Human Recombinant Insulin: A Life-Saving Medical Advancement

 
Human Recombinant Insulin

The Discovery of Insulin

In the early 1920s, doctors and scientists were facing a major health crisis - the number of deaths due to diabetes was rising at alarming rates. Diabetes results from the body’s inability to produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that allows cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream for energy. At the time, no effective treatment existed for the disease. Then, in 1921, two Canadian scientists - Frederick Banting and Charles Best - made a breakthrough discovery at the University of Toronto that would change the lives of millions. They were able to extract a pancreatic extract from dogs that controlled blood sugar when administered to diabetic animals. Although still impure, this pancreatic extract represented the first therapeutic insulin.

The Development of Human Recombinant Insulin

In the following years, scientists worked tirelessly to refine Banting and Best’s discovery. A team of researchers led by biochemist James Collip helped purify the extract into a safer product that could be administered to humans. On January 11, 1922, 14-year-old Leonard Thompson became the first person to receive Human Recombinant Insulin, which allowed him to survive a bout with diabetes where he was near death. While lives were being saved, the supply of insulin remained limited as it still relied on extracting insulin from animal pancreases. This changed in the late 1970s and early 1980s with the advent of recombinant DNA technology, which allowed scientists to create “human” insulin identical to the native hormone through genetic engineering.

Producing Insulin Through Biotechnology

In the 1970s, scientists at genetics companies like Genentech and Eli Lilly began developing techniques to produce insulin outside of the body using biotechnology. They extracted the gene for human insulin from DNA, replicated it in bacteria, and convinced the bacteria to express or produce insulin identical to the native hormone. This represented a major breakthrough - it meant insulin could now be mass produced through fermentation rather than relying on scarce pancreatic extracts. The first company to develop a process was Eli Lilly, which produced the first batch of “recombinant” human insulin in 1978. In 1982, Eli Lilly’s Humulin brand became the first genetically engineered insulin approved for therapeutic use in the United States.

Benefits of Human Recombinant Insulin

The advent of recombinant insulin brought enormous benefits to diabetes patients and health providers. One of the biggest impacts was that it provided a safer and more abundant supply of insulin therapy. No longer would supplies be limited by relying on scarce animal pancreatic extracts. Production could be scaled up to meet worldwide demand, making treatment more accessible and affordable. Recombinant insulin was also proven to be identical to native human insulin at the genetic and molecular level, eliminating concerns about extracting insulin from other species. This represented a major advantage over earlier insulin therapies in terms of reduced side effects and allergic reactions. Recombinant insulin introduced new flexibility and precision to diabetes management as well, through innovations like insulin pumps, pens, and analog insulins designed to mimic the body’s natural insulin release curve more closely.

Impact and Future of Diabetes Care

The development of human recombinant insulin

stands as one of the greatest successes of biotechnology to date. It has allowed millions of people with diabetes to live active, healthy, and full lives they never would have without effective treatment. At the same time, diabetes continues being a serious chronic condition affecting tens of millions worldwide. New medications and alternatives to insulin injections are actively being researched to improve quality of life. Scientists are working on beta cell regeneration techniques that may someday restore natural insulin production without needing injections. Non-invasive glucose monitoring through wearable technology also promises new conveniences. And gene therapies hold promise to treat or potentially cure diabetes by modifying its underlying genetic causes. While challenges remain, the foundations laid down through discoveries like recombinant insulin ensure diabetics today don't face the same life-threatening future without treatment as early patients. Innovation will surely continue advancing care further to benefit generations to come.

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About Author:

Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravina-pandya-1a3984191)


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