Additional pancreatic β-cell hormones, designated by Protemix as EN122001 and EN122002, have been identified and are the subject of pending patent applications owned by Protemix.

EN122001 increases insulin secretion in a manner unlike any other β-cell hormone. Protemix speculates that a defect in the production or action of EN122001 may contribute to the defective glucose-mediated insulin secretion in people with Type 2 diabetes, suggesting that EN122001 or its agonists could have a therapeutic role in this disease.

EN122002 has an insulin-like structure and recent Protemix research has shown that it has insulin-like activity in skeletal muscle. Protemix has conducted structural analyses that suggest that EN122002 may act to protect islet β-cells from apoptosis and that it may act as an islet β-cell-specific growth factor.

Protemix believes that EN122001 and EN122002, administered alone or in combination, may offer an attractive alternative means of controlling hyperglycemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes.