Swallowing large molecules

Researchers have been working on oral delivery of peptides and antibodies for decades with limited success. Rani Therapeutics LLC is taking a different approach, with an orally delivered, pH-activated capsule that uses sugar needles to inject large molecule therapeutics into the muscle of the intestine.

Chairman and CEO Mir Imran said most attempts to create oral formulations of large molecules have focused either on blocking degrading enzymes in the GI tract, or on modifying drug molecules so they are not sensitive to the enzymes, and then trying to improve intestinal absorption. He noted there have been some successes, but only with short peptides up to about 20,000 Da in weight, and these products have had low oral bioavailability. ...