Repurposed cancer drug could treat diabetes by nudging pancreatic acinar cells to produce insulin.

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh has found that a repurposed cancer drug could potentially treat diabetes by stimulating pancreatic acinar cells to produce insulin. The researchers discovered this unexpected result while studying the role of an enzyme called focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in pancreatic cancer. The drug, which inhibits FAK, was shown to convert acinar cells into acinar-derived insulin-producing (ADIP) cells in diabetic mice and a non-human primate, leading to improved blood glucose regulation. The findings suggest that FAK inhibitors could be a promising alternative to insulin therapy for diabetic patients. Further research is being conducted to explore the long-term effects and potential clinical applications of this treatment. [Extracted from the article]

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