New diabetes drug combination could boost insulin production by 40-fold

According to researchers, a newly discovered drug combination multiplies insulin-producing cells, which they say may lead to a cure for diabetes.

Diabetes who suffer from diabetes have a deficiency in beta-cells which produce insulin and without this they are unable to process glucose effectively.

Diabetes takes place when there are not enough beta cells in the pancreas to make insulin, or when they make a small amount of insulin. When left untreated, the condition can lead to serious health complications such as eye and kidney damage, stroke, vision loss and heart disease.

The research team from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York had already made the discovery that a drug by the name of harmine could supercharge pancreas cells to produce ten times more insulin-producing beta cells each day.

In addition, when the drug was given in combination with a second drug which is usually used to boost bone growth, 40 times more cells formed each day.

Dr Andrew Stewart, lead author of the study, said “We are very excited about this new observation because for the first time, we are able to see rates of human cell beta cell replication that are sufficient to replenish beta cell mass in human beings.

“We have discovered a drug combination that makes beta cells regenerate at rates that are suitable for treatment. The next big hurdle is figuring out how to deliver them directly to the pancreas.

“We now need to develop methods to deliver these drugs specifically to the beta cell in humans.

“We have the packages to deliver, but now we need a courier system to deliver them to the exact beta cell address.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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