New hope for diabetes sufferers from gout capsule

Mon, 29 Mar 2010
A special new treatment for gout could lead to more forms of therapy for other medical conditions, including diabetes and obesity .The treatment takes the form of a small plastic capsule inserted under the skin, which is pre-populated with genetically engineered cells taken from patients . The capsule then functions as a synthetic organ to balance bodily hormones .

Already shown to treat symptoms of gout in mice, human clinical trials are due to start within two years. Potentially, the treatment could be adapted to treat other metabolic disorders, including diabetes and obesity .

Gout affects over 1 per cent of the population, and is caused by a buildup of uric acid in the bloodstream. The pioneering treatment was developed by Professor Martin Fussenegger of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

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