11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 as a therapeutic target for metabolic diseases

11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (11βHSD1) is a therapeutic target for Type 2 diabetes that has stimulated the interest of many pharmaceutical companies. Mounting evidence obtained from both preclinical and clinical studies support the contention that inhibiting 11βHSD1 will have a therapeutic benefit by lowering glucose output and increasing insulin sensitivity. In just over two years, 21 applications containing 11βHSD1 inhibitors have been published. In this review, the target rationale and patent applications from Merck, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Sterix, Biovitrum, Janssen and Novartis will be discussed.