Artificial Pancreas: A UK Biotech Invention – Potential for Replacement to Insulin Injections
Curator: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN
The diabetes disease has been researched in depth on this Open Access Online Scientific Journal
http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/?s=Diabetes
The Pancreas gland and pathophysiologies of Panceas-Liver-Biliary System were thoroughly examined as the research findings emerged
http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/?s=Pancreas
http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/?s=Liver
OPINION Leadership
1. We view an Artificial Pancreas Invention, the UK Biotech Invention having the Potential for Replacement to Insulin Injections, to have potentially major benefit for the care of the Diabetic patient.
2. It will become a “Disruptive Technology” which will bring major changes and challenges in the
A. Medical Diagnostic field and the
B. Pharmaceutical Market for Antibiabetic drugs.
3. the technology will be commercialized as an Insulin PUMP worn or carried externally, which companies ranging from startups to giants like Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) and Medtronic ($MDT) are marketing as alternatives to painful insulin injections.
Product Description
De Montfort’s artificial pancreas–Courtesy De Montfort U. The De Montfort insulin pump is about the size of a wristwatch and surgically implanted into the abdomen, unlike most rival technologies, which are worn externally and connected to insulin-delivery devices under the skin.
- The pump contains gel that releases insulin in response to rising glucose levels, and it is attached by a small tube to a refill port just under the skin.
- Patients will only need to refill the device by injection every two weeks, according to a story in the Daily Mail. “The device will not only remove the need to manually inject insulin, but will also ensure that perfect doses are administrated each and every time,” Taylor told the publication.
Regardless of whether such technologies are surgically implanted or worn outside the body, they are increasingly being referred to as “artificial pancreases” because they are designed to regulate blood-glucose levels automatically, eliminating the need for patients to inject insulin up to four times daily. The market has been heating up lately, led by Minnesota device maker Medtronic, which won FDA approval in September for its MiniMed 530G, a pump that automatically stops delivering insulin based on a preset minimum threshold, thereby lowering the risk of hypoglycemia–a potentially dangerous drop in blood glucose levels.
Other companies that are perfecting artificial pancreas systems include
- J&J’s Animas division, and
- Becton Dickinson ($BDX), which teamed up with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation last June to develop a new insulin-delivery device.
And in November, insulin pump developer Tandem Diabetes Care hauled in $120 million in an initial public offering, $20 million more than the San Diego company expected to raise. Tandem ($TNDM) plans to use the money to develop a high-capacity insulin pump called t:flex, which will include continuous glucose monitoring technology, according to regulatory filings.
Related articles:
Medtronic wins FDA nod to roll out auto-stop insulin device
Tandem banks $120M in topped-out IPO, stirring med tech market hopes
The race for the artificial pancreas
SOURCE
editors@fiercemedicaldevices.com
Potential diabetes ‘cure’ to end misery of insulin jabs: DIABETES sufferers will be spared the misery of daily jabs by a revolutionary implant.
Health experts say that the artificial pancreas is as good as a cure because it means patients will no longer have to manage the condition themselves.
The wristwatch-size device is surgically implanted into the abdominal cavity and releases a precise amount of insulin into the bloodstream. Supplies are topped up via a short tube which passes through the skin.
Human trials are set to start in 2016 with the first implants taking place on the NHS within 10 years. Inventor Joan Taylor, 64, professor of pharmacy at De Montfort University, Leicester, said: “It works like a healthy pancreas should, regulating blood sugar by releasing just enough insulin into your bloodstream. You don’t need to fill it up every day, so avoid painful daily injections.
“We are extremely close to embarking on clinical trials. Could the procedure to fit it be available on the NHS? Definitely – hopefully within a decade. Diabetes is already an epidemic and it’s going to soon become a scourge on society.”
The implant contains a reservoir surrounded by a special gel which slowly releases the hormone insulin as blood sugar levels rise. As levels drop, the gel solidifies, ensuring the right amount of insulin is released.
It would cost £5,000 for the device and surgery to fit it.
The artificial pancreas will help all Type 1 insulin-dependant diabetics and some suffering Type 2 who need daily injections.
The prototype has taken 20 years and £1million to create with money from the NHS, the Lachesis Fund, which invests in research at the university, and the charitable Edith Murphy Foundation. The rest has come from private backers.
Related articles
It is not powered by batteries or electronics and has no moving parts, so the risk of rejection is very low
“I believe it should be globally available, not just here but in some of the poorest countries.
“After 20 years of research we are hopeful we have found a solution which has the potential to bring an end to the misery of daily injections for diabetics across the world within the next 10 years.”
GP Dr Ian Campbell said: “Diabetes wreaks havoc on the health of millions of people across the UK, causing blindness, heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.
“Replacing the pancreas gland in this way would transform their lives. It’s been a long time coming but it will make a fantastic difference.”
Dr Alasdair Rankin, director of research at Diabetes UK, said: “This is one of several research projects looking at potential ways to make it easier for people with diabetes who use insulin to manage their condition.
“We look forward to seeing the results of clinical trials.”
SOURCE
http://www.express.co.uk/news/health/455748/Potential-diabetes-cure-to-end-misery-of-insulin-jabs
Human trials in two years for artificial pancreas invention
DEVICE: The artificial pancreas
An artificial pancreas invented by a De Montfort University (DMU) professor could have its first human trials within two years.
Professor Joan Taylor’s creation ensures patients will no longer have to endure injections of insulin every day.
Instead, a device will be surgically implanted into the body and able to release a precise amount of insulin into the bloodstream. Supplies would be topped up every two weeks.
Human trials are due to begin in 2016 with the first implants taking place on the NHS within a decade – news which has featured prominently in the national press with articles in the Daily Express and the Daily Mail among others.
Professor of Pharmacy at DMU, Joan Taylor, said: “The device will not only remove the need to manually inject insulin, but will also ensure that perfect doses are administrated each and every time. By controlling blood glucose so effectively, we should be able to help reduce related health problems.
“We are extremely close to embarking on clinical trials. Diabetes is costing society more than £1million an hour in treatment, and much of that is spent on treating complications.”
The implant contains a reservoir of insulin kept in place by a special gel barrier. When glucose levels in the body rise, the gel liquefies and releases the insulin into the body, mimicking the normal pancreas.
As the insulin lowers the glucose levels, the gel reacts by hardening again and preserving the reservoir. It would eliminate the need for diabetics to inject insulin up to four times a day.
The artificial pancreas will help all Type 1 insulin-dependent diabetics and some suffering Type 2 who need daily injections.
Professor Taylor has spent 20 years developing the device, which requires no electronics. This means the risk of rejection by the body is minimised.
Until now, the project has had funding of £1 million from the NHS, the Lachesis Fund – which invests in research in the university – the charity Edith Murphy Foundation and private backers. Professor Taylor is now seeking a similar amount to refine the product.
“This device is cheap and simple to use,” added Professor Taylor. “It has the potential to bring an end to the misery of daily injections for diabetics.”
– See more at: http://www.dmu.ac.uk/about-dmu/news/2014/january/human-trials-in-two-years-for-artificial-pancreas-invention.aspx#sthash.xZUttV4l.dpuf
SOURCE
End of the diabetes jab? New insulin implant controls blood glucose levels without injections
- The wristwatch-size device can be surgically implanted into the abdomen
- It contains a reservoir of insulin held in place by a gel barrier
- When glucose levels in the body rise, the gel liquefies and releases insulin into the body – just like a normally functioning pancreas would do
- As it lowers the glucose levels, the gel hardens again preserving the reservoir – the insulin reservoir has to be topped up every two weeks
- Human trials are set to begin in 2016 and the first implants could take place on the NHS within a decade
By EMMA INNES
PUBLISHED: 05:23 EST, 24 January 2014 | UPDATED: 06:15 EST, 24 January 2014
Insulin injections for diabetics could soon be a thing of the past thanks to the creation of a revolutionary new implant.
The device, which has been created by British scientists, works like an artificial pancreas by releasing insulin into the bloodstream.
It can be implanted into the abdomen from where it releases a precise amount of insulin meaning injections are no longer needed.
+4A new abdominal implant could spell the end of insulin injections for people with diabetes
The supplies of insulin in the implant can be topped up every two weeks using a tube which passes out through the skin.
The wristwatch-size device was created by scientists at De Montfort University, in Leicester.
They say it is the next best thing to a cure for diabetes because it means the patient no longer has to manage the condition themselves.
Professor Joan Taylor, professor of pharmacy at De Montfort University in Leicester, said: ‘The device will not only remove the need to manually inject insulin, but will also ensure that perfect doses are administrated each and every time.
‘We are extremely close to embarking on clinical trials. Diabetes is costing society more than £1 million an hour in treatment, and much of that is spent on treating complications.’
Human trials of the device are due to begin in 2016 and the researchers hope the first implants will take place on the NHS within a decade.
The implant, which has to be inserted surgically, contains a reservoir of insulin that is kept in place by a gel barrier.
+4
+4The implant was invented by Professor Joan Taylor (left) who says it is as good as a cure for diabetes as it means patients no longer need to monitor and control their condition themselves
+4The researchers hope their device could save millions of people from daily insulin injections (pictured) and that it could help to prevent the health problems associated with poor diabetes management
When glucose levels in the body rise, the gel liquefies and releases insulin into the body, mimicking the normal behaviour of a pancreas.
As the insulin lowers the glucose levels, the gel reacts by hardening again and preserving the reservoir.
It would eliminate the need for diabetics to inject insulin up to four times a day.
The artificial pancreas could help all type 1 insulin-dependent diabetics and some type 2 diabetics who need daily injections.
‘This device is cheap and simple to use,’ said Professor Taylor. ‘It has the potential to bring an end to the misery of daily injections for diabetics.’
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This is very insightful. There is no doubt that there is the bias you refer to. 42 years ago, when I was postdocing in biochemistry/enzymology before completing my residency in pathology, I knew that there were very influential mambers of the faculty, who also had large programs, and attracted exceptional students. My mentor, it was said (although he was a great writer), could draft a project on toilet paper and call the NIH. It can’t be true, but it was a time in our history preceding a great explosion. It is bizarre for me to read now about eNOS and iNOS, and about CaMKII-á, â, ã, ä – isoenzymes. They were overlooked during the search for the genome, so intermediary metabolism took a back seat. But the work on protein conformation, and on the mechanism of action of enzymes and ligand and coenzyme was just out there, and became more important with the research on signaling pathways. The work on the mechanism of pyridine nucleotide isoenzymes preceded the work by Burton Sobel on the MB isoenzyme in heart. The Vietnam War cut into the funding, and it has actually declined linearly since.
A few years later, I was an Associate Professor at a new Medical School and I submitted a proposal that was reviewed by the Chairman of Pharmacology, who was a former Director of NSF. He thought it was good enough. I was a pathologist and it went to a Biochemistry Review Committee. It was approved, but not funded. The verdict was that I would not be able to carry out the studies needed, and they would have approached it differently. A thousand young investigators are out there now with similar letters. I was told that the Department Chairmen have to build up their faculty. It’s harder now than then. So I filed for and received 3 patents based on my work at the suggestion of my brother-in-law. When I took it to Boehringer-Mannheim, they were actually clueless.