Tim Heise, Germany

Profil -
Dr Heise is Lead Scientist and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the private research institute Profil in Neuss, Germany. Founded in 1999 by Dr Heise and Dr Lutz Heinemann, Profil became known as the premier source of solutions to the challenging early phase studies of experimental diabetes treatments; in particular pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic assessments performed with the glucose clamp technique. Dr Heise has led numerous studies concerning insulin resistance, hypertension, obesity, antidiabetic drugs and insulin administration forms, as well as pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of novel insulin preparations. In addition, his study team at Profil has gained outstanding reputation for the evaluation of medical devices. Before establishing Profil, Dr Heise worked for more than 7 years at the Clinic for Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases at the Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf (Head Prof Michael Berger). During this time he was responsible for the diabetes and obesity outpatient clinics and took care of patients in structured teaching and treatment programs for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Dr Heise has published more than 250 scientific papers and reviews. He is a member of the Editorial Boards of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, and Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics.

Presenter of 1 Presentation

PARALLEL SESSION

Smart insulins

Abstract

Abstract Body

"Smart" or glucose-responsive insulins (GRIs) that only act when blood glucose levels are high safely avoiding hypoglycaemia are considered as the "holy grail" of insulin therapy. First concepts for such an insulin had already been published in the 1970ies, but to date only one clinical trial with a GRI has been published and this development was stopped. On the hand, numerous publications and patent applications have presented concepts and designs of GRIs, often with proof-of-concept data in (mostly small) animals.

The presentation will explain the various challenges GRIs are facing including, but not limited to, a high affinity and selectivity of the glucose-sensing moiety, a very fast activation and inactivation of insulin to avoid both hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia, and toxicity and stability issues. The pros and cons of various developments trying to overcome these challenges will be discussed.

Finally, it will be discussed how GRIs might change insulin therapy. While the ideal GRI would allow coverage of both basal and prandial glucose needs, first developments might still need to be combined with other glucose-lowering agents.

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