--- title: "Robot Pill Pierces Intestine Walls to Deliver Drugs" description: "A futuristic \"robotic\" pill that punctures the inside of the intestinal wall on its way through the digestive system just passed its first human trial." date: "2019-03-14" modified: "2019-03-14" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/ranipill-robot-pill-intestinal-walls" categories: - "Health & Medicine" tags: - "drug delivery" - "intestines" - "pill robots" - "the digest" --- # Robot Pill Pierces Intestine Walls to Deliver Drugs ![A futuristic "robotic" pill that punctures the inside of the intestinal wall on its way through the digestive system just passed its first human trial.]() *\Image: Rani Therapeutics/Victor Tangermann\* ## The RaniPill A futuristic "robotic" pill with no metal or springs just passed its first human trial in February, [according to *IEEE Spectrum*](). The pill is designed to puncture the inside of the intestinal wall with a drug-filled needle thanks to an inflatable balloon. The first human trial successfully tested out the inflatable balloon part of the design — the drug-filled needles however will be tested in a second human trial. The RaniPill, developed and patented by Rani Therapeutics, already [went through 100 animal studies]() and recently completed a human study as well — meaning it could one day revolutionize the way people inject drugs. ## Robot Pills Once it's swallowed and makes its way to the intestines, the RaniPill shell dissolves. This release two gases that mix to create carbon dioxide, which inflates a balloon that pushes a dissolvable needle into the intestinal wall. No springs or metal are used in the design. And no, you won't even notice it's there or inflating a balloon inside your intestines. Rani Therapeutics [claims]() its pill won't cause any pain, unlike injections through the skin, and could lower cost of injections for "most drugs." The human trials consisted of 20 subjects, half of which ate before swallowing the pill and half fasted. ## Great Expectations Food had barely any impact, except for slowing down the time it took to pass the remnants of the pill. Multiple X-rays confirmed the location of the pill as it made its way through the subjects' bodies. Inventor Mir Imran has swallowed the pill "quite a few" times — sometimes without water, *IEEE Spectrum* reports. The pills used in the initial test didn't carry any drug-filled needles, but did test out the rest of the unique drug injection mechanism. An upcoming second human trial will include a dissolvable needle filled with a drug that is used to treat a hormone disorder. **READ MORE:** [Shot to the Gut: “Robotic” Pill Sails Through Human Safety Study]() \[*IEEE Spectrum*\] **More on robot pills:** *[MIT Invents Smart Pill That Injects Insulin Into Your Stomach]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()