Plant-based oral insulin delivery regulates blood sugar levels similarly to natural insulin with lower hypoglycemia risk.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a plant-based insulin that can be ingested orally and regulates blood sugar levels within 15 minutes of ingestion, similar to naturally secreted insulin. The insulin contains all three peptides that occur in natural insulin and is delivered to the liver via the gut-liver axis. The plant-based delivery system eliminates the need for expensive, complex laboratory equipment and results in a product that is shelf-stable at room temperature. The affordability and global access to healthcare are the foundation for the researchers' work.