Use of a peptide

Abstract

The invention employs GLP-1 (7-37), GLP-1(7-36)amide, and certain related compounds in combination with an oral hypoglycaemic agent for treating diabetes mellitus.

1 . A method for treating type 2 diabetes, said method comprising administering to a patient in need of said treatment an effective amount of an oral hypoglycemic agent which acts on the ATP-dependent potassium channel of beta cells and an effective amount of a an insulinotropic GLP-1 related peptide, where said insulinotropic GLP-1 related peptide is GLP-1 (7-37), GLP-1 (7-36) amide, an analogue of GLP-1 (7-37) or GLP-1 (7-36) amide, or a functional derivative thereof of any of the foregoing.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said insulinotronic GLP-1 related peptide is GLP-1 (7-36) amide.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said insulinotropic GLP-1 related peptide is an analogue of GLP-1 (7-37).  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said analogue of GLP-1 (7-37) has one amino acid of GLP-1 (7-37) exchanged by another amino acid.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said insulinotropic GLP-1 related peptide is a functional derivative of an analogue of GLP-1 (7-37).  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said analogue of GLP-1 (7-37) has one amino acid of GLP-1(7-37) exchanged by another amino acid.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said oral hypoglycemic agent is a sulfonylurea.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sulfonylurea is selected from the group consisting of tolbutamide, glibenclamide, glipizide and gliclazide.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said oral hypoglycemic agent is (S)-(+)-2-ethoxy-4-[2-[[3-methyl-1-[2-(1-piperidinyl)phenyl]butyl]-amino]-2-oxoethyl]benzoic acid.