Research reveals potential ‘two-in-one’ treatment for diabetes and heart disease

A new experimental drug called IC7Fc could help treat both diabetes and heart disease by lowering cholesterol and reducing inflammation in the arteries, researchers have found.

In tests on mice prone to cardiovascular disease, the drug significantly reduced blood fats (triglycerides) and cholesterol while slowing the build-up of fatty deposits in arteries that can cause heart attacks and strokes.

Building on earlier studies showing IC7Fc’s benefits for type 2 diabetes, the international research suggests the treatment may target both metabolic and cardiovascular disease.

The work was led by Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, in collaboration with Monash University and other institutions.

IC7Fc works by reducing atherosclerosis — the narrowing and hardening of arteries caused by fatty plaque build-up.

This process limits blood flow to vital organs and is a major cause of cardiovascular events.

Professor Mark Febbraio from the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences said: “Our earlier studies showed IC7Fc could help manage type 2 diabetes, a metabolic disease.

“This new research shows it can also reduce atherosclerosis, meaning it slows the ‘clogging’ of the arteries, where fatty deposits build up and restrict blood flow to the heart,” said

“Heart disease remains the world’s biggest killer, driven largely by atherosclerosis. Even with common treatments that lower blood pressure and cholesterol, many people are still at risk, showing there’s more work to do.”

Earlier studies found IC7Fc reduced appetite and body fat in obese mice.

However, in this new study using lean mice prone to high cholesterol and artery disease, the drug did not affect body weight or food intake.

This suggests IC7Fc’s weight-loss effects may mainly apply to obesity, while its heart-protective benefits — such as reducing cholesterol build-up in arteries — could also help lean individuals.

The findings highlight the drug’s potential as a versatile treatment and the need for further research in humans.

“These results suggest IC7Fc could offer a dual benefit — helping reduce obesity in some, while protecting the heart in others,” Professor Febbraio said.

“It’s an exciting step towards a treatment that targets both metabolic and cardiovascular disease.”

Professor Febbraio has been central to the discovery and long-term research into IC7Fc as a potential treatment for metabolic diseases.

The research team is now planning human trials to test whether the same benefits can be replicated in patients.