History Of Insulin
Exploring the History of Insulin
The history of insulin, at least as scientists understand it, began in 1921, when two Canadian researchers discovered a new peptide that lowers blood sugar. This was insulin. They were able to extract insulin from the pancreases of animals. Type 1 diabetes was a death sentence before that time. Now they could treat it with success. These researchers gave the University of Toronto the rights to the insulin patent, so that it could help the survival rate of diabetes sufferers the world over.
One year after that, in 1922, humans received the first bovine insulin by injection. This insulin was not at all pure, and caused a callous on the buttock of the person who was injection. This phase of the history of insulin did show promise, however. The insulin extract was purified through additional research, and it became more effective, and safer.
The medical quality of insulin at that time was far from what it is today. Back then, each vial had the potential to have a different effect, because the purity levels were so different. One of the first to be treated with insulin Elizabeth Hughes, suffered often from hypoglycemic reactions. She also had swelling and pain at the injection site, which was worse when she received larger doses of the hormone.
Later in 1922, the history of insulin took a step forward, due to great demand for this medicine. Several companies received licenses from the University of Toronto to make insulin. And then in 1936, they used a low-weight protein called protamine, to help develop a safer hormone, with a slower rate of release.
In 1950, another approach led researchers to isolate isophane insulin, which binds to protamine. This NPH insulin can be mixed with regular fast-acting insulin to extend the hours it works.
Later, in 1951, scientists developed “lente” insulins. These were dependent on the availability of zinc, and patients could obtain the same positive results without the use of protamine. In a study conducted that year, nearly 1000 patients reported satisfactory control of glucose levels with one morning injection. Other patients needed an extra split dose, with another evening injection.
In 1974, the history of insulin took another turn, when it was discovered that a purified animal insulin could be made. Eli Lilly was the first company to manufacture the newer drug.
In 1975, an insulin type that was fully synthetic was made in laboratories in Basel. Apart from some hypoglycemic events, this new drug was well-tolerated by patients in a clinical study.
Finally, in 1978, insulin with the same amino sequence as humans was produced in California. In 1980, a “human” DNA type insulin was tested on non-diabetics, and researchers discovered that human insulin was more potent than animal insulin. The rush to make a mass production human insulin product was won by Eli Lilly. The FSA approved the human insulin for use in 1982.