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| Oral Insulin - US Research Confirms Apollo is on the Right Track |
Insulin in tablet form | Scientists at Syracuse University in New York have developed a method of delivering oral insulin that confirms Apollo is on the right track in developing a tablet that could treat diabetes.
The scientists at Syracuse University developed a way to bind an insulin molecule to a vitamin B-12 molecule, so it can pass through the body's gastrointestinal system and into the bloodstream intact.
According to Dr Gavin Dixon, Apollo's Director of Intellectual Property, the US research shows that Apollo is on the right track in its development of an oral form of insulin. "Our Oradel™ technology also protects the insulin from enzymatic degradation in the gut as well as using vitamin B12 to actively promote transport of the drug into the bloodstream," he said.
"Apollo’s technology is well down the track. We can already deliver large enough doses of insulin to reduce blood glucose levels into the normal range in diabetic rats. Our approach allows vitamin B12 molecules to carry an effective insulin dose, made up of multiple insulin molecules, through the stomach lining in a nanoparticle 'satchel'."
Developing a non-invasive way to take insulin has been a major goal for the treatment of diabetes. Taking ordinary insulin by mouth doesn't work because it is destroyed as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract and never makes it to the bloodstream.
The possibility of having an oral insulin medication has well recognised benefits for people with diabetes because of the drawbacks involved with multiple injections every day.
Dr Dixon said that this latest research is affirmation that Apollo’s investigations into the development of an insulin tablet that can travel through the gut and into the bloodstream remains a realistic goal.
"One of Apollo’s major goals is to treat diabetes with tablets instead of needles," said Mr Priest, Apollo’s CEO. |
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