Serious patients stopped using insulin after receiving pancreatic cell infusion developed in the laboratory
A new experimental treatment with stem cells brought promising results for people with diabetes severe type 1.
In a phase 1/2 clinical study, 12 volunteers received a cell infusion from the human stem cell-derived pancreatic islets-called Zimislecel-and, after 12 months, 10 of them were completely interrupted the use of insulin.
The therapy was developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, tested by a team from the University of Toronto, and is published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Nejm).
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Study Details
- Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys insulin -producing cells, requiring patients to manage insulin externally for a lifetime.
- Zimislecel therapy, associated with immunosuppressants, showed that these transplanted cells were capable of producing insulin at safe and self -regulated levels, dramatically reducing the dependence of patients from synthetic insulin.
- Despite light to moderate side effects, such as falling renal function and suppression of the immune system, there were no severe adverse events linked directly to stem cell therapy.
- Two participants died during the study, but the causes were considered non -treatment.
Next Steps
With these encouraging results, clinical tests went to phase 3. According to the researchers, the findings reinforce the potential of multipotent stem cells in the effective production of pancreatic islets for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.
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Leandro Criscuolo is a journalist graduated from Cásper Líbero College. He has worked as Copywriter, digital marketing analyst and social networking manager. Currently, he writes for the digital look.
