Smart Insulin

Surprised there wasn't a discussion already about this...

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/21613/?a=f

Maintaining tight control over blood-sugar levels is a daily challenge for people with diabetes: it requires constant monitoring and multiple insulin injections each day. Now the biotech company SmartCells, based in Beverly, MA, is developing a drug that may do most of the heavy lifting in controlling diabetes. The injectable drug, called SmartInsulin, senses high glucose levels and automatically dispenses insulin on demand. As glucose levels drop off, the drug stabilizes, trapping insulin until the next glucose spike. Such a drug may cut down the number of insulin injections required to once a day.

Always wary of these things, but the idea is exciting I suppose......................

But it would be like having a large dose if insulin inside you just waiting to be released, which has it risks I suppose......

Their website says its still in pre-clincical trials ( the article referenced is from 2008 ) which means its still a long way from being released onto the market. It would be nice BUT its a long way from reality.

I do agree - it is a bit exciting and it's very valid that the dating of the article means it's going to be years off yet...

However, it was a lady I met yesterday that admitted that her son had been put on a "smart insulin from America" that was not licensed in the UK. She explained that even after 2 years he was still having trouble controlling his condition (we're talking someone aged around 23 years from what I could tell) so arrangements were made to put him on it (possibly through private care?)... and the main google search result that came up for this was the article I have posted.

I do find it very strange that there was not more information avaliable if people were being put on to it... but as I'm sure we're all aware, people do tell porkies.
I guess if we want more information, might be worth keeping an eye on the (seemingly) dedicated site http://www.smartinsulin.com/ but I dunno...

This just doesn't add up...

Edit:

Under the terms of the agreement, Merck will acquire all outstanding stock of SmartCells, Inc. In return SmartCells shareholders will receive an upfront cash payment and be eligible to receive clinical development and regulatory milestones for products resulting from the transaction for potential aggregate payments in excess of $500 million.

Jwo, not licensed in the UK means it cannot be prescribed and used in the UK legally. If someone IS using it in the UK they do so at their own risk and must be importing it via questionable means. I would not recommend this course of action since you have no guarantee what you are getting, there are very good reasons to have clinical trials and licensing rules. It is to protect people from those that want to make money out of people. Anyway I'll step off my soapbox now...

I agree its worth keeping an eye on the website but I wouldn't get too excited until a realistic date is set to bring the product to market i.e until it is likely to be available to be prescribed to people in the UK. With a product like this it is likely that there are lots of tests needed to ensure it really is safe, Injecting a load of insulin and trusting
it to only be used when it is needed is a big challenge and one that really needs to be working correctly before it is used by a lot of people. It would be nice to have something like this but only if it REALLY works effectively.

I understand that already and therefore agree. I do love the fact that the UK doesn't exercise a guinea pig sort of culture when it comes to medicine. We've got to protect ourselves.

I'm not sure how interested I am in Smart Insulin myself but I thought I'd bring it to others' attention.

Thanks for your time.