Research of IIT Mandi: New drug discovered for the treatment of diabetes, it will relieve patients from insulin injection

Researchers at IIT Mandi have discovered a molecule effective in the treatment of diabetes. This molecule named PK2 is capable of releasing insulin from the pancreas. This has opened up a lot of potential for making drug pills for the treatment of diabetes. The results of the research have been published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Scientists aim to find cheap drug for diabetes

Dr. Prosenjit Mandal, who is involved in the research, said that at present drugs like exenatide and liraglutide are given for the treatment of diabetes. They are expensive and unstable. Our goal is to find simple medicines that are affordable and effective for the treatment of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

In a diabetic patient, the release of insulin from the beta cells of the pancreas decreases according to the blood glucose level. There are many chemical processes involved in the release of insulin. A similar process involves structures called GLP1Rs. GLP1 released after eating binds to the hormonal molecule GLP1 and initiates the release of insulin.

Food can be used instead of insulin

Dr. Khyati Girdhar told that first of all, the binding of PK2 was tested on the GLP1R protein present in human cells. It was found to be able to bind well to the GLP1R protein. PK 2 is likely to release insulin from beta cells. PK2 is rapidly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. That is, a pill can be used instead of a medicine needle prepared from it.

Two hours after drug administration, PK2 was detected in the liver, kidney and pancreas of the mice. No part of it was in the heart, lungs and spleen. It turned out that this molecule may be able to cross the blood-brain barrier.