the studies report that exposure to Vitamin E can restore HDL functionality and the process of reverse cholesterol transport. The study is being presented today at the American Heart Association's (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2007 in Orlando, Florida.

"We are very pleased with the outcome of these studies, as we believe they provide scientific rationale for our current development platform, including our work developing a diagnostic test for Haptoglobin type, to determine cardiovascular risk and a therapeutic product to decrease HDL oxidation and restore reverse cholesterol transport function," said Noah Berkowitz, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Synvista."