"Capsule medicine" instead of injection

In recent years, scientists have developed monoclonal antibodies-proteins that mimic the body's own immune defenses-which can fight a variety of diseases, including some autoimmune diseases such as cancer and Crohn's disease

A team of MIT engineers, in collaboration with scientists at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Novo Nordisk, is working on an alternative drug delivery strategy that will make it easier for patients to benefit from the monoclonal antibodies and other drugs that usually require injections

Professor Giovanni Traverso said: "If we can make it easier for patients to take medicines, then they are more likely to take medicines, and healthcare providers are more likely to adopt known effective treatments

In a study published today on Nat Biotechnol, researchers demonstrated that their capsules can be used not only to deliver monoclonal antibodies in pigs, but also to deliver other large protein drugs, such as insulin

Traverso and Novo Nordisk vice president Ulrik Rahbek are the senior authors of this paper

Target the stomach

Most large protein drugs cannot be taken orally because the enzymes in the digestive tract break them down before they are absorbed

This pill is about the size of a blueberry, has a tall and steep dome, and is inspired by a leopard tortoise

The new pill described in the new article maintains the same shape and once the capsule enters the stomach, it can position itself correctly

Delivery of drugs in liquid form can help them reach the bloodstream faster, which is essential for drugs such as insulin and epinephrine to treat allergic reactions

Traverso said the researchers designed the device for the stomach, not the second half of the digestive tract, because the time it takes to reach the stomach after swallowing is fairly consistent from person to person

The new delivery capsule is filled with liquid and also contains an injection needle and a plunger to help push the liquid out of the capsule

Significant level

In experiments on pigs, the researchers showed that they can release a monoclonal antibody called adalimumab (Humira) at levels similar to injections

"Oral monoclonal antibodies are one of the biggest challenges we face in the field of drug delivery science," Traverso said

In addition, the researchers gave these animals capsules within a few days and found that each dose was consistent

The MIT team is currently working with Novo Nordisk to further develop the system

Rahbek said: "Although it is too early, we believe that this device has the potential to change the treatment plan in a range of therapeutic areas

1.
Abramson, A.
, Frederiksen, MR, Vegge, A.
et al.
Oral delivery of systemic monoclonal antibodies, peptides and small molecules using gastric auto-injectors.
Nat Biotechnol, 2021 DOI: 10.
1038/s41587-021-01024-0