The development of an oral insulin pill that is easy to take has advanced significantly, according to a group of Canadian experts. Their recent study shows that rats given that took a dissolvable pill appeared to absorb the insulin-like a conventional insulin shot, as reported first by Gizmodo.
If their research is successful, it might result in a less painful therapy for diabetic patients or serve as a cheaper treatment.
David Burns, 38, who has type 1 diabetes, holds a vial of insulin in his home in North London on February 24, 2019. - Diabetics and insulin providers in Britain are stockpiling their precious medicine to avoid potential shortages in case Britain leaves the European Union without a deal in just over month's time. Britain's 3.7 million diabetics, which include Prime Minister Theresa May, depend almost entirely on insulin imports from continental Europe.
Oral Intake of Insulin
Over a century has passed since insulin was originally identified and produced as a treatment for patients needing to control their blood sugar.
The fundamental process of administering insulin by direct injection remained the same during that time. Although auto-injectable pens are now available to make this process easier, these formulations can cause some discomfort and are frequently more expensive than other types of insulin, according to Gizmodo.
A more practical type of insulin, such as one administered orally, is one of the most coveted objectives in diabetic medicine. These attempts haven't been very successful up to this point, largely because our stomach acids break down ingested insulin before it gets to the liver.
However, experts at the University of British Columbia think they're now closer than ever to come up with a viable solution.
Read also: Insulin Delivery App Gets FDA Clearance for iOS and Android
New Insulin Tablet
Their version is a tablet that is inserted between the cheek and gums rather than a pill that can be swallowed.
When the tablet dissolves, the thin membrane along that area of the mouth may allow the insulin to bypass the stomach and completely reach the liver.
The experimental delivery mechanism appears to be operating as expected in their most recent tests on rats. The team's most current tablet research results were published in the journal Scientific Reports in June.
"Even after two hours of delivery, we did not find any insulin in the stomachs of the rats we tested. It was all in the liver and this is the ideal target for insulin-it's really what we wanted to see," lead author Yigong Guo said in a statement.
It is also worth noting that other insulin oral formulations are being developed, some of which have just entered human clinical trials.
However, the UBC team thinks that their formulation will operate more quickly than a shot of insulin, which may set it apart from other slower-absorbing tablets under development.
The UBC team's insulin solution needs additional information and financing to get to clinical trials and the general public. If the research is proven successful, it would benefit people living with diabetes.
Related Article: Diabetes Affects Millions Across the U.S., DreaMed Makes Treatment More Effective
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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
