A plant based insulin on trial which could change the world for diabetics.
Insulin is the savior for serious and long term diabetics. But the pen delivered insulin often acts too rapidly causing hypoglycemia –extremely low blood sugar-, damaging body organs several ways and occasionally causing strokes and even death. Insulin pumps regulate better but are beyond the reach of most. For many, therefore a plant based insulin that is taken orally can be the answer. And it’s possibly going to be much cheaper. ( Medical News Today . 21/6/23)
The good news comes from researchers working at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine working on the project. This alternative contains all three essential peptides, shields insulin through plant cell walls, and regulates blood sugar levels similar to natural insulin, reducing hypoglycemia and other risks. It would revolutionize insulin therapy globally.
What is plant-based insulin?
Insulin pens work but also leads to a rapid absorption into the bloodstream which often drops blood sugar levels dramatically and quickly below the healthy level causing hyp+os.. Automated insulin pumps provide accurate doses but they are costly and only a fraction of diabetes patients worldwide can access them.
Machine produced insulin lacks one of the three peptides found in natural insulin. The plant based insulin developed by researchers includes all three peptides and can be taken orally. Gut microbes break the insulin down and then the released insulin is transported to the liver through the gut-liver axis.
Read: Diabetic patients to get free insulin at community clinics: PM Hasina
Clinical trials show that this insulin effectively regulates sugar levels within 15 minutes of ingestion like natural insulin. Traditional insulin given to the same lot of lab animals caused hypoglycemia.
A novel manufacturing process
The team of researchers had been working for some time on the project and believes its commercially viable. They first identified the human insulin genes and utilized a method known as a “gene gun” to break through the cell walls of the plants and introduce the genes. These insulin genes were then incorporated into the genome of the chosen plant, in this case, lettuce.
The plant seeds permanently inherited the insulin genes, and the mature lettuce plants were freeze-dried, ground, and prepared for oral administration in accordance with the regulatory guidelines set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says the study team.
The traditional method of insulin production involves cultivating the hormone within bacteria or yeast cells. This approach is costly and requires purification and temperature control for transportation and storage. The plant-based insulin production method eliminates the need for expensive laboratory equipment. And it remains stable at room temperature reducing costly, cold storage needs.
Clinical trials of plant-based insulin upcoming
In the case of humans, utilizing plant-based delivery methods for medications has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of diabetes and various other diseases.
Read: Diabetes patients to get free insulin in future: Health Minister
The research is not without precedent, as the FDA has already approved drugs made in plant cells for oral delivery such as peanut plant cells to treat allergies.
Improving global access to medicines
Dr. Henry Daniell, vice-chair and W.D. Miller, professor in the Department of Basic & Translational Sciences, the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine, and lead researcher of the study, highlighted the key findings to Medical News Today.
He emphasized the issues around insulin accessibility, noting that “around the globe, one-third of the population earns $2 per day, and insulin is beyond their reach.”
In addition, Dr. Daniell noted how this research “addresses the high cost of insulin,” pointing to previous studies about the high cost of insulin and how patients ration insulin due to the cost, risking their health and well-being.”
This could well be one of the biggest breakthroughs in insulin management since insulin itself was developed.
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