Diabetes company starts oral insulin trials

Thu, 17 Dec 2009
For some time, oral insulin was hailed as the holy grail which would allow people with type 1 diabetes to stop having to inject insulin on a daily basis. However, after oral insulin did come to market, it was found to have limited efficiency and was shortly withdrawn by Pfizer. Now, Novo Nordisk are initiating first phase clinical trials of a new oral insulin.

Novo Nordisk are working on the diabetes drug alongside Irish company Merrion Pharmaceuticals. The drug will have its effects, safety and tolerance tested on health people and people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes .

Oral insulin is a known minefield. Peter Kurtzhals, the senior vice president and head of diabetes research at Novo Nordisk was reported as saying: "It is far too early to say whether or when oral insulin will become an alternative to insulin injections . However, I am encouraged by the progress of our research and development teams during the past two years ... which has led us to this important milestone."
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