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New chemical may lead to oral insulin equivalent
New chemical may lead to oral insulin equivalent An article in the journal 'Science' reports that
pharmaceutical researchers have discovered the first molecule of a
simple substance that, when given orally, mimics the effects of
insulin. At present, people with diabetes have to inject insulin
into themselves several times a day to control their condition.
Scientists hope that the chemical, which has has been isolated from
"Pseudomassaria", a fungus collected from the leaves of a plant
found in the Congo, will soon control sugar levels in the blood of
humans in the same way that it has already has been shown to do in
mice. This is the first chemical which can mimic the effects of
insulin without serious side effects, and thus represents "a unique
approach...very exciting", according to researcher Dr Robert
Goldstein of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
International. 7 MAY 1999
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