Oral insulin results positive
On September 7, Emisphere (Tarrytown, NY) released results from three early-stage clinical trials showing that its oral forms of insulin are safe and effective. In a total of 28 healthy volunteers, two oral formulations of insulin were absorbed from the gut and shown to lower blood glucose levels without apparent side effects. An oral version of insulin, which is currently injected to avoid degradation in the gut, has been the Holy Grail of diabetic research since the glucose-controlling hormone was first identified in 1921. Emisphere is now in a race with Nobex Pharmaceuticals (Philadelphia, PA), which released preliminary but positive phase 2 data for its oral insulin in June. Several firms, including Flamel (Lyon, France), Aradigm (Hayward, CA), and Inhale Therapeutics (San Carlos, CA), are developing inhalable insulin, although there are concerns that the hormone could damage lung tissue. Emisphere's oral insulin has yet to be tested on people with diabetes, but if successful it could be a blockbuster product; there are an estimated 16 million diabetics in the US alone. Despite the good news, shares in the company fell 20%, probably through profit taking after a runup in the share price during August triggered by rumors of the positive results. LF
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