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IU Researchers Publish ‘Smart Insulin’ Fusion That Mitigated Hypoglycemia in Rat Study

The early-stage fusion protein targets a natural liver switch, showing weeks-long stability without refrigeration.

Overview

  • The peer-reviewed results, released October 9 in ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, detail an insulin–glucagon fusion tested in rats.
  • By bundling both hormones into one molecule, the candidate steers liver signaling in a glucose-responsive manner to balance blood sugar.
  • Treated rats showed improved glucose control with reduced risk of dangerous lows compared with standard approaches reported in the study.
  • The formulation remained stable for weeks before opening without cold storage, suggesting potential advantages for manufacturing and access.
  • Investigators emphasized the work is early preclinical and outlined plans to pursue a once-weekly injectable and a pump-compatible short-acting version, with rat studies conducted in collaboration with Yale and funding from IU initiatives, the Lilly Foundation INCITE Fund, and Breakthrough T1D UK.