New Oral Drug For Type 2 Diabetes

It enhances the action of insulin and improves the control of blood glucose levels.” A Melbourne research team has invented an oral drug for diabetes sufferers in a bid to given them a new lease of life.
While Type 2 diabetes sufferers depend on routine insulin injections and other therapies, the new drug could improve insulin potency, lower blood glucose levels and reduce side effects.

The drug, ISF402, is the brainchild of Monash University diabetes experts Paul Zimmet and Frank Ng.

Professor Zimmet said the drug’s major advantage over existing therapies was that it was based on a peptide in human fluids with four amino acids.

"ISF402 lowers blood glucose and has been shown to be more effective when co-administered with injected insulin," Professor Zimmet said.

"It is anticipated that it will also enhance the action of insulin and improve the control of blood glucose levels."

An oral version of the drug is being developed and human trials are scheduled for the end of 2006. Monash studies have shown that the drug reduces glucose levels in animal models of diabetes.

Professor Zimmet said the drug was targeted to Type 2 diabetes sufferers, whose conditions were mostly linked to obesity and usually resistant to insulin.