Rosiglitazone is an anti-diabetic drug from the thiazolidinedione class. It is being marketed as Avandia by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, both as a standalone preparation and in combination with metformin (Avandamet). Another combination drug approved by the FDA is Avandaryl (with glimepiride).
Like other thiazolidinediones, its mechanism of action is by activation of the intracellular receptor class of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), specifically PPARγ. Rosiglitazone is a selective ligand of PPARγ, and has no PPARα-binding action. Apart from its effect on insulin resistance, it appears to have an anti-inflammatory effect: nuclear factor kappa-B (NFκB) levels fall and inhibitor (IκB) levels increase in patients on rosiglitazone.
Recent research has indicated that Rosiglitazone may be of benefit to a subset of sufferers of Alzheimer's disease expressing the ApoE4 allelle. This is the subject of a clinical trial currently underway by GlaxoSmithKline.
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