Smart Insulin – A ray of hope for treating Type II Diabetes
These days Diabetes seems to be a very common condition faced by many, a disease in which there is too much sugar in the bloodstream. In medical terms, Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disorder in which body is unable to process glucose properly leading to increased blood glucose levels. There are primarily two types of diabetes type I and type II.
In type I diabetes, body is unable to produce any insulin and patients have to depend on artificial insulin. Type II diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, in which body produces insulin but cells are unable to utilize it properly, thus resulting in insulin resistance. Type II diabetes is usually treated by monitoring and controlling blood glucose levels with the help of diet, exercise, weight loss, medications and sometimes insulin.
For someone with Type II diabetes, Smart insulin can be an extremely promising treatment option. Smart insulin, also known as glucose responsive insulin (GRI), automatically reacts to changing blood glucose levels of the body, providing strong control for fluctuating glucose levels. Thus, when the blood sugar levels are high, more insulin is released, while for lower blood glucose level, less insulin is released. Currently, the research on smart insulin is at an early stage and needs to be tested on human beings for its utilization as treatment option for diabetes.
Advantages of Smart Insulin:
- Provides perfect glucose control: Smart insulin is designed to maintain blood glucose levels automatically as per fluctuations in blood glucose levels. It stays inert until body needs it and start to release as blood glucose rises. As glucose level becomes normal, insulin release stops until it is needed again. This was it maintains blood glucose at a required level.
- Needs to be administered once in a day: The smart insulin dosages are being designed in the form of pills, capsules or patch in order to cover needs of diabetic patient for one day. This saves patients with higher blood glucose from taking multiple dosages throughout the day.
- Prevents hypoglycaemia: One of the most common side effects of insulin therapy is hypoglycaemia, i.e. dropping of blood glucose level below normal. Smart insulin prevents hypoglycaemia by maintaining proper insulin levels throughout the day.
- Prevents bums or swellings after injection: Smart insulin is under development and various forms are being tested in pre-clinical studies, including patches, tablets, capsules, etc. These forms can help prevent frequent swelling after administration of injection during insulin therapy.
A brief history and evolution:
The smart insulin was first discovered in the late 70s, but all efforts were failed due to body’s immune response. In 2003, SmartCells Inc. started smart insulin development project and soon got funding from JDRF to develop smart insulin for the eradication of type I diabetes in the U.K. However, in 2011, Merck, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, acquired SmartCells Inc. in order to develop smart insulin pill. In 2014, Merck began first phase-I human trial for their molecule MK-2640 insulin, but in 2016 the Merck trial was terminated for lack of efficacy. MK-2640 was the first smart insulin to be tested on humans.
Several pharmaceutical companies and diabetes organizations have invested in the development of smart insulin therapy. The different forms of smart insulin being tested include patch, cells, tablets and gels.
JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Ltd.), a diabetes organization in U.K. is committed to eradicate type I diabetes in U.K. JDRF actively supports research on smart insulin and is currently funding nine projects based on the same worldwide.
JDRF is currently funding Professor John Fossey’s laboratory-based project at the University of Birmingham in U.K. The research is focused on the development of special encapsulating material for insulin which could be released as per body’s blood glucose levels.
JDRF and Sanofi, a global pharmaceutical company have entered into agreement with four research organizations to support the development of smart insulin, in order to provide better treatment option for patients suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes.
Some recent developments:
In 2019, UCLA (The University of California, Los Angeles) developed smart insulin called i-insulin, in order to reduce the complications of diabetes treatment and has tested successfully in mice. But pre-clinical studies and clinical testing on human beings will be needed before the product is available for commercial use.
In August 2018, Novo Nordisk, Danish pharmaceutical company acquired the UK biotech Ziylo, in order to utilize its technology for the development of smart insulin treatment for diabetic patients. They aim to provide safer diabetes treatments in order to mitigate side effects of insulin therapy and design suitable dosage form to be taken once in a day.
In 2016, Eli Lilly and Company acquired Glycostasis, Inc., a Seattle-based start-up, in order to develop smart insulin.
While at this stage smart insulin development is at a pre-clinical stage and requires extensive trials before it is available for commercial use, many of us might just wait with fingers crossed as smart insulin could provide a better and convenient treatment options for the management of type II diabetes and prevent the potential side effects of insulin therapy.
