Insulin-transferrin fusion protein and its prodrug, proinsulin-transferrin, for overcoming insulin resistance
A method of treating Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is provided. The method includes administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition that includes an insulin-transferrin fusion protein or its prodrug, proinsulin-transferrin fusion protein.
1. A method of treating insulin resistance in a subject with diabetes having insulin resistance comprising administering a fusion protein of proinsulin and transferrin (ProINS-Tf) or insulin and transferrin (INS-Tf) to a subject in need thereof in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in an effective amount to reduce blood glucose levels in the subject, thereby treating insulin resistance in the subject.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject was at least partially resistant to insulin prior to treatment.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject's blood glucose level is at a level of a non-diabetic subject after treatment.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein glucose levels are reduced within about 4-8 hours of administration.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration is in single-dosage form.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering a second insulin drug.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human.
8. A method of treating a subject with insulin resistance comprising administering a fusion protein encoded by a nucleic acid sequence comprising a pre-proinsulin nucleic acid sequence operably linked to a transferrin (Tf) sequence to a subject in need thereof in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier thereby treating the insulin resistance.
9. The method of claim 1 or 8 , wherein the subject has Type 2 Diabetes (T2D).