Type 1 Diabetes Stem-Cell Trial Keeps 1 Patient Insulin-Free, Expands to 50
Updated
Updated · The Spokesman Review · Jun 23
Type 1 Diabetes Stem-Cell Trial Keeps 1 Patient Insulin-Free, Expands to 50
3 articles · Updated · The Spokesman Review · Jun 23
Summary
Researchers said a participant in a stem-cell treatment trial for Type 1 diabetes remains insulin-independent years after entering the study.
The patient is still producing insulin, though he must take immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection of the implanted islet cells.
Results have been strong enough for the study to expand to 50 participants, signaling broader testing of the approach.
The update comes about a year after earlier reporting on the small trial and suggests the treatment’s effect has persisted, even with the tradeoff of ongoing immune suppression.