A San Diego company, called ViaCyte, has received permission to try its stem cell-based, type 1 diabetes therapy. The Phase 1/2 combination trail will look for both safety and early signs of efficacy of their treatment.
ViaCyte grows replacement insulin-producing cells from human embryonic stem cells, which are placed in a semipermeable pouch. The pouch will be implanted into patients, allowing insulin and other hormones to enter the patient’s bloodstream. The combination product of pouch and cells is called VC-01. ViaCyte says the product has the potential to provide a “virtual cure” for type 1 diabetes. The company announced last month it had applied to begin the clinical trial.
The ViaCyte product contains immature beta cells, which secrete not only insulin (which lowers blood sugar), but hormones such as glucagon (which raises blood sugar when needed). Providing a range of hormones as in the natural pancreas is expected to provide better control of blood sugar than with insulin alone.
ViaCyte is developing this particularly novel approach to overcome the seemingly insurmountable challenges of treating Type 1 diabetes with the help of CIRM, California’s stem cell agency.
While Type 2 Diabetes is preventable and curable, Type 1 diabetes has been considered in the past to be permanent and incurable. Type 2 diabetes is an energy deficient disease that can be treated and cured by the 8 steps outlined in Frank Shallenburg’s book, “The Type 2 Diabetes Breakthrough”. Type 1 diabetes is genetic and controlled only by drug therapy in the past.
These are exciting times for all the type 1 diabetics patients and their families that are affected by this condition.
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