Enhancing the quality of life for diabetics with oral insulin drops
With diabetes rates escalating, over 11.7 million Canadians currently live with diabetes or prediabetes. A team of researchers at UBC has developed a painless drug delivery method aimed at helping diabetic patients manage their condition more easily and maintain better health.
Innovative sublingual insulin drops
Dr. Simon Li and his team have created sublingual insulin drops that are rapidly and effectively absorbed under the tongue, presenting a potential alternative to traditional insulin injections. These drops not only contain insulin but are also formulated with a proprietary cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), which encapsulates the drug and facilitates its crossing of cell membranes, allowing it to enter the sublingual capillaries and subsequently the bloodstream.
The role of cell-penetrating peptides
Dr. Li, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences, explains that insulin is a delicate hormone that easily breaks down when ingested orally. It must reach the bloodstream quickly, but its large molecular size hinders this process. Here, the CPP, derived from fish products, provides a pathway that enables insulin to penetrate cell membranes.
Early clinical tests demonstrated that insulin combined with CPP successfully enters the bloodstream, while insulin without CPP remains trapped in oral tissues. Dr. Jiamin Wu, a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Li’s lab, notes, “Think of CPP as a guide, helping insulin navigate efficiently through the maze of cells to reach the bloodstream.”
The future of large molecule drug delivery platforms
In healthy individuals, the pancreas naturally secretes insulin to regulate blood sugar levels after meals. However, diabetic patients cannot produce sufficient insulin and require supplements. Uncontrolled blood sugar poses serious health risks, making it crucial for diabetics to monitor glucose levels and administer insulin as needed. While injections currently provide the fastest route to deliver insulin into the bloodstream, many patients require multiple daily injections, significantly impacting their quality of life. Over time, frequent injections can lead to complications, including damage to the eyes, kidneys, and nerves, with the potential risk of amputation in severe cases. Dr. Li states, “Over the past three years, my lab has concentrated on developing needle-free insulin alternatives. We explored nasal sprays but ultimately concluded that oral drops are the most convenient and user-friendly option. We hope these drops will create new possibilities for diabetes management, making treatment easier and improving long-term health outcomes.”
Exubera, an inhalable insulin product released in 2006, was quickly withdrawn from the market. Dr. Li’s goal is to achieve fast, painless insulin delivery with minimal side effects. This new needle-free technology also reduces the risks of cross-contamination, accidental needle sticks, infections, and improper disposal of used needles.
Reference : https://news.ubc.ca/2024/06/ubc-developed-oral-insulin-drops/
