Monash researchers set to develop new insulin formulation which could transform type 1 diabetes management
Professor Christoph Hagemeyer
Head, Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, School of Translational Medicine
Director, Monash Biomedical Imaging
Monash University
Monash School of Translational Medicine researcher Professor Christoph Hagemeyer and colleagues have received over $750,000 to take their innovative new insulin formulation to the next stage of research
People with type 1 diabetes (T1D) can`t make their own insulin, a hormone essential to regulate blood sugar levels. This means that people with T1D need to inject or use man-made insulin to survive. And while insulin is a lifesaver, even with currently available formulations, it is still not good enough, making blood sugar management complex, challenging and burdensome .
The project is among a slate funded by the UK arm of the global Type 1 Diabetes charity, JDRF, to develop new generation insulins which may act faster or more precisely, relieving some of the burden of managing T1D and reducing the risk of long-term complications.
A novel insulin formulation which mimics the action of the pancreas
The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge, a partnership between JDRF UK, Diabetes UK and Steve Morgan Foundation, has funded a project led by Prof Hagemeyer and his collaborators to accelerate the development of a new insulin formulation that aims to closely mimic how a healthy pancreas works. JDRF Australia also recently funded Dr Rong Xu, an early-career researcher from Professor Hagemeyer’s team, to bring essential expertise that will enable this work to progress.
In people without T1D, the pancreas detects rises in blood sugar levels and then releases insulin to bring blood sugar levels down. Conversely, when blood sugar levels decrease, insulin release is stopped to avoid blood sugars getting too low. This interplay is difficult to replicate in people with T1D where they (or a pump) must take on the role of the pancreas, increasing or decreasing insulin levels in response to changing blood sugar levels.
The new insulin formulation being developed by Prof Hagemeyer and his colleagues is also known as a “glucose responsive insulin” or “smart insulin” delivery system. The idea behind these new insulin formulations is that after being injected into the body, they release insulin only when glucose levels are above a certain point and conversely become inactive when blood glucose levels fall below a certain point. In this way, they keep blood glucose levels within a safe range, avoiding excessively high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia) and excessively low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia).
What is the glucose responsive insulin being investigated ?
In preclinical models, Prof Hagemeyer and his collaborators have shown that this insulin formulation responds well to changes in blood glucose levels and reduces the number of dangerous hypoglycaemic events. The dosage was also shown to remain active over a three-day period, markedly extending the action of current insulin formulations.
The new funding will propel this innovative insulin to the next stage of research, allowing Prof Hagemeyer and his colleagues to move forward with manufacturing and more extensive testing of the formulation. Successful results will bring this new technology closer to the hands of people with T1D.
What does this mean for someone with T1D ?
Insulin is currently the only approved treatment for the management of T1D. However, insulin use through multiple daily injections or pump use remains complex and burdensome. The insulin formulation developed and currently being tested by Prof Hagemeyer and his collaborators holds great promise. The funded project is a long-standing collaboration with other teams including Prof Frank Caruso (The University of Melbourne) and A/Prof Francesca Cavalieri (RMIT), as well as, Dr Rong Xu, Prof Michael Cowley and Prof Mark Cooper at Monash University. Together, they have been working to find a cure for T1D for nearly a decade.
For people living with T1D, this could mean a future where insulin therapy is less complex and more precise, reducing the daily burden of managing the condition and improving overall quality of life.
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