Hyderabad: Scientists from a start-up, Reagene Innovation Pvt Ltd, incubated at the University of Hyderabad have said that they have developed a potential treatment for Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes which can prove effective in controlling blood-sugar levels in diabetics.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Dr Uday Saxena, lead scientist and co-founder of Reagene, said, “Type 2 is the most prevalent type of diabetes, and India has the highest number of Type 2 diabetic patients in the world. There are ample medicines available for diabetes. However 50-60 per cent of patients are not able to bring blood sugar to healthy levels. We thought that something more than these drugs was needed and came up with the idea of another potential treatment,”
The scientists said that 70 per cent of the glucose came from the diet; if absorption of sugar could be blocked in the small intestine, the blood sugar levels could be brought down.
The clinical trial for the drug for use on humans will begin soon. If approved, the drug might come in the form of a tablet or a drink to be taken before food.
In order to achieve blocking intestinal glucose absorption, the scientists developed chicken antibodies to a protein named SGLT1 which transports glucose. In animal models, the use of the antibodies improved glucose levels and glycemic profile.
“The proposed drug will block absorption of sugar from the diet in the intestine and so blood sugar level will be reduced. The drug could be taken as a supplement to diabetes medications,” Dr Saxena said.
“Patients will have to take the drug chronically. Using this drug may reduce the other diabetes drugs they are using,” he said. “In the case of life-long diabetics, managing blood sugar at healthy levels is a daily fight. This drug if it is successful in humans will help them control blood sugar better.”
“Using chicken derived IgY antibodies in humans is accepted by regulatory bodies in the world, so this approach is highly feasible as treatment for diabetes”, said Dr Satish Chandran, CEO of ProdIgY Bio Inc, USA, a collaborator of Reagene.
