Hong Kong scientists developing new blood treatment to aid diabetes patients

A team of Hong Kong scientists is developing an injectable treatment that could potentially improve blood flow in diabetes patients’ feet, in the hopes that it will reduce the need for amputation by rebuilding tissue in the arteries.

They also hope to apply the treatment to peripheral artery disease or PAD, a condition caused by the build-up of fatty deposits in arteries that affect blood circulation in the feet.

Jack Wong Wing-tak, associate professor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s (CUHK) school of life sciences, said he and his team aimed to find a solution for patients suffering from these conditions by developing an injectable drug.

“Traditional treatments for people suffering from poor blood flow in their legs are stent implantation or bypass surgery, which is invasive,” said Wong, who is also the co-founder of a biotechnology company called NutrigeneAI.

Wong said that PAD often began with damage to the inner layer of blood vessels, known as the endothelium.

Foot problems are also commonly seen in patients with diabetes as the disease can reduce blood flow to the limbs, which can result in amputation if the condition is severe.