Prepared by: Prof. Dr. Younis Abdul Redha Al-Khafaji
Introduction
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have reported promising results for an experimental treatment using stem cells to restore insulin production in patients with type 1 diabetes, potentially eliminating the need for insulin therapy in the future. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, 10 out of 12 patients regained the ability to produce insulin after receiving the treatment known as VX-880 (also called “Zimcel”), developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, indicated that the patients’ bodies became capable of regulating blood sugar levels without external intervention.
The therapy involves programming stem cells to become pancreatic islet cells, which can secrete insulin and other hormones. These cells are injected into the body, where they migrate to the liver and begin functioning.
However, a major challenge is that patients must take lifelong immunosuppressive drugs to prevent their immune systems from destroying the new cells, just as they did with the original ones. This approach does not address the underlying autoimmune cause of the disease, meaning the lifelong use of immunosuppressants may increase the risk of infections and other side effects.
Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas stops producing insulin, and there is currently no cure. Patients typically manage the condition with insulin injections.
None of the study participants experienced severe hypoglycemic episodes during the 90 days following treatment. After one year, 10 of the 12 participants were completely off insulin, while the remaining two required only small doses.
The treatment is still in its experimental stages, and Vertex is expected to begin the next phase of clinical trials soon, including participants who have received kidney transplants and are already on immunosuppressive therapy. If proven safe and effective on a broader scale, the treatment could receive regulatory approval by 2026.
Al-Mustaqbal University the First in Iraq