Pancreatic islet transplantation, a major research focus within JDRF's Beta Cell Therapies program, has the potential to normalize blood glucose levels by restoring insulin production for patients with type 1 diabetes. But because of a limited supply of human donors for pancreatic islets, scientists have investigated other possible sources of insulin-producing cells, which include the transplantation of insulin-producing islets from animals into people with type 1 diabetes (xenotransplantation). In addition, encapsulating islets has the potential to protect the transplant from immune rejection and eliminate the need for chronic immunosuppressive drugs in islet transplantation. Xenotransplantation and islet encapsulation are important areas of research interest to JDRF, funding approximately $3 million in xenotransplantation, and $3.5 million in islet encapsulation last year.

"The initial results from the first phase of the trial showed us a significant feature of LCT's product in its ability to protect the transplanted cells from immune rejection without the use of immunosuppressive anti-rejection drugs," said Julia Greenstein, Ph.D., Director of Beta Cell Therapies at JDRF. "Encapsulation for immuno-protection is one of JDRF's research priorities, and the success of this trial could have an important impact on this field of research and the development of a commercially-viable cell replacement therapy for people with type 1 diabetes."

"We are delighted that the JDRF is supporting the progress we are making to advance DIABECELL- towards normalizing the lives of people with type 1 diabetes," said Dr. Paul Tan, Chief Executive Officer for LCT.

The collaboration with JDRF and LCT Technologies for the Phase II trial is part of JDRF's innovative Industry and Discovery and Development Partnership program. Through the program, JDRF partners with pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device businesses that seek to develop drugs, treatments, technologies, and other therapeutics leading to a cure, reversal, or prevention of type 1 diabetes and its complications. To date, JDRF has 27 industry partners across a range of research areas since the IDDP program was established in 2004.

Source: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International