By Adam Garcia
Today in diabetic technology we will be discussing a plant produced type of insulin called SBS-1000 from Sembiosys Genetics, a Canadian company based in Calgary, Alberta, which should cost cheaper due to its production process. We will also be discussing the phase I/II clinical trials it is in now.
Sembiosys Genetics Inc. is a biotechnology company developing protein-based pharmaceuticals
using its proprietary protein production technology. This technology enables the production of
therapeutic proteins in plant seeds by genetically enhancing the safflower plant.
According to New Scientist, the insulin (SBS-1000) that was grown in safflower plants, and was created by Sembiosys, has been injected into people for the first time. The hope is that plants will provide a cheaper source of insulin for people with diabetes.
SBS-1000 is human insulin produced from a genetically enhanced safflower. Sembiosys has demonstrated that SBS-1000 is physically, structurally, and functionally indistinguishable from pharmaceutical-grade human insulin through analytical testing and pre-clinical sub-chronic toxicology studies in rodents and primates. Sembiosys inserted human insulin genes into safflowers, causing them to make a compound called pro-insulin. Enzymes then converted this into SBS-1000.
Most insulin products are produced by bacteria in a fermenter. This is an expensive process and Sembiosys hopes using plants will be cheaper because they do not need this stage.
In December of 2008, Sembiosys compared its effects with insulin from other sources in 30 healthy volunteers during the phase I/II clinical trials. The company plans to release the results of this study in the first half of 2009.
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