New Research May Lead To Oral Insulin, UK

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 12 Sep 2007 - 12:00 PST

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A significant step toward the development of oral insulin has been taken by researchers from the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, offering hope to diabetes patients who dread injections.

The research, presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester, shows that insulin can be protected in a chemical coating which is a key step to ensuring it is not broken down and rendered useless before entering the blood stream.

Supported by the Cunningham Trust, the research has now shown that insulin can be protected by a chemical coating (known as a novel polymer) synthesised in the laboratory that encapsulates the insulin. The coating means that insulin is protected from enzyme breakdown.

Insulin is a hormone, or protein, that plays an essential role in the regulation of carbohydrates. It is also used as a medicine to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and is usually delivered to the body by injection.

Dr Colin Thompson, Research Fellow, working under the supervision of Dr Woei Ping Cheng, at the university's School of Pharmacy, said: "We have been working on developing an oral insulin because studies show that a great many people with diabetes fear injections. Being able to take insulin orally would have a significant impact on the lives of many of these patients - not just eliminating the need for injections, but also offering a much more convenient form of treatment."

Research also shows that a fair proportion of GPs delay initiating insulin treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes because they sometimes wrongly assume that patients will want to avoid this course of treatment because they dislike or fear the injections.1 Though taking insulin in a capsule is, in theory, more desirable than injecting insulin, there are a number of hurdles researchers need to overcome to claim that oral insulin is feasible as an alternative to injections.

Dr Thompson explains: "One of the key obstacles is that if insulin is swallowed without any kind of protection from enzymes in the gut, it will be broken down before the insulin has a chance to circulate in the blood and have the desired effect on blood glucose levels.

"Further testing of this complex is needed to determine its suitability as an insulin delivery system - a goal that is some years away. However, our research is taking us a significant step forward towards this important goal and offering hope to people who are living with diabetes."

The British Pharmaceutical Conference - entitled "The medicines maze: balancing risks and benefits" - takes place from 10th to 12th September, 2007, at Manchester Central (formerly Manchester International Convention Centre). The theme of BPC 2007 is reflected throughout the programme, with keynote speeches and workshops addressing crucial technical and professional issues that are facing pharmacy today. The conference will showcase the latest developments in pharmaceutical science and practice research and include discussion and debate led by expert speakers.

References

1. Nakar S, Yitzhaki G, Rosenberg R, Vinker S. Transition to insulin in Type 2 diabetes: family physicians' misconception of patients' fears contributes to existing barriers. J Diabetes Complications 2007;21(4):220-6.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain