Oramed, a Jerusalem, Israel firm has developed a tablet form of insulin in which the hormone’s protein structure is supposedly protected by special adjuvants from destruction by gastric juice. The firm just reported positive results from a Phase 2A clinical trial with Type I diabetics.
From the announcement:
The completion of this study marks Oramed’s first clinical trial on patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, whereas, all Oramed’s trials up to date have been conducted on type 2 diabetic patients. This study evaluated safety, tolerability, and food effects in type 1 diabetic patients.
Oramed’s oral insulin capsule, (ORMD-0801), was well tolerated by patients and no serious adverse events were observed. The insulin absorption was not affected when given before meal ingestion.
Currently, Oramed is conducting its Phase 2B clinical trial in South Africa, in which the company is evaluating the effects of ORMD-0801 on type 2 diabetic patients.
Read more in the press release: Oramed Pharmaceuticals Reports Positive Results from a Study of Oral Insulin Capsule on Type 1 Diabetic Patients…
Product page: Oral Insulin Capsule…
(hat tip: Globes Online)
Image: Wikipedia: Computer-generated image of six insulin molecules assembled in a hexamer, highlighting the threefold symmetry, the zinc ions holding it together, and the histidine residues involved in zinc binding.