A pill which could be the world's first effective oral insulin medication for diabetes sufferers today goes on display at the Science Museum, London.
The pill, called Capsulin, aims to revolutionise the lives of diabetics by ridding them of the need for daily injections. Research suggests the pill could provide better control of the symptoms of diabetes through the insulin being released into the body in a more natural way. It is currently unavailable to the public pending further testing.
The insulin pill goes on display as part of a redesign of the Science Museum's Health Matters gallery, which looks at medical science since the invention of the X-ray machine. Capsulin will sit alongside other gallery highlights, such as Fleming's penicillin mould, the iron lung and the kidney dialysis machine. This is part of the first phase of a gallery revamp, which will be completed in 2008.
Tim Boon, Chief Curator at the Science Museum, said: "As part of the update of Health Matters, we wanted to stress the importance of the patient's experience. Diabetes is a potent example: diabetics used to endure a living death, but the development of insulin transformed their experience. So now they face the smaller but significant inconvenience of having to inject.
"Capsulin has the potential to revolutionise their lives again, and is a powerful example of medical science's capacity to overcome seemingly insurmountable technical hurdles, in this case the large size of the insulin molecule."
Diabetes affects more than two million people with diabetes in the UK, with over 245 million world-wide. Type 1 diabetes can reduce life expectancy by 15 years, while Type 2 can reduce life expectancy by 10 years. Capsulin aims to be used in the treatment of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
The insulin pill has been developed by Diabetology, a UK-based research and development company. In the latest study results on Capsulin - conducted by Professor Owens and his team in Cardiff and in type 2 diabetes - it was shown that Capsulin has a long duration of action, and acts in harmony with the body's own insulin secretion to provide smooth glucose control that lasts for 8-10 hours.
Dr Roger New, Chief Scientific Officer from Diabetology and the inventor of the oral delivery technology used in Capsulin, said: "Capsulin promises to be an exciting candidate for the improved treatment of the millions of sufferers of diabetes around the world."
For more information and interviews, please contact Richard Purnell in the Science Museum Press Office on 020 7942 4357 or email richard.purnell@sciencemuseum.org.uk
Visitor information
The Science Museum is free to enter and is open from 10am to 6pm daily. For more information call 0870 870 4868 or visit www.sciencemuseum.org.uk. Nearest tube: South Kensington.
Notes to Editors
The Science Museum is home to more than 12,000 objects and provides a fascinating insight into the worlds of science, technology, medicine and industry. Hands-on galleries, drama characters and science shows bring to life the past, present and future of human scientific ingenuity. See and interact with major scientific advances from the last 300 years, from original working steam engines to the actual Apollo 10 command module, all spread over seven floors on a site ¼ mile long.
A giant IMAX cinema and exhilarating simulator rides make the Science Museum a thrilling day out.
In addition, the Dana Centre, the Science Museum's annex dedicated to discussing contemporary and controversial science, brings live debates, science art installations, experiments and stand-up comedy to everybody over 18 who wants a thought-provoking night out.
The museum was established with the profits from The Great Exhibition of 1851 and is now one of the top 10 visitor attractions in the UK.
