at least two months, and probably longer, Mitragotri said.
The current study reported on a trial of the oral insulin in rats. The researchers found a sustained drop in blood sugar (glucose) of up to 45 percent in the animals.
“It lowered blood glucose for at least 12 hours,” Mitragotri said.
Any time someone takes insulin, there’s a risk of taking too much and causing a dangerous drop in blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). But Mitragotri said because it takes a while for oral insulin to be released, the risk is reduced.
More studies will need to be done, including in larger animals, before human trials could begin. But if all goes well, Mitragotri said that he expects human trials could begin in three to five years.
It’s hard to estimate what the cost of oral insulin might be, he added. But the ionic liquid and coating materials aren’t expensive, so he expects it would be similar in cost to current insulins.
Dr. Joel Zonszein, director of the Clinical Diabetes Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, reviewed the findings.
“It’s good that people are trying to find the