Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: “Challenging Science, Changing Lives”

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) Research Foundation is pleased to count Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as a partner in the mission to prevent and cure diabetes. 

“Challenging Science, Changing Lives” is the philosophy by which those at Amylin work.  Since 1987, Amylin has produced groundbreaking research and discoveries in the area of metabolic medicine, including diabetes and obesity.  Amylin is dedicated to helping the millions of people through drug therapies and long-term scientific development of novel drug therapies.

Named after the hormone amylin, which is produced by the same pancreatic beta cells that make insulin, Amylin has built a strong foundation on research.  Like the ADA Research Foundation, the Company is committed to research that improves the lives of people with diabetes. 

It is no surprise that these two mainstays in the diabetes research arena, Amylin and the ADA, have joined together to discover new diabetes treatment and therapies.  This year, Amylin and the ADA collaborated to fund the Amylin Pharmaceuticals Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award (DCSA), which is one of the most prestigious grants the ADA offers to a researcher. 

The DCSA supports an outstanding scientist who has made novel or watershed contributions to clinical diabetes research and who will continue to provide leadership in their research area.  Michael Jensen, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is currently funded through this impressive award.  His study, entitled Causes and Consequences of Upper Body Obesity, investigates the connection between upper body and visceral obesity and type 2 diabetes.

“With diabetes and obesity at pandemic proportions, there is a tremendous need for companies and individuals to support the ADA and its research,” states Alain D. Baron, M.D., Senior Vice President Research, Amylin.  21 million people now have diabetes, and the numbers continue to rapidly grow, fueled by an alarming increase in obesity.  “We can continue to take steps to prevent and treat these diseases with the help of the ADA.”

Despite these daunting numbers, Amylin remains optimistic that people with diabetes can lead a long and healthy life.  Generous donors like Amylin are integral to the success of the ADA and to the hope of finding a diabetes cure.  The need to locate additional prevention and treatment techniques is becoming more imperative each day.  Amylin’s gifts will make this possible. 

Like the ADA, Amylin’s core mission is to improve the lives of all those affected by diabetes and obesity.  “Like many at the ADA, a significant number of Amylin employees are closely connected to individuals whose lives are affected by diabetes.”  says David M. Kendall, M.D., Executive Director Medical Affairs, Amylin.  “The passion for challenging science and changing lives is fueled by these personal and professional connections to diabetes - and Amylin's collaboration with ADA is an opportunity to provide additional support the diabetes community in an important way.”