New insulin that won’t need cooling - a boon for diabetics
By IANSTuesday, June 15, 2010
SYDNEY - Researchers have come out with a new insulin that can withstand higher temperatures, a development that will bring relief to millions of diabetics across the world.
Normally, insulin starts to go bad above four degrees centigrade - making its supply very difficult in areas that lack refrigeration.
The poor stability of existing forms of insulin complicates the management of diabetes.
However, Bianca van Lierop, Monash University chemist and her colleagues have successfully strengthened insulin’s chemical structure, which can withstand higher temperatures.
They have just filed a series of patents with their partner ASX-listed Circadian Technologies for marketing it.
At the same time, they’re using their new knowledge to develop a form of insulin that could be delivered by pill.
“Over 200 million people need insulin to manage diabetes, but we still don’t know how it works at a molecular level,” says van Lierop, according to a Monash release.
She will be presenting her work at Fresh Science, a national science talent search, at Melbourne Museum.
