An aritifical pancreas system that maintains near-normal glucose levels by injecting both insulin and glucagon was succesfully demonstrated on a small number of patients

An artificial pancreas system that closely mimics the body’s blood sugar control mechanism was able to maintain near-normal glucose levels without causing hypoglycemia in a small group of patients. The system, combining a blood glucose monitor and insulin pump technology with software that directs administration of insulin and the blood-sugar-raising hormone glucagon, was developed at Boston University (BU). The first clinical trial of the system was conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and confirmed the feasibility of an approach utilizing doses of both hormones. The report appeared in Science Translational Medicine.

I think we can all agree that the system is quite impressive so far. However, there are a few problems to be considered. First and foremost – and also most interesting – is that the researchers also found unexpectedly large differences in insulin absorption rates between study participants. They were able to compensate for the differences by adjustments to the system, but this is another complication that must be taken under consideration even with normal insulin pumps. The second is the fact that the glucose sensor was located in the vein, as opposed to the usual under-the-skin sensor. In other words, this whole experiment took place in a hospital, with the system most probably being quite cumbersome. Hopefully, future versions of this device will be much smaller, and the sensor will not be placed intravenously.

On related note, in the soon-to-come ILSI-BioMed week 2010, there will be at least two seminars concerning potential therapeutics for diabetes, in the first Technology Transfer Session on Tuesday. The first is called ‘Peptides and Cell Therapy – Novel Therapeutics for Diabetes and CNS Related Diseases’, courtesy of Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd. The second will be concerned with the ‘Prevention of Human Insulin Resistance and Diabetes’, courtesy of Hadasit Medical Research Services & Development Ltd.  

ILSI-BioMed week 2010

 Source: Massachusetts General Hospital