Implants Developed To ‘Cure’ Type 1 Diabetes
Date posted:
News
Scientists in the US have developed implants that it’s hoped will be able to provide a permanent solution to treat those with type 1 diabetes.
New Scientist reported on the advances by Viacyte, which is based in San Diego, where stem cells have been used in implants that are designed to regulate insulin production in those who have type 1 diabetes.
The way the implant works is by releasing insulin into the body when blood sugar levels rise, returning them to normal. Embryonic stem cells have been used in the implant, which are able to mature once inside the body into the islet cells that make insulin in the pancreas.
It’s these cells that are attacked by the body’s immune system in those who have type 1 diabetes, and finding a way to replace them has long been a challenge for medical scientists.
Two people have now received the implant, with a third set to receive it in the near future.
Paul Laikind, of Viacyte, told the news provider that it’s not a cure in the truest sense of the word, but that it if it’s effective it could make a big difference to people’s lives by removing the need to constantly monitor their blood sugar levels.
“We would call it a functional cure. It’s not truly a cure because we wouldn’t address the autoimmune cause of the disease, but we would be replacing the missing cells,” he explained.
According to charity Diabetes UK, four million adults in the UK have diabetes, with around ten per cent of those suffering from type 1 diabetes.
If you need help developing a life science sales pipeline for a new treatment or product you’re working on, contact us today.