RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 2, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DARA BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:DARA), a development-stage pharmaceutical company, announced the completion of all toxicology studies necessary for entering Phase 1 clinical trials for its PPAR-delta/gamma agonist, DB959. DB959 is a novel insulin sensitizer designed to correct the insulin resistance of Type 2 diabetes. In pre-clinical studies, the drug has demonstrated potent PPAR-delta activity, which the Company believes will be beneficial in treating cholesterol and lipoprotein abnormalities in diabetics. DB959 has also demonstrated two additional benefits in pre-clinical studies: (i) a significant reduction in weight gain of approximately 70% compared to Avandia(r), and (ii) synergistic effects on insulin sensitivity arising from both PPAR delta and PPAR gamma activity.
