[mike9876]

A company has just completed phase 1b trials of their oral insuline delivery system. If this comes to market in the future it will spare a lot of people who it suits to take from injecting insuline. A pill seems more attractive than the needle. It will also give more freedom with only needing to carry a bottle of pills when traveling.

Oramed Pharmaceuticals Successfully Completes Phase 1B Clinical Trials Of Oral Insulin Capsule

[Jill-O]

I just don't know how they will get the dosing right in an oral form?

Anyone who wants an oral form of insuling hasn't probably taken an insulin shot -- which I find to be completely painless.

And, my insulin pen is extremely convenient. I can take the injection right though my clothes if I want. It's not any more difficult than taking a pill (honest).

[HelenM]

I can't really see that an oral method would give the flexibility that is possible from MDI or using a pump.The tests have been done with type 2 so perhaps its aimed at those who need insulin suplementation rather than insulin replacement. On their website however they also describe an insulin suppository aimed at type 1s particularly children.

What I don't like is their slogan, its designed to capture investment and preys on fears.

History will change when Oramed makes painless insulin delivery a reality for diabetes sufferers all over the world.

Although there are some people with a real needle phobia I think that for many the main fear of injecting is fear of the unknown. I remember how surprised I was when I had to do my first injection and found it to be both easy and painless.

[kgm0612]

I hate to be the downer here.......but I just don't think it's going to work out. And if it does make it to the market, I think it will be short lived and end up next to Exubera.

Karen

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by kgm0612

I hate to be the downer here.......but I just don't think it's going to work out. And if it does make it to the market, I think it will be short lived and end up next to Exubera.

Karen

Perhaps, but seeing how it probably won't require carrying around the Exubera Bong Pipe of Delivery, the oral insulin pills will have that considerable advantage to gaining a foothold in the marketplace.

[morrisma]

Don't see how an oral med, regardless of pain reduction, will ever beat the 15 minute response of my fast acting insulin.
Mike

[mike9876]

We will have to wait and see what happens but who knows it might work. But don't dismiss it when it hasn't been tried by any diabetics and only when its been tried by diabetics who injerct we will know if its a better delivery system or not..

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by Scratch

Perhaps, but seeing how it probably won't require carrying around the Exubera Bong Pipe of Delivery, the oral insulin pills will have that considerable advantage to gaining a foothold in the marketplace.

That's true...but....what form will the pills be in? Will they be 1 unit pills? 5 unit pills? 10 unit pills? Or how about 1, 3, and 5 unit pills? So now I need 12 units I have to pop 4 pills and make sure I take 4 of the CORRECT pills.

You see where I'm going with that? Not to mention if there is 3 different pills doses then you have to have THREE prescriptions each month or so. That just inflates the out of pocket expense instead of buying ONE type of insulin.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

That's true...but....what form will the pills be in? Will they be 1 unit pills? 5 unit pills? 10 unit pills? Or how about 1, 3, and 5 unit pills? So now I need 12 units I have to pop 4 pills and make sure I take 4 of the CORRECT pills.

You see where I'm going with that? Not to mention if there is 3 different pills doses then you have to have THREE prescriptions each month or so. That just inflates the out of pocket expense instead of buying ONE type of insulin.

I have no doubt that the delivery will be less convenient than the automated response of a completely functional pancreas.

I also suspect that delivery will be more convenient than the Exubera debacle.

[Jill-O]

Originally Posted by mike9876

We will have to wait and see what happens but who knows it might work. But don't dismiss it when it hasn't been tried by any diabetics and only when its been tried by diabetics who injerct we will know if its a better delivery system or not..

Do you take insulin? My hunch is you don't or you might have a different perspective. I take a different amount of insulin before each meal, and it varies depending on how many carbs I'm planning to eat. So like someone else said, do the pills come in one unit form? I'd rather take 1 shot vs. 16 pills before dinner (and then have to wait 30-45 minutes for it to START to work before eating...).

[Alice]

This sounds like we'd have to go back to matching our food intake to a "set" insulin dose. (Unless I'm going to sit there and slice pills with a butter knife?)...no thanks. I'd rather match my insulin to my food flexibility.

[mike9876]

I don't take insulin but there will be a place for oral insulin in the overall market and there are bound to be plenty of diabetics who will prefer to pop 16 pills instead of taking a shot.

No doubt if you want to take insulin by injection you will still be able to, but if somebody doesn't want to take a shot of insulin they can have the pill or pills.

What the oral insulin gives people is choice and they now have a different options instead of injections.

If they will be a fast release or slow release pill there is a place for it along side the shots of insulin.

Not having taken insulin and if I was offered the choice of giving myself a shot or trying oral insulin, I would try the oral insulin and I would imagine plenty of other type 2's who are not insulin will opt for the pill over the shot.

[Jill-O]

You just don't get it because you've never taken an insulin shot. It does not hurt. I was very nervous before taking my first shot and then after I got the nerve to do it, I had to look down to be sure it was in because I did NOT feel it. Those finger tests hurt 10x more than an insulin shot which is painless and usually something you don't even feel.

I'd have a hard time believing anyone who's taken an insulin shot with modern needles would rather pop a pill (or 16 of them) and sit and wait a long time for it to kick in prior to eating.

[fgummett]

Unless this is to be used to replace a long term basal type insulin like NPH or Lantus I don't really see a practical application...

I thought the biggest issue with oral insulin is that; as insulin is a protein our digestive system is designed to break it down. This implies to me that any pill would have to dissolve after the stomach which means even slower absorption. That added to the 16 different sized pills discussion above means that I don't see this idea as a replacement for a fast acting bolus. Perhaps pills could be used as a basal boost for Type 2.

Yes there are folks who are petrified of needles and for whom the idea of multiple daily injections is scary but I can also attest that the modern needles are so fine you barely feel anything especially when compared to the finger stix!

I for one would rather they devote the research time and money on non-invasive blood glucose monitoring instead of oral insulin.

[Stuboy]

i dont think he's ever used insulin... just insuline i mean...

INJECTIONS DO NOT HURT.

If they wanna make life easier and less "painfull" and reduce day to day cost then come up with a decent reliable non-invasive blood glucose meter!! (like the new thumb scanning reading in development)