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Chinese researchers engineer probiotic that releases diabetes drug when glucose rises
The team says it has filed patents and is scaling production to meet pharmaceutical standards for the US and European markets, aiming for supplement availability in about two years.
Chinese researchers say they have engineered a “smart” probiotic designed to sense high blood sugar and automatically release a glucose-lowering hormone. The approach is described in a study published in Nature, and the researchers reported that the probiotic performed on par with Ozempic in animal tests, according to SCMP Economy.
The work, led by scientists at East China Normal University in Shanghai, is intended to make diabetes care as simple as drinking yogurt or taking a capsule. The researchers say the probiotic remains inactive when blood glucose levels are normal, then triggers a glucose-lowering mechanism when levels rise.
SCMP Economy reports that the team has already filed patents and is scaling up production to meet pharmaceutical standards for the US and European markets. Lead scientist Ye Haifeng said the probiotic is expected to be available in the United States as a health supplement in about two years, if development proceeds as planned.
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