Scientists have designed a new oral capsule which may spell end for painful insulin jabs

Scientists have developed an oral capsule that delivers insulin and other drugs. These oral capsules are injected directly into lining of the small intestine and are released into bloodstream. According to the study published in the journal Nature Medicine, many drugs, especially those made of proteins, cannot be consumed orally because they are broken down in the gastrointestinal tract before they can take effect. One example is insulin, patients suffering from diabetes have to inject daily or even more frequently.

The researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), working with scientists from Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, have developed a new drug capsule that can carry insulin or other protein drugs and protect them from the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract. As the capsule reaches the small intestine, it breaks down to reveal dis-solvable micro-needles that attach to the intestinal wall and release drug for uptake into the bloodstream.

Robert Langer, a professor at MIT said that they are really pleased with the latest results of the new oral delivery device that their lab members have developed with their collaborators, and will look forward to hopefully seeing it help people with diabetes and others in the future.