Stem Cell Therapy Helps Most Type 1 Diabetes Patients Stop Injectable Insulin

Twelve people with Type 1 diabetes received a single infusion of zimislecel (VX-880), a therapy made from stem cells that have been developed into pancreatic islet cells. These islet cells are responsible for producing insulin in the body. The cells came from healthy donors and were grown in the laboratory before being transplanted into each patient.

Within three months, all participants had stopped experiencing severe episodes of low blood sugar. By one year, ten of the twelve patients no longer needed regular insulin injections to control their blood glucose levels.

In Type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Without enough insulin-producing cells, people cannot regulate their blood sugar and require insulin injections.

Zimislecel replaces those lost cells by transplanting new islet cells created from stem cells. In the trial, these transplanted cells successfully took root and began functioning—producing insulin on their own to help regulate blood sugar naturally.

For people with Type 1 diabetes, especially those who struggle to control their blood sugar despite insulin therapy, severe low blood sugar episodes can be life-threatening. Restoring the body's natural ability to produce insulin could eliminate the need for daily injections and reduce these dangerous swings in blood sugar.

Professor Michael Rickels, the senior author from the University of Pennsylvania, noted that the findings 'indicate the potential for a novel cellular therapy that restores endogenous insulin secretion to improve outcomes for type 1 diabetes patients who have been struggling to achieve glycaemic control.'

Zimislecel is currently in Phase I/II clinical development, an early stage of testing. The results from this 12-person trial were presented at the American Diabetes Association's 85th Scientific Sessions and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Larger and longer studies will be needed to confirm these findings and determine whether the therapy's benefits last beyond one year.

Origin: progress.org.uk (News report). Evidence: News report — unverified, pending corroboration. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.