Genetics from Canadian company SemBioSys Genetics have begun testing in public the insulin received from plants. The new source of hormone so necessary for diabetics will be much cheaper.


Has historically developed, that insulin manufacture was carried out first by allocation of its analogues from cells of animals (large horned livestock and pigs).


These bonds differed from human insulin structure, therefore further it was necessary to make their chemical updating. However the way has appeared to the expensive for industrial production.


Hardly later for the same purposes began to use bacteria which, being genetically modified, start to synthesise analogue of insulin. This way has got accustomed thanks to that demanded less serious change of a structure of the received molecules.
In SemBioSys Genetics send to other by. Researchers have built in in saflor genes which have forced a plant to make the bond named scientists proinsulin (the precursor of insulin). Then substance have processed special enzymes and have received special type of insulin - SBS-1000.


The carried out tests have shown, that on structure, physical properties and functionality SBS-1000 corresponds to human insulin, and also is safe for health.


At first scientists have tested substance on rodents and primacies, and recently have reached and the person. Now in the Great Britain there pass the first stages of clinical tests: 30 healthy volunteers check on themselves action of a synthetic hormone.
Scientists compare action SBS-1000 to two other commercial preparations used for treatment of diabetes, and study its biological action on the person.


About the received results the Canadian company promises to report in first half of this year.
The new way of reception of insulin (in case of successful end of testing in public) considerably will lower expenses for manufacture. In particular, it will not be necessary to make difficult and expensive processing of bacteria.


In the company press release it is noticed, that saflor in the North America it is not grown up almost. It means, that at it few related kinds and, as consequence, the probability of loss of genes, so necessary for manufacture of proinsulin from these plants is minimum.