Albiglutide, a Long Lasting Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist, Protects the Rat Heart Against Ischemia/reperfusion Injury: Evidence for Improving Cardiac Metabolic Efficiency

Hasan Alsaid¹, Weike Bao², Thimmaiah Chendrimada², Matthew Szapacs³, David R. Citerone³, Mark R. Harpel², Robert N. Willette², John J. Lepore², Beat M. Jucker¹

Albiglutide is a novel GLP-1 analog in clinical development for Type 2 diabetes. In the present study, albiglutide was shown to reduce myocardial infarct size and improved post-ischemic cardiac function and energetics by combined in vivo MRI/MRS following myocardial I/R injury. The observed benefits were associated with enhanced myocardial glucose uptake and shift toward a more energetically favorable substrate metabolism profile by increasing both glucose and lactate oxidation as assessed by ex vivo MRS. These findings suggest that in addition to providing peripheral glycemic control, albiglutide may have direct therapeutic potential for improving cardiac energetic and function in the setting of myocardial ischemic injury.