Sensing the sweet spot
Ziylo’s selective glucose-binding molecule could open doors to smart insulin for diabetes
Harry Destecroix is not one of Britain’s richest men, despite claims in the tabloid headlines this summer . ‘The Sun was one of the worst,’ says Destecroix. Still, it is true that Ziylo, the spin-out company he helped found, was bought by Novo Nordisk in a deal that could ultimately be worth up to £620 million. It could be worse.
Destecroix was frustrated with the tone of the coverage, however, because he believes Ziylo is built around a rare piece of supramolecular chemistry – rare in that it really could transform lives. Novo Nordisk, which specialises in diabetes care, is hoping to use the technology to develop a smart insulin. If successful, it could extend the lives of millions of diabetics worldwide.