Print | Email | Share | Comments (0)

Japanese Company's Stock Jumps 10 Percent on News of Insulin Nasal Spray

Aug 28, 2009

Oral and nasal sprays run into problems with the body’s almost immediate breakdown of insulin’s complex molecular structure before it can be absorbed into the bloodstream in any usable quantity. By “hiding” the insulin in a compound that does not begin to break down until it is available for the bloodstream to absorb it, Toray’s approach could prove to be a breakthrough.

A Japanese company whose biggest moneymaker is the sale of synthetic fabrics announced a few days ago that it has developed an insulin nasal spray for people with diabetes. The news brought an investor surge that lifted the value of its stocks by 10 percent.

Toray Industries, working in conjunction with Hoshi University in Tokyo, reported that it has developed a compound that, mixed with a peptide, successfully delivered insulin into animals' bloodstreams in a test. (Peptides are natural or synthetic molecules that contain two or more amino acids.)

The news is a step forward in the development of alternate means of delivering insulin to people with diabetes. For now, injections via syringes or pens are the most effective way to get the delicate hormone into the bloodstream intact.

Oral and nasal sprays, which would be a quantum leap forward in convenience and pain-free dosing, run into problems with the body's almost immediate breakdown of insulin's complex molecular structure well before it can be absorbed into the bloodstream in any usable quantity. By "hiding" the insulin in a compound that does not begin to break down until it is available for the bloodstream to absorb it, Toray's approach could prove to be a breakthrough.

The company is also working on capsule technology that could deliver insulin in meted-out doses over the span of several days or a week. Technology that allows the timed release of drugs is a growing focus of scientific research. Because of the potential grave dangers from the failure of timed-release capsules or similar delivery systems, however, the technology has been the subject of deep scrutiny by U.S., European, and Japanese government drug testing and licensing agencies.

The next step is for Hoshi University to collaborate with a pharmaceutical company to conduct trials of Toray's new compound.

Categories: Community, Diabetes, Diabetes, Insulin, Medications Research, Products, Research, Type 1 Issues

Comments

Add your comments about this article below. You can add comments as a registered user or anonymously. If you choose to post anonymously your comments will be sent to our moderator for approval before they appear on this page. If you choose to post as a registered user your comments will appear instantly.

When voicing your views via the comment feature, please respect the Diabetes Health community by refraining from comments that could be considered offensive to other people. Diabetes Health reserves the right to remove comments when necessary to maintain the cordial voice of the diabetes community.

For your privacy and protection, we ask that you do not include personal details such as address or telephone number in any comments posted.

Don't have your Diabetes Health Username? Register now and add your comments to all our content.

Have Your Say...

Registered User Anonymous

Your Name:	Your Email:	X

Recipient's Name:	Recipient's Email:

Your Chosen Username:	Your Email Address:

Chosen Password:	Confirm Password:

Email to a Friend

Japanese Company's Stock Jumps 10 Percent on News of Insulin Nasal Spray

You May Also Be Interested In...

Comments

Register...

Have Your Say...

Diabetes Health

Topics

Topics

Topics

Diabetes Health Medical Disclaimer

Comment: