Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have pioneered a drug delivery approach that could replace injections with an easy, swallowable capsule. The discovery, documented in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, opens a path toward simpler treatment options for conditions that currently rely on regular injections.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a widely encountered autoimmune disease that often requires a long-term, injectable therapy. The need to cope with needles, discomfort, and the risk of injection-related infections can deter patients from sticking with essential treatment plans.
In the new study, scientists investigated using the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri as a carrier for delivering rheumatoid arthritis medications. They engineered a strain of gut bacteria to secrete the ShK-235 peptide. Derived from sea anemone venom, this compound has previously demonstrated effectiveness in reducing disease signs in animal models of rheumatoid arthritis.
Animal experiments demonstrated that a daily dose of these engineered bacteria led to notable improvements. Treated subjects showed reduced joint inflammation, preservation of cartilage, and less bone damage compared with untreated controls. The results suggest that living microbes could function as a steady, internal delivery system for therapeutic peptides, potentially improving the consistency and convenience of treatment.
While the findings are promising, further research is required before this approach can be used in people. The next steps will focus on safety, dosing, and efficacy in human trials, as well as addressing regulatory considerations. If successful, this strategy could make rheumatoid arthritis management more patient-friendly by replacing regular injections with small, digestible capsules that deliver treatment directly where it is needed.