Making insulin delivery in capsule form a reality

The ability to correctly self-administer doses of insulin is crucial to the long-term health of diabetics. For years, the only method patients had to deliver insulin to their bodies was  by injection. But, years of research by Oramed’s highly respected team of scientists discovered a technology at the Hadassah University Hospital that has the potential to change all of that.

Up until now, the idea of insulin pills or capsules was inconceivable due to the fact that insulin, which is a protein, breaks down in the digestive system. However, Oramed’s patented technology overcame the problem of digestion as well as permeability to the intestine. This has been a major hurdle that has inhibited the development of an orally ingestible insulin for decades. 

Prof. Hanoch Bar-On, a leading Diabetologist on the Oramed team, states that the route of the insulin from the swallowed capsule “imitates nature” in that it passes to the liver and then to the bloodstream. Injected insulin goes straight to the bloodstream. 

The Oramed team has completed Phase 1A and 1B of it’s clinical trials, both with successful results. Each trial included 8 healthy volunteers who ingested Oramed’s patent pending oral insulin capsule. Safety and efficacy were tested during the Phase 1A trials and the optimal dosage for the final formulation was evaluated during the Phase 1B trials.

Other products in development:

* Insulin suppository