3-in-1 living pharmacy implant delivers HIV, GLP-1, diabetes drugs

A U.S.-led research team, including scientists from Northwestern University, Rice University, and Carnegie Mellon University, has developed a novel implantable drug delivery system called HOBIT (hybrid oxygenation bioelectronics system for implanted therapy). This biohybrid device houses engineered cells that can simultaneously produce multiple therapeutic proteins inside the body. A key innovation is the device’s internal oxygen generation via electrochemical splitting of water molecules, which addresses the common challenge of oxygen deprivation that typically limits cell survival and drug output in implants. This oxygenation enables higher cell densities and sustained, stable delivery of multiple drugs over extended periods. In animal tests with rats, the implant was engineered to produce three biologics at once: an anti-HIV antibody, a GLP-1-like peptide for type 2 diabetes, and leptin for appetite regulation. Over 30 days, oxygenated implants maintained consistent drug levels and about 65% cell viability, whereas non-oxygenated controls showed rapid drug decline and only 20