
Still from WEHI-TV’s animation Insulin Production and Type 1 Diabetes.
Beta cells (purple) release insulin (blue) after a meal
Creator: Etsuko Uno
WEHI researchers have answered a 100-year-old question in diabetes research: can a molecule different to insulin have the same effect? The findings provide important insights for the future development of an oral insulin pill.
The research team has visualised how a non-insulin molecule can mimic the role of insulin, a key hormone needed to control blood sugar levels.
The WEHI-led study opens new avenues for the development of drugs that could replace daily insulin injections for people with type 1 diabetes.
At a glance
- Researchers have visualised precisely how an insulin-mimicking molecule reproduces the activity of insulin to regulate blood glucose levels
- Study answers a century-old question of whether it is possible to replace insulin
- Findings illuminate new opportunities for the development of oral insulin mimetics that may replace daily injections by type 1 diabetics
People with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin and require multiple daily insulin injections to keep their blood glucose levels in check.
The new research confirms that alternative molecules can be used to turn on blood glucose uptake, bypassing the need for insulin altogether.
The study, published in Nature Communications, was led by WEHI’s Dr Nicholas Kirk and Professor Mike Lawrence, in collaboration with researchers from Lilly, an American-based pharmaceutical company.
Why is there no insulin pill?
Dr Kirk said scientists have struggled to make insulin as a pill, because insulin is unstable and readily degraded by the body upon digestion.
“Since the discovery of insulin 100 years ago, the development of an insulin pill has been a dream for diabetes researchers but, after decades of trying, there has been little success,” he said.
The research has now accelerated dramatically with the development of cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM), a new technology that can visualise complicated molecules in atomic detail, allowing researchers to generate 3D images (“blueprints”) of the insulin receptor rapidly.
“With cryo-EM, we can now directly compare how different molecules, including insulin, change the shape of the insulin receptor,” said Dr Kirk.
“Insulin’s interaction turns out to be far more complex than anyone predicted, with both insulin and its receptor changing shape dramatically as they partner up.”

Mimicking insulin with simple molecules
The new research shows how an insulin-mimicking molecule acts on the insulin receptor and turns it on, the first step in a pathway that directs cells to soak up glucose when the body’s sugar levels are too high.
The team performed intricate cryo-EM reconstructions to obtain blueprints of several molecules called “peptides” that are known to interact with the insulin receptor and hold it in the “active” position.
The cryo-EM experiments identified one peptide that can bind to and activate the receptor in a manner similar to insulin.
“Insulin has evolved to hold the receptor carefully, like a hand bringing a pair of tongs together,” Dr Kirk said.
“The peptides we used work in pairs to activate the insulin receptor – like two hands grabbing the pair of tongs around the outside.”
While therapeutic outcomes are distant, the team’s discovery could lead to a drug to replace insulin, reducing the need for injections by diabetics.
“Scientists have had success replacing these kinds of mimetic molecules with drugs that can be taken as pills,” Dr Kirk said.
“It’s still a long road that will require further research, but it’s exciting to know that our discovery opens the door for oral treatments for type 1 diabetes.”
Original Article: Could insulin come in a pill? How a molecule that mimics insulin may advance diabetes research
More from: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
The Latest Updates from Bing News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Oral insulin pill
- How Does Metformin Work?
To lessen the impact type 2 diabetes may have on your or a loved one's quality of life, you may turn to a prescription drug regimen to control high blood sugar (glucose) levels. As such, your ...
- Ozempic May Soon Be Available as a Pill
Semaglutide, the drug in Ozempic and Wegovy, is currently delivered into the body through injections. However, pharmaceutical companies are trialing an oral pill form of this medication for weight ...
- Insulin prices are dropping, but only some New Yorkers with diabetes benefit
The amount a patient pays out of pocket can still depend on their insurance, the kind of insulin they take and whether they’re informed about the latest drug discount programs from pharmaceutical ...
- A New Drug May Be Able to Completely Reverse Diabetes
A team of researchers, led by Stephanie Stanford at the University of California, San Diego, is proposing a solution in the form of a single pill that aims to restore insulin sensitivity in ...
- Safe Diet Pills - Safest Weight Loss Pills Over The Counter That Actually Work
PhenQ is a very effective natural weight loss pill that is an alternative to prescription diet pills. It is marketed as a safe and effective way to lose weight without the dangerous side effects of ...
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Insulin-mimicking molecule
- Molecular Biology News and Research
Stem cells from the human stomach can be converted into cells that secrete insulin in response to rising blood sugar levels, offering a promising approach to treating diabetes, according to a ...
- Open-Source Insulin: Biohackers Aiming For Distributed Production
When you’ve got a diabetic in your life, there are few moments in any day that are free from thoughts about insulin. Insulin is literally the first coherent thought I have every morning ...
- Slin Review: Is Slin Supplement Safe? Read Australia Report
Based on the composition of Slin capsules, it appears that the product aims to address health concerns related to maintaining balanced blood sugar levels, improving insulin sensitivity, and supporting ...
- Molecular Mechanisms of Insulin Resistance That Impact Cardiovascular Biology
Insulin under normal circumstances exerts its antiatherogenic action in endothelial cells and VSMCs via the PI 3-kinase signaling pathway. Antiatherogenic aspects of insulin action include ...
- Stomach stem cells hold promise as a cure for diabetes
Researchers have taken stem cells from the human stomach and converted them into insulin-producing cells that respond to changes in blood glucose levels like healthy pancreatic cells would.