The Procter & Gamble Company has announced its commitment to help fund the testing and commercialization of a novel treatment for diabetes. The therapy involves administration of INGAP peptide, a naturally occurring substance that is associated with the generation of islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, where insulin is produced.

The drug is already in clinical testing in humans. In animal studies, when diabetic animals received the protein, they regenerated new islets of Langerhans that naturally regulated insulin and blood glucose levels. Restoring a patient's own production of insulin would greatly reduce or even eliminate the need for insulin shots.

The investment by P&G will help speed the research and development process, which means that the product may become available sooner than without such backing. A spokesman for P&G said, "The INGAP Peptide, if successfully developed, could dramatically advance the treatment of diabetes."

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Source:  Procter & Gamble. P&G announces strategic alliance with GMP Companies for novel treatment of diabetes mellitus. News & Perspectives. April 18, 2002.