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Vancouver, BC – As diabetes rates continue to escalate, impacting 11.7 million Canadians either living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, a groundbreaking development at the University of British Columbia (UBC) promises a significant improvement in disease management. Scientists at UBC have innovated a pain-free drug delivery method, potentially revolutionizing how people with diabetes manage their health.
A Leap in Diabetes Care: Oral Insulin Drops
Researchers at the Li Lab have unveiled oral insulin drops designed for sublingual administration. This innovative approach enables rapid and efficient insulin absorption into the bloodstream, potentially obviating the need for traditional insulin injections. These drops combine insulin with a unique cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) developed by Dr. Shyh-Dar Li and his team.
A Peptide Guide: Navigating Insulin Delivery
“Insulin is a complex molecule,” explained Dr. Li, a professor in the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences at UBC. “In pill form, it’s easily destroyed in the stomach. Insulin also needs to be rapidly available in the blood, but as a large molecule, it cannot easily penetrate cells on its own.” The CPP, derived from fish byproducts, facilitates a pathway for insulin to cross cellular barriers.
Pre-clinical tests have demonstrated that insulin, when combined with the peptide, effectively reaches the bloodstream. Without the peptide, insulin remains trapped in the mouth’s lining.
“Think of it as a guide that helps insulin navigate through a maze to reach the bloodstream quickly. This guide finds the best routes, making it easier for insulin to get where it needs to go,” added Dr. Jiamin Wu, a postdoctoral researcher in the Li Lab.
Publications and Commercial Prospects
Details of this breakthrough have been documented in recent articles in the Journal of Controlled Release. The UBC team is actively seeking to license the technology to a commercial partner, paving the way for widespread availability.
Transforming Diabetes Management
Healthy individuals naturally regulate glucose through insulin produced by the pancreas. However, diabetes patients must rely on external insulin sources due to insufficient endogenous production. Unregulated glucose levels pose severe health risks, making regular insulin intake crucial.
While insulin injections remain the fastest delivery method, the necessity for multiple daily injections significantly impacts quality of life. Adherence to this regimen is challenging, leading to potential long-term complications such as eye, kidney, and nerve damage, which can result in limb amputations.
“My lab has been working on needle-free insulin alternatives these past three years,” Dr. Li stated. “We tried nasal sprays before landing on oral drops, which are easy and convenient. Hopefully, the oral drops open up a new possibility for diabetes patients — making it easier to take their medications and regulate their blood glucose to maintain their health in the long run.”
Overcoming Past Challenges
Previous attempts at non-invasive insulin delivery, including inhalable products like Exubera and Afrezza, were unsuccessful due to suboptimal effects and increased lung cancer risks, leading to their withdrawal. Dr. Li’s team aims to achieve rapid, pain-free insulin delivery without significant side effects. This new technology also minimizes risks associated with needle use, such as cross-contamination, accidental infections, and unsafe disposal.
A Promising Future
The development of oral insulin drops marks a significant advancement in diabetes care, offering a potential solution to improve adherence and quality of life for millions of patients. As UBC continues to push the boundaries of medical innovation, the future of diabetes management looks promising, with pain-free, efficient treatment options on the horizon.
