09.01.20
New study shows diabetes drug could prevent recurrent miscarriage
A pilot clinical trial led by the University of Warwick has found that an existing diabetes drug could be repurposed to prevent miscarriage.
A first-of-its-kind treatment to prevent recurrent miscarriage, by targeting the lining of the womb and reducing inflammation in early pregnancy, could be possible thanks to a new university study.
The treatment proved to increase the amount of stem cells in the lining of the womb, improving the conditions to support pregnancy.
The research was conducted with University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire and supported by the NIHR Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Research Facility and was published today (Jan 9) in the journal EBioMedicine.
The clinical study, funded by and held at Tommy’s National Miscarriage Research Centre, gave 38 women aged 18 to 42, who had experienced recurrent miscarriages, a course of the drug sitagliptin or a placebo for three menstrual cycles.
Before and after biopsies of the womb determined an average stem cell count increase of 68% in the women who received a full course of sitagliptin. Whereas women who received a placebo pill saw no significant increase.
Minimal side effects were recorded during the trial and a 50% decrease in the number of ‘stressed’ cells apparent in the lining of the womb, reducing the risk of placental bleeding and miscarriage.
Professor Jan Brosens, of Warwick Medical School and Consultant in Reproductive Health at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, said:
“There are currently very few effective treatments for miscarriage and this is the first that aims at normalising the womb before pregnancy. Although miscarriages can be caused by genetic errors in the embryo, an abnormal womb lining causes the loss of chromosomal normal pregnancies. We hope that this new treatment will prevent such losses and reduce both the physical and psychological burden of recurrent miscarriage.”
Researchers involved are now hoping to take the treatment to a large-scale clinical trial which, if successful, would be the first treatment targeted specifically at the lining of the womb to prevent miscarriages.