New briefs this week: An Australian company that makes “cosmeceuticals” is developing an insulin gel patch in collaboration with the Joslin Diabetes Center at Harvard Medical School. A Japanese company that makes synthetic fabrics is developing an insulin nasal spray with Hoshi University in Tokyo.
Hey, I don’t make this stuff up. As you well know, these kinds of headlines are either tantalizingly exciting, or disgustingly frustrating, depending on how long you’ve had the ‘betes and how much of a “glass-half-full” type of person you are.
Not only that, but the chances of these kinds of alternative insulin delivery methods actually 
replacing shots for people with type 1 (who need constant basal and flexible mealtime doses) is very slight indeed.
And after a while, these type of headlines seem like a bad joke, as they go round and round promising “the end of needles for people with diabetes.” NOT. Alternative insulin delivery has proven at least as tough a nut to crack as “non-invasive” glucose monitoring. See expert John Smith’s treatise on that here.
Still, what piqued my curiosity on this latest “insulin gel patch” announcement was the involvement of Joslin, the most respected name in diabetes care in this country. They wouldn’t study something silly and clearly unattainable, now would they?
The media reports:
“Trials conducted in two Melbourne hospitals have proved insulin can be delivered to the bloodstream via a gel rubbed on the skin…
And now this technology is to be applied to a slow-release patch, similar to nicotine patches.
Melbourne biotechnology company Phosphagenics, working with the Joslin Diabetes Center at Harvard Medical School, will conduct insulin patch trials in Australia and the US.”
According to this announcement, researchers have made some breakthrough in the size of insulin delivery molecules that allows them to better penetrate the skin (?)
Interestingly, the most recent info that I could find on the company Phosphagenics was an announcement they were slated to begin Phase 2 trials on type 1 patients in Spring of 2008.
The head of Phosphagenics appears confident that the gel will be effective for both type 1 and type 2 patients. But in that press release from last year, a doctor-spokesman from the national advocacy organization Diabetes Australia begs to differ: he says it is “unlikely insulin patches and gels would replace injections into the bloodstream, particularly for patients with type 1.”
Still, if the patches can successfully provide a “steady flow of (basal) insulin” through the skin, this would be revolutionary for millions of PWDs, no?
I just find it hard to believe that they’ll succeed. I’m reminded of many other headlines touting companies who claimed similar feats, such as a much-hyped product called U-Strip, whose company website seems to have gone “off the air.”
Even Valeritas, with their promising h-patch pump, has been very quiet of late.
Meanwhile, Diabetes Health magazine is covering Toray Industries’ new insulin nasal spray product. They’ve reportedly “developed a compound that, mixed with a peptide, successfully delivered insulin into animals’ bloodstreams.”
I’m not seeing this one making the successful leap to humans, either. Sorry. Reminds me again of similar attempts, like Nastech and Bentley Pharmaceuticals, to name a few.
In fact, I’m seeing more red than anything else reading all of these “no more needles” stories. Maybe I’m just jaded, but I don’t see this happening in my lifetime, certainly not for us type 1′s. Unless you know something I don’t know…
)
Sorry…I’m still waiting for the insulin suppository…..
Ugh. I can see needles and the fear factor being a big deal for some (especially type 2s), but to me needles are the least of my worries….
Bein’ picky — “peaked my curiosity” probably should have been “piqued my curiosity”.
I know, I need a life!
It sounds like a patch could be really helpful for type 2 and maybe a substitute for basal injections in type 1. But it certainly wouldn’t replace a pump or injections for meals/corrections.
And I’d much rather discreetly punch in a few numbers on my pump than sit in a restaurant with a nasal inhaler device. We don’t spend all our time in the privacy of our homes.
Thanks Bill. I’ve made the upgrade to ‘piqued’ — I’m an atrocious speller, to be honest (and yes, I had to look up ‘a⋅tro⋅cious’
)
RE: nasal insulin, what happens if it’s allergy season and you sneeze your insulin away? Just sayin’… “Oh great! There goes my bolus.” **sigh**
Like Ann- I think I’ll stick with my pump- I’m having a tough enough time w choosing a new pump, let alone adding INsulin Gel and or an Insulin Inhaler to my mix. BUT options are good and others might really appreciate it.
But can they get the dosing right?? Also, what about dead spots on the skin? If they no longer absorb with the pump, will dead spots be able to absorb the gel??
Kelly K
To Mark–As I suffer in Minnesota with one of the worst ragweed pollen seasons in recent years, I chuckled at your image of sneezing out my bolus. Thanks for the laugh.
I think the insulin nasal sprays have advanced further than you think but as I understand it, there is the worry about the effect on the lungs.
The best thing for Type 1s would be if the medical research people could resolve the underline autoimmune response and if you google Dr Denise Faustman at Harvard University, you may find her work lifts your mood. She is at the end of phase 1 human clinical trials to cure type 1, using BCG. Having read up anything I could on her work, I think she is amazing and am hopeful that as she goes on through the trials, the results will continue to be positive. This lady is on a mission and I’m so glad that she has chosen her mission to be improving the lot of people with type 1 diabetes.
Why does Mr. Diabetes Autralia guy reference insulin being injected into the bloodstream????????
I used to work for a couple of companies that make diabetes devices. I always used to tell them “It’s not the PAIN factor; it’s the pain-in-the-*ss factor!” I think it is all the non-diabetic marketers IMAGINING that non-invasive is what diabetics most want. If they really paid atention to their market research, I hazard to say that is is reduced vigilence with more predictable results….
Am I wrong?
How about a spray, like perfume, that you just walk through the mist and get your bolus that way???? I mean, what will “they” think of next?? lol…
I think the spare diabetes sufferers daily injections to lower blood sugar levels, it comes as drug makers around the world step up clinical trials on insulin delivery treatments using nasal and oral sprays with a 50% increase in the global number of diabetics.
From the outset I have to declare an interest as a stockholder in the company mentioned above (www.Phosphagenics.com). They have just recently announced a collaboration with Novartis to develop insulin patches for the treatment of companion animals. This research is now well advanced and so I would ask that you don’t dismiss the possibility of transdermal delivery of insulin for humans in the not too distant future.
Phosphagenics are preparing for the insulin patch trials. They have recently announced a world first getting Oxycodone(painkiller) through the skin via a patch with better effectiveness and longer lasting and more even delivery.
Have also announced a Novartis deal for animal insulin development unspecified if to be spray, gel, patch or oral.
http://www.phosphagenics.com
I would love to see an updated article on this topic. Are we there yet???