ZT-01 glucagon-response restorer
Zucara Therapeutics
A once-daily investigational therapy intended to restore the body's own glucagon counter-regulation during hypoglycemia by blocking pancreatic somatostatin receptor 2. Phase 2 ZONE is testing nocturnal hypoglycemia prevention in T1D.
The scorecard
A phase 1b clamp study showed increased glucagon response during hypoglycemia; phase 2 is testing nocturnal hypo frequency.[4]
The goal is fewer lows rather than higher TIR; phase 2 will show whether hypoglycemia prevention improves usable glucose range.[3]
ZT-01 is not an automated delivery system; it supports counter-regulation rather than dosing decisions.[1]
Zucara describes a once-daily therapeutic, less burdensome than carrying/using rescue glucagon, but still investigational.[2]
As with AID systems, glycemic criteria reflect the levels achieved in real-world or trial Type 1 use rather than the improvement over baseline, and Type 2 diabetes data is not used to score a Type 1 system.
The full picture
ZT-01 is not a bihormonal pump, but it belongs near the bihormonal frontier because it tries to give back the missing second-hormone defense against lows. In type 1 diabetes, glucagon release during hypoglycemia is often blunted. ZT-01 blocks somatostatin receptor 2 in the pancreas, aiming to let endogenous glucagon rise when glucose falls. If phase 2 shows fewer nocturnal lows, it could complement AID systems rather than replace them.
Coming soon
ETA · Phase 2a ZONE recruiting; completion estimated 2027
Sources
- [1]Zucara Therapeutics — ZT-01 product overview · manufacturer
- [2]Zucara Therapeutics — about ZT-01 and somatostatin receptor 2 · manufacturer
- [3]ZT-01 nocturnal hypoglycemia phase 2a trial (NCT05762107) · registry
- [4]Evaluating the effectiveness of a novel somatostatin receptor 2 antagonist to restore glucagon response in T1D · peer-reviewed · 2024-03-01
- [5]Zucara doses first patient in phase 2a ZONE trial · manufacturer · 2023-09-25