Insulin trials in Chch

Press, 30 July 1980, Page 6

Insulin trials in Chch

Trials on a new type of insulin will be made on a small group of Christchurch diabetics soon as part of a 12nation programme. The biosynthetic insulin will only be used by about six of more than 1000 diabetics in Christchurch in the clinical trial. They will be tested on it for one or two year j periods. It should be available from its United States manufacturers, Eli Lilly and Company, within a few months. Dr R. Scott, a researcher at Princess Margaret Hospital, Will conduct the clinical trials with funds from the Diabetic Association. ■

Eli Lilly is investing more than $4O million to put the insulin into commercial production but it is likely to be many years before it is avail-

able to the estimated 10,000 diabetics in this country. Professor D. W. Beaven, head of the department of medicine at the Christchurch Clinical School and one of New Zealand’s leading authorities on diabetes, said yesterday that one of the big advantages of the new insulin was its probable compatibility with the human body. Professor Beaven said it was hoped the detailed clinical trials would show that the new insulin would not create allergies and that patients could be stabilised on a lower dose rate than at present. \ “New developments will go on but we have still not made the maximum use of ’ the education that people must accept if they are to learn to control this disorder,” he said.