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Trials of a Type 1 diabetes pill that might end the need for daily injections are showing promise, according to a report published in the European Journal of Pharmacology.
Research by Adi Mor at Tel Aviv University shows that the anti-Ras FTS compound is effective in increase the Foxp3 immune system regulator protein, which boosts production of T cells.
The research is based on the assumption that if the number of regulatory T cells is increased, the progression of diabetes would diminish.
FTS trials in mice have resulted in only 16% developing diabetes while 82% of the untreated group became diabetic. At the same time, insulin in the treated group increased.
Says Mor: “Since the FTS molecule is very easily absorbed into the blood, it could be the first diabetes treatment in pill form to moderate insulin production in juvenile diabetes, slowing down the progression of the disease. It could help a lot of people.”
It is hoped that because the drug has already passed toxicity studies for other diseases and disorders it can go straight to Phase II clinical trials and thus be fast-tracked by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Copyright Press Association 2009
European Journal of Pharmacology
