Stanford University scientists have developed a hydrogel drug delivery system that would see diabetic patients receive a dose only every four months instead of daily injections.
This technology can be used in glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, which are also prescribed for weight loss in those suffering from overweight and obesity, to be taken weekly, because the drugs reduce the feeling of hunger.
Scientists say reducing the number of times patients need to take medications will be transformative for patients.
“Needing only three doses per year will make it much easier for people with diabetes or obesity to adhere to their medication regimen,” explained Dr. Eric Appel, co-author of the study and associate professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford University.
"We chose four months to match the rhythm in which people actually meet with their doctor or endocrinologist," he continued.
The team conducted the study on an animal model of mice. They found that the new medical technology could carry diabetes medications and weight control medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 drugs. These drugs not only control blood sugar, but also have other benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease and helping to lose weight.
In their study, the scientists explain that the small molecules inside the hydrogel form a network-like structure. This network holds the medication, and when it is time to distribute the medication, it slowly dissolves, allowing the medication to be injected into the body.
There are about 500 million people with diabetes or prediabetes in the world. The disease causes blood sugar levels to rise significantly due to problems with how the body produces the hormone insulin, which breaks down glucose.
Glucoconjugate-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, are prescribed to diabetics to help manage insulin levels. They work by mimicking the hormone that causes insulin levels to increase when blood sugar levels rise.
In experiments conducted on mice, the new drug delivery system showed that a single injection helped improve blood sugar and weight management for a period equivalent to four months in humans.
The team is expected to transfer the tests to pigs next, before starting human clinical trials within a year and a half if additional tests go well.
The full study was published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.
A mysterious disease that affects dogs and is spreading throughout the United States!
A mysterious respiratory disease affecting dogs has spread in the United States, raising concerns about a potential pandemic among dogs, as veterinarians struggle to identify the disease and trace its origin.
The disease, called atypical infectious respiratory disease (aCIRD), has affected hundreds of dogs in Oregon alone. The first cases appeared in California last Tuesday, when the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported that at least ten dogs were infected with the disease.
Reports revealed that the disease has infected dogs in at least seven other states, extending from New Hampshire to Illinois to Colorado and Washington, and in rare cases, the disease can be fatal.
Typical symptoms include: cough, lethargy, nasal discharge, and loss of appetite. The affected dogs tested negative for common respiratory diseases that cause similar symptoms.
“I can't predict where this will go,” Dr. Carl Gundry, a professor at the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, told NBC News. “It's like another mini-epidemic, if you will, but it's not necessarily proven yet that we have it under control.”
Cases of the disease date back to at least last August. The disease has been described as resistant to standard treatments for respiratory diseases in dogs, and researchers are working to identify common DNA segments in samples collected from veterinary clinics in multiple states.
Some dogs also suffered from long-term illness with pneumonia-like symptoms.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) warned Tuesday that cases of canine respiratory illnesses are increasing across the United States. The group recommended taking several precautions, including keeping pet vaccinations up to date and avoiding unnecessary gatherings of dogs.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recommended keeping sick dogs at home and isolating them for at least 28 days. The administration told the Los Angeles Times that some of the infected California dogs had fallen ill since the beginning of October, and one dog had died due to the disease.