What You Should Know:
– Lexaria Bioscience Corp. is pushing the boundaries of oral drug delivery with their latest clinical trial.
– The company announced they have contracted a research organization (CRO) to conduct a second human pilot study on their DehydraTECH-powered glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) treatment.
GLP-1 Challenges and Lexaria’s Solution
GLP-1 drugs, like semaglutide, are currently delivered through injections or tablets. However, these methods have limitations. Injections can be painful, and traditional tablets struggle with low absorption rates in the stomach due to its acidic environment. Lexaria’s DehydraTECH platform aims to solve this problem.
The New Study: A Three-Way Race for Oral Semaglutide
This randomized, placebo-controlled study will compare three different semaglutide formulations, all at a 7mg dose:
Rybelsus® (control): A standard swallowed tablet with low absorption rates.
DehydraTECH-semaglutide capsules: A swallowed capsule utilizing Lexaria’s technology for potentially improved absorption.
DehydraTECH-semaglutide oral tablets (first-time): A groundbreaking dissolvable tablet designed to deliver semaglutide through the mouth and throat tissues.
Potential Benefits and Next Steps
If successful, this study could pave the way for a more convenient and potentially more effective way to deliver GLP-1 drugs. This could eliminate the need for injections and potentially reduce side effects associated with traditional tablets.
Lexaria expects to complete manufacturing the test articles within 30 days. Following ethics board approval, the company will provide updates once dosing begins.
Lexaria’s DehydraTECH
DehydraTECH is Lexaria’s patented platform that enhances oral drug delivery by facilitating absorption through the mouth and throat tissues. This technology has shown promise in improving the bioavailability of various drugs.
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1)
GLP-1 drugs are a class of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes and weight management. Semaglutide is the only FDA-approved oral GLP-1 medication (Rybelsus®). Other semaglutide treatments (Ozempic® and Wegovy®) are administered via injection.
